Most standard recliners require space, whether it’s to enable their reclining, gliding, or rocking action, or to prevent hampering contact with other furniture. That being said, different types of recliners may demand varying amounts of space between their main structure and the wall.
Standard lever recliners or basic power recliners will usually need to be positioned at least one foot from the wall so that nothing restricts their movement. It should be noted that one foot is merely a minimum of required moving space, and it’s best to give your recliner more room to avoid any unfortunate consequences like your head bumping into the wall.
If you need a recliner for a smaller living space or recreation room, there is currently a wide range of space-saving models designed specifically for such purposes. They are often called wall-saver, wall-away, or wall-hugger recliners since they quite literally almost touch the wall.
The construction of space-saving recliners includes a glider track that pushes the seat forward whenever you need to activate the reclining mode. When the seat glides forward, it frees enough space behind the backrest for a full recline position, so there is no need to move the chair every time you need to lie down for a nap. This allows you to place the recliner only 5-8 inches from the wall when the chair is in an upright position, though some more expensive models need even less room to work with.