Rise and Recline Chair Advice
Small Living Room Ideas with Recliners
25th November, 2025
Looking for living room layouts that suit recliner chairs? Small space or not, these expert-approved interior design techniques will help your home feel cosy and stylish with a recliner chair.
“When I mention recliners, the image that often comes to mind is a clunky, over-stuffed chair that clashes with everything else in the room. Thankfully, it’s now easy to find recliners that are comfortable and stylish.” Jane at Home, design inspiration
With around a quarter of UK residents living in flats or apartments, and just under 10% in bungalows (Mintel), it’s clear that many of us are working with limited floor space. The good news? You don’t have to sacrifice comfort for style, or vice versa.
Here’s how to make the most of your small living room with a recliner chair.
Key takeaways:
- It starts with your current living space. How do you use it? Is it light, inviting? From here, make decisions about colour, texture and furniture
- Consider space saving and multifunctional furniture, from wall lights to narrow bookshelves and console tables
- Create ‘zones’ with rugs and existing features (windows, fireplaces)
- Oak Tree Mobility Rise and Recliners are made-to-measure and custom designed. Choose the style of chair and fabric you like best and save two meters from the wall for the chair to recline safely.
Oak Tree Mobility’s Serenity Chair
Step 1: Assess Your Space
The first step is to observe your living room - is it bright? Airy? What furniture does it suit? And is that the look you want - or are you after a change?
At this stage, you might want to search online for looks you like. Consider creating a mood board to pin your favourite colours and designs. Try to look with a fresh perspective and be open to change.
“Everyone deserves to live in a home they love.” Jane at Home
Step 2: Living Room Layouts with a Recliner Chair
If your living space already features a recliner or you’re choosing a new recliner chair, it’s time to check out practical and stylish arrangements. Here are some of our favourites, remembering to always keep walkways clear.
Corner Comforts: Make the Most of Every Inch with Clever Angling
Placing a recliner in the corner and angling it slightly (so the back forms a triangle with the two walls), plays with depth, which helps the space feel larger. Tuck the chair back or pull it forward, depending on space. You’ll need enough room for the chair to safely recline.
What the experts say:
Celebrity designer Laurence Llewelyn‑Bowen says the trick is to ‘disguise’ the corners, so our mind doesn’t immediately register the room’s boundaries. Because: “If our eyes can see corners then our mind knows exactly what size the room is.”
Interior designer Maya Salfati agrees: “Selectively angling furniture can redirect a space’s flow, inject grandeur into a more compact room, and soften hard edges.”
Additional tips for styling recliners in corners:
- Add a Small Side Table beside the recliner, instead of a coffee table. It adds function without clutter.
- Set the Scene with a slim floor lamp: make things cosy without taking up space.
- Include a Throw or Cushion for warmth and to soften the recliner.
- Keep Sightlines Clear - Don’t block natural walkways. An open space builds an open feel.
Floating Layouts: Define Zones Within Open‑Plan Living
If your living area is part of an open‑plan space, you can give the recliner (and companion seating) a strong role by ‘floating’ it. Place the furniture away from walls or turn its back on other areas. This creates a seating ‘zone’ and helps the space feel intentional, layered, and larger.
What the experts say:
“A common design mistake is placing furniture along the walls. While it might seem counterintuitive, ‘floating’ some of the furniture off the walls (particularly pieces like sofas and accent chairs) will actually give the illusion of a larger, more layered space.” Heather Goerzen, interior expert
“When designing with open‑plan, you can use furniture and area rugs to create separate spaces within. The rug is a great place to start, as it sets the boundaries for a specific area.” Designer Rozit Arditi
Tips for floating recliner chair arrangements:
- Slide a rug under the recliner (and the other seating) to define the zone visually.
- A console table or bookshelf behind your ‘floating’ seated area creates a boundary between that and any adjoining spaces (dining, kitchen).
- Keep the colours for the recliner living zone tied to the rest of the space (so it feels connected). But differentiate with texture or an accent colour, so the sitting zone has its own feel.
Mix & Match: You can still go for a corner recliner placement here. Angle your floating recliner towards the centre zone, in front of a natural corner of the room. This can be more effective than ‘boxing in’ your floating seating (having it all strictly parallel to the walls). It softens away the edges.
Compliment the Room’s Existing Features
When your room already has strong existing features (say, a hearth, a bay window, or garden‑facing double doors), you can arrange your seating area accordingly. After all, recliner chairs are for relaxing in…
Oak Tree Mobility x Parker Knoll: The Ashton
What the experts say:
Use natural light where possible. As architect Louis Kahn puts it: “A room is not a room without natural light.”
Living room furniture (including a recliner) should relate to the architecture, not ignore it. “For a house to be successful, the objects in it must communicate with one another, respond and balance one another.” Andrée Putman, interior & production designer
“The best rooms have something to say about the people who live in them.” David Hicks, interior decorator & designer
Tips for matching a recliner to your home:
- Frame the feature: Let the feature serve as a backdrop. For example, if there’s a fireplace, why not place the recliner at an angle in front of it with a low coffee table and a lamp?
- Use the View For garden‑facing doors or large windows, position the recliner so you can enjoy the view.
- Anchor with Scale If you have double doors to a garden or a large window, ensure the recliner isn’t dwarfed by them. Use a substantial side table or a tall floor lamp to give the chair presence.
Step 3: The Finishing Touches
Decided on your living room layout with a recliner? Here’s what to consider next.
TVs: If watching TV is an activity you enjoy, it's best to position the screen on a central wall opposite the main seating area. Make sure it's mounted at seated eye level, or slightly lower if you're using a recliner with a tilt, for comfy viewing without straining the neck.
Colour: Stick to a cohesive, light-toned scheme. Soft neutrals, warm whites, and pale greys or blues reflect more light and make spaces feel airy. Add pops of colour through your accessories to keep things from feeling flat. Or try colour drenching - a technique where walls and ceilings are painted the same shade. This blurs edges and corners, making the room feel both larger and cosier.
Mirrors: A well-placed mirror can do wonders. Use one opposite a window to reflect natural light, or on a feature wall. Mirrors draw the eye across the room, making it feel larger.
Decluttering: In small rooms, less is more. Keep accessories minimal and store away anything you don’t need. Hidden storage (such as ottoman coffee tables) can help.
Curtains & Blinds: Heavy drapes can make a small room feel closed in. Instead, go for light, airy window covers. Sheer curtains or streamlined blinds can let in light while maintaining privacy. Hanging curtains slightly higher and wider than the window can also make the room feel taller.
Oak Tree Mobility Recliners: Style Meets Function
When adding mobility furniture to tight spaces, comfort and style can feel at odds with one another. But Oak Tree Mobility’s rise and recline chairs prove you don’t have to pick one or the other.
We offer made-to-measure recliners, so each chair is tailored not just to physical needs, but to the size and layout of your room. Choose between varied fabrics and chair designs when it comes to making an order.
A cosy cottage effect. Or a chic modern look. It’s up to you. With bespoke design, the recliner becomes a seamless part of the room’s design, not just a medical necessity.
FAQs About Styling Small Living Spaces with a Recliner Chair
Still have questions about placing your recliner in a tight space? You may find the answers to these frequently asked questions helpful.
How to fit a recliner in a small room?
Be conscious of how much space you need for your recliner. chairs from Oak Tree Mobility, need about two metres of space behind them to fully recline safely. Place the recliner at an angle or in a corner to maximise floor space. Pair with slim side tables and lights to keep the area open.
What not to do when decorating a small living room?
Avoid overcrowding with large furniture, using dark or clashing colours, blocking natural light, pushing all the furniture against the walls, and over-accessorising (which can lead to clutter).
Where should a TV be placed in relation to the seating?
As a general rule, your TV should be positioned about 1 to 1.5 times the diagonal screen size away from where you sit. Resolution matters too:
50-inch 4K TV → Ideal distance: approx. 200 cm (6.5 ft)
50-inch 1080p TV → Ideal distance: approx. 300 cm (10 ft)
Higher resolution screens allow for closer viewing without pixelation, which is useful in tighter spaces.
How to place a TV in small living spaces?
Float or mount the TV if possible. In a small room, wall-mounting the TV or using a slim console can free up valuable floor space. To avoid sore necks, position the sofa or recliner to face the TV directly.
Further Reading and References
- Leather vs Fabric: Choosing the Right Recliner Chair
- How to Measure for a Rise and Recline Chair
- Mintel, Consumer Trends, Attitudes and Spending Habits for the Home – UK – 2025
- Mintel, Furniture Retailing – UK – 2025
- Ideal Home: Designers on Angling Furniture, Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen reveals the items you need in the corner of a small room
- Jane at Home
- Home & Garden: 3 top designers agree on this open-plan layout trick to zone your space quickly
- Havenly Hideaway: Living Room Dilemmas: You Asked, Our Design Experts Answered
- Elle Decor
- Today’s Transition
