The earliest recliner chairs date back to the late eighteenth century. Reclining chairs or motion chairs have been a popular piece of furniture for over two hundred years.

In the late eighteen hundreds a number of designs emerged for motion chairs with multiple purposes. The user could sit in an upright position or recline with their feet elevated. Similar in design to modern reclining chairs, early motion chairs lacked the sophisticated glide and lock mechanisms that feature in today’s models. Early models were typically made of wood with a padded seat and back and may have been more of a conversation piece than a functional seat like leather sofas and chairs.

Two American cousins are credited with gaining the first patent on a recliner chair in 1928. This patent led to the founding of LayZBoy and in 1931 the first upholstered reclining chair with a mechanical movement was patented. Subsequently a number of other reclining chair manufacturers entered the market and produced a range of recliner chair mechanisms. A built in foot rest was added to the design in 1947 and has become a standard feature of recliner chair design since.

From relatively simple designs to more complex automated models, modern reclining chairs offer specialised solutions for a variety of user needs. More than a conversation piece, the recliner chair has become an integral feature in living rooms today.