Rise & recline sofa: what you should know before you buy

Do you think a rise and recline sofa sounds like a good idea but want to check whether, for example, there’s any particular drawbacks compared to a riser recliner armchair? That’s the purpose of this article.

First, can you buy a rise and recline sofa?

Yes, it’s entirely possible to buy a rise and recline sofa, either as a 2-seater rise and recline or 3-seater (which has a static middle seat).

In our Ashore rise and recline range, you can have a 2-seater or 3-seater on the Maiden model.

On the face of it, a riser recliner armchair and a rise & recline sofa do the same job. They have both recline functions and lift & rise functions. They both have fabric, vinyl or leather upholstery options.

The main benefit of a rise and recline sofa is being able to enjoy the company of loved ones. They may also take up slightly less space in situ.

There are, however, some factors which make the way they work quite different and limit their functionality. You should know about all of these so you can make an informed decision.

Are there any limitations to a rise and recline sofa?

• Sizing: while there is some adjustment that can be made to the sizing of a rise and recline sofa, it’s more limited compared to a riser recliner armchair.
• Weight limit: this is limited to 18 stone on a 2 seater or 3 seater rise & recline settee, compared to 25 stone plus on a rise and recline armchair.
• Backrest styles: some back cushion styles, like a lateral backrest with side supports, do not work well on a rise & recline sofa and we strongly recommend avoiding them to save being disappointed.
• One armrest: on a rise and recline sofa, you don’t have an armrest either side of you, so it can feel less secure when using the lift & rise function.
• Motor type: a rise and recline sofa is only available with a single motor mechanism.
• Seating: the seating on a rise and reline sofa is foam, rather than the pocket sprung option you get on a riser recliner armchair.

In the spirit of full disclosure, there’s one more thing we must point out. Because a rise and recline sofa is made up of two rise & recline mechanisms, which are fitted next to each other in the sofa’s frame, there’s a small gap in the middle between the two seat cushions. To be honest, it’s small and doesn’t stick out at first glance – but the last thing we’d want is for you to be disappointed that we hadn’t told you!

A natural question we get asked bearing these factors in mind is: do we recommend rise and recline sofas? Our honest answer is, in most cases, you would be better going for a riser recliner armchair. However, we recognise that there are situations where a lift & rise sofa is the right choice. If, having read this article, you feel this is the right choice for you, why not request a personalised quote?

Related articles

How to measure for a riser recliner chair

How to choose a riser recliner chair

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