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Chairs, sofa and loveseats that move, whether they open to extend a built-in ottoman, swivel, rock, or offer a combination of functions, are a little harder to check out than a basic stationary chair.  In addition to all of the fabric and tailoring considerations you have with stationary upholstered furniture, you must also become familiar with the motion functions.
With recliners, major manufacturers pretty much have their own special mechanical systems. And each is designed to be as trouble free as possible. You can usually select between having a lever, or a release button (hidden or otherwise), or having no button or lever at all, and using inertia to open, extend and close the chair or sofa.
As a general rule, although an inertia mechanism is considered to be the most stylish looking (because there is no lever or button), it is sometimes the most difficult to open and close. If you're considering going with an inertia-operated mechanism, be sure to try it out in the store to be certain you are comfortable operating it.
Whether you select a lever, button, or inertia mechanism, operating the chair or dual-purpose sofa in the store is very important. If there will be several people using the piece, please let them all try it out.What may be easy for one person to operate could be difficult for another.
Be certain the mechanism works smoothly, and that the ottoman positions offered match your needs. Also check to be sure the chair or sofa fits you properly. Designs are available for people of different sizes and shapes. When you are seated in the closed position, your feet should rest squarely on the floor, and with the mechanism fully extended, there should be even support for your thighs and calves.
While you still have the mechanism open, measure the floor space required. While most back and foot extensions are designed for minimum floor space, there are still a few that require a lot of distance from the wall and other objects. Be sure the piece you select will work in your room arrangement.
You may be surprised to learn that there are innovative new designs. Traditionally, in order to house the mechanism, the base of a recliner was solid, box-like and flush to the floor. With some of the newer mechanisms,it is possible to have many of the benefits of a recliner and to package them for sleeker open-base, designs.
Unlike stationary chairs, almost all recliners have "tight cushions" meaning the upholstering fabric is tightly tailored and attached to the frame. Tight cushions cannot be removed and reversed so the quality of the fabric cover and the cushioning core material become critical. If the cushion is not reversible, pay close attention to the fabric or leather. Be sure it is tightly woven, cleanable and appropriate for your use. And because what goes under the cover must hold its shape, comfort and support, we recommend asking for high performance Reflex® cushioning to be sure you are getting the long-lasting support and insulation necessary to keep you from feeling the hard mechanism below. When a high support Reflex HR™ core is specified, it is also possible for the manufacturer to reduce the surface firmness a bit to gain more surface comfort. And after all, isn't comfort what buying a recliner is all about?
Also ask about how much polyester fiber is used between the cushion core and the cover fabric. Because the cushion usually cannot be opened, look at the cutaway model. You'll want to select a seat cushion with a minimum amount of polyester fiber padding to minimize the chance for cushion height loss that can make your furniture look old before its time. An even better idea is to find a piece that uses all-Reflex cushioning without any polyester fiber wrap at all. | 
