Electric Recliner

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An electric recliner is not a luxury upgrade to a manual chair. It is a fundamentally different object. The mechanism changes how you use the chair, when you use it, and how long you stay in it. This page explains what that difference actually amounts to in daily use, what to look for when buying, and how Delux Deco electric recliners are built.

What an Electric Recliner Is

A manual recliner adjusts via a lever or handle. You push against the backrest, disengage a lock, and the chair tips back to a preset angle. To sit upright again, you lean forward and push. The movement is abrupt. The angles are fixed. If the preset position doesn't work for your back or your height, you adapt to the chair.

An electric recliner works differently. A motor drives a steel actuator connected to the backrest and footrest. You press a button on the armrest console and the chair moves to wherever you stop pressing. Any angle is available between fully upright and fully flat. The movement is smooth and quiet. There is no lever to pull, no jerk when the lock releases, no effort to return to sitting.

That difference sounds small in a product description. In practice, after a year of using both types, most people would not go back to manual.

Electric recliners are the basis for our full range of recliners and cinema seats. The motor and actuator system is what makes precise positioning possible, and precise positioning is what makes a chair genuinely comfortable for extended sitting.

Dual-Motor Explained

Within electric recliners, there is a further distinction worth understanding before you buy: single-motor versus dual-motor.

A single-motor chair connects the backrest and footrest to one actuator. They move together. Recline the back and the footrest rises at the same rate. Return the footrest and the back comes with it. This is functional for a straightforward recline, but it eliminates any independent adjustment.

A dual-motor chair gives each section its own actuator. The backrest and footrest move completely independently. This opens up positions that a single-motor chair cannot reach.

Why this matters in practice:

• You can sit upright with your legs elevated. This is the preferred position for many people after long periods on their feet, and it reduces pressure on the lower back and knees.
• You can recline your back without raising your feet. Useful if you want to read or watch something at a slight angle without the footrest getting in the way.
• You can find the zero-gravity position, where your knees are slightly above your heart, which distributes body weight evenly across the chair and relieves spinal compression. A single motor cannot place you there accurately.
• You can adjust either section during a film without disturbing the other. If you want to sit up slightly to drink something while keeping your legs raised, you can.

All Delux Deco electric recliners use a dual-motor system. The two motors are specified with enough torque to move quietly under load. You will not hear them during a film.

Memory positions are included as standard. Save up to three preferred settings. One press returns you to your saved position without any re-adjustment.

Materials

The material a chair is built from determines how long it lasts and how it feels year on year. There are two decisions to make: the frame and the upholstery.

Frame

Our electric recliners are built on a hardwood frame with reinforced joints. Joints are glued and screwed, not stapled. Stapled joints are cheaper to assemble and fail faster, particularly in a chair that moves repeatedly under load. We offer a ten-year frame guarantee because we know what is inside. That guarantee would not be commercially viable on a weaker construction.

Upholstery

The upholstery choice is yours from a range of over 50 options. The two main paths are full-grain Italian leather and high-performance fabric.

Full-grain Italian leather is the top layer of the hide, processed minimally to retain its natural grain. It breathes, which matters in a chair you sit in for long periods. It softens gradually with use, becoming more characterful over time rather than degrading. It is easy to clean: most spills wipe off with a damp cloth. Our leather is sourced from tanneries in the Veneto region and is available in more than 50 colours, from sand and cognac through to anthracite and navy.

Fabric suits households where warmth and texture are priorities, or where the room's existing palette calls for something other than leather. Our fabric options include woven weaves and microfibre, both of which hold up well in daily use.

Whichever material you choose, you receive free physical samples before ordering. Colour and texture cannot be judged accurately on a screen. We send swatches to your door so you can see them in your own light, against your own walls, before you commit.

For a full comparison of materials, grades, and what each option looks like after a decade of use, see our materials guide.

A brief note on terminology: in English, "recliner chair" and "recliner armchair" refer to the same product. "Armchair" simply emphasises that the chair has armrests — which every recliner does. The distinction is cosmetic rather than functional. Both terms appear in search results and product listings for the same type of chair. All Delux Deco models are available as individual chairs or in linked configurations; see the recliners collection for the full range or the recliner sofa page if you want a multi-seat version.

Features

Electric recliners vary considerably in what they include beyond the basic motor-driven movement. Here is what is available on Delux Deco chairs and why each feature is or is not worth adding.

Adjustable headrest. The headrest extends electrically on a separate mechanism. As the backrest angle changes, the optimal head position changes with it. A fixed headrest works at one angle. An adjustable one works throughout the full recline range. Recommended if you plan to watch films in a reclined position.

Lumbar support. An inflatable lumbar cushion adjusts the lower back support independently of the backrest angle. Particularly useful for people who experience lower back discomfort during long sitting sessions.

Massage. Where massage functions in chairs have a poor reputation, it is usually because the system does nothing more than vibrate. Ours targets specific pressure points: the lumbar region, the vertebrae between the shoulder blades, and the back of the upper legs. Intensity is adjustable. Multiple programmes are available. If you sit for hours at a time, targeted massage to the lower back is genuinely useful rather than gimmicky.

Chilled cupholders. The armrest consoles include a cooling chamber. It keeps a drink cold throughout a film without ice. If you are building out a home cinema setup, this removes one reason to get up.

USB charging ports. Integrated into the armrest console. Phone and tablet charging without a cable trailing to a wall socket.

LED ambient lighting. Subtle lighting built into the base of the chair and armrest consoles. Useful for navigating a dark room without turning on the main lights. Adjustable colour temperature.

Not all features suit every use case. If the chair is going into a living room rather than a dedicated cinema room, massage and LED lighting may be unnecessary. If it is going into a cinema room with a row of seats, the full specification is worth considering. We are happy to advise on what is worth adding for your specific setup.

Pricing

Electric recliners from Delux Deco start from €1,950 for a single chair in Italian full-grain leather with dual-motor adjustment, memory positions, and adjustable headrest.

Pricing across the range:

Prices vary depending on leather choice, fabric grade, and selected features. Massage, cooling, and LED options are priced as additions.

Delivery is available throughout the Netherlands, Belgium, and the United Kingdom. Delivery is charged separately based on volume and location. Lead time is 8 to 12 weeks from order confirmation. Every chair is made to order after you place your order. There is no warehouse of stock models.

We sell direct from the manufacturer. There is no importer margin and no showroom chain markup in the price. That is how premium Italian construction sits at this price point.

Choosing the Right Electric Recliner

There are a few practical questions worth working through before ordering.

Where is the chair going? A living room recliner needs to look at home in a general interior. Our designs are clean enough to do that without looking like cinema equipment. A dedicated home cinema room can take the full specification: row seating, LED lighting, cupholders, and matching configuration across all seats.

How many seats? Individual recliners can be bought as standalone chairs or in linked rows with shared armrest consoles between seats. If you are planning a row, measure the room carefully. Allow at least 50 cm clearance behind the fully reclined position and measure door and staircase openings before ordering.

Which material? If you have children or pets, full-grain leather with a semi-aniline finish is the most practical choice. It wipes clean and does not absorb spills. If the chair is for careful adult use, aniline leather gives the most natural hand feel. Fabric is the right call if the room is warm or if your interior calls for a softer texture.

Which features? For a living room recliner, dual-motor adjustment, memory positions, and an adjustable headrest cover most of what you will actually use. For a cinema room, add massage, cooling, and LED lighting if the budget allows.

Not sure? Our buying guide for cinema seats covers every component in detail, with a checklist of questions to ask any supplier before committing. We also offer free room planning: send us your room dimensions and we will produce a 2D layout showing how the seating fits.

Why Delux Deco

We make what we sell. Our electric recliners are produced by Italian manufacturing partners working to our specifications, using leather from Veneto tanneries. There is no intermediary between that production and you. The absence of importer and retail margins is what allows premium materials and construction at the prices listed above.

Every chair is made to order. You choose the leather, the colour, the configuration, and the features. The 8 to 12 week lead time exists because production starts after you order, not because we are drawing stock from a warehouse.

Warranty terms reflect confidence in the product: ten years on the frame and construction, two years on the motors and electrical components, two years on upholstery against manufacturing defects. We publish these terms plainly because they are straightforward.

Free leather and fabric samples are available before you order. We recommend using them. No screen representation of a leather colour is accurate enough to base a purchase on.

Free room planning is available if you are unsure how a configuration fits your space. Our designers produce a 2D plan to your room dimensions. You see the layout before you commit.

If you have specific questions about any model or configuration, contact us directly. We give direct answers, not sales scripts.

Browse the full cinema seats range or recliners collection to compare models side by side.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a single-motor and dual-motor electric recliner?

A single-motor chair links the backrest and footrest so they move together. A dual-motor chair moves each section independently. This allows positions that single-motor chairs cannot reach, including legs-elevated-back-upright and zero-gravity positioning.

How long does delivery take?

8 to 12 weeks from order confirmation. Every chair is made to order. You receive updates throughout the production process.

Do you deliver to the UK?

Yes. We deliver to the Netherlands, Belgium, and the United Kingdom. Delivery charges are calculated at checkout based on volume and destination.

Can I try before I buy?

We offer free leather and fabric samples by post. We also offer a video consultation where we can show you materials and walk through the configuration options. In-person appointments are available at our showroom.

Is an electric recliner suitable for a living room, or is it only for cinema rooms?

Both. The design of our recliners is clean enough to sit in a contemporary living room without looking out of place. Many customers buy one or two chairs as standalone living room seating without any home cinema context.

What warranty do you offer?

Ten years on the frame, two years on motors and electrical components, two years on upholstery against manufacturing defects.

Can I order free samples first?

Yes. Order free leather and fabric swatches and we will send them to your address. Colours on screen are never exact. We recommend seeing them at home under your own lighting before you choose.

What is the difference between a recliner chair and a recliner armchair?

There is no meaningful difference. Both terms describe the same product: a motorised chair with a reclining backrest and rising footrest. "Armchair" simply notes the presence of armrests, which all recliners have. You may encounter both terms in different listings or retailers for identical products. At Delux Deco, all chairs in the recliners range are individual upholstered seats with armrests, dual-motor adjustment, and a choice of leather or fabric.