Guide for retailers

How to Choose Power Recliners for Your Furniture Store

October 18, 2026 · NorthLine Furnishings

Power recliners are one of the most asked-about items on a furniture showroom floor. Customers sit in them, try the buttons and compare features, so the pieces you stock need to work well and be easy to explain. This guide covers what to check before you add power recliners to your range.

1. Start with the motion

The motor and mechanism are the heart of a power recliner. When you test a sample, check:

  • Smoothness: the seat should recline and return without jerks or loud noise.
  • Controls: buttons should be easy to find and clearly marked. Customers often try them before anything else.
  • Which seats move: on sofas, it is common for only the end seats to recline while the centre seat or console stays fixed. Make sure your sales team knows which seats move on each piece.
  • Wall clearance: ask how much space the piece needs behind it to recline fully. Customers with small rooms will ask.

2. Know the features customers ask about

Many shoppers compare recliners feature by feature. Common features include:

  • Electric (power) headrest that adjusts separately from the footrest
  • Massage, such as air compression massage in the back or seat
  • Storage consoles and cup holders, sometimes with LED lighting
  • Wireless charging and reading lights on consoles or tables
  • Bluetooth speakers built into a console
  • Ambient LED lighting along the base

More features do not always mean a better fit for your store. Think about your customers: a family room buyer may care most about cup holders and storage, while a home theatre buyer may want lighting and speakers.

3. Check sizes against real rooms

Get the width, depth and height of every piece, in both centimetres and inches, and keep them on your price tags or product pages. Sofas and loveseats with consoles are wider than standard pieces, so customers need the numbers before they buy. Also ask for the box sizes, which matter for your warehouse space and your delivery team.

4. Understand the upholstery

Recliners come in different covers, for example genuine leather on the seating areas with synthetic leather on the sides and back, PU leather, or air leather. Each looks and feels different and is priced differently. Ask your supplier exactly which material is used where, and how it should be cleaned, so your staff can answer honestly.

5. Decide on 1, 2 and 3-seat pieces

Many collections come as a recliner (1-seat), loveseat (2-seat) and sofa (3-seat). Selling them individually or as a set gives customers flexibility. If floor space is tight, showing the sofa with the recliner beside it lets customers see the full collection.

6. Questions to ask your supplier

  1. What warranty covers the motor, mechanism and frame, and how are claims handled?
  2. Are spare parts such as hand controls, motors and power supplies available?
  3. What are the exact sizes, box sizes and weights of each piece?
  4. What is the minimum order and the usual lead time?
  5. How is damage on delivery reported and resolved?

Power recliners from NorthLine Furnishings

NorthLine Furnishings supplies power recliners to furniture retailers and dealers across Canada. Our launch collections, Tattva Signature and Nexora Luxe, come in 1, 2 and 3-seat configurations with power motion and an electric headrest, and features such as air compression massage, storage consoles and LED lighting. Request wholesale pricing or ask us for full specifications.

 Request Wholesale Pricing