Recliners are a common décor choice for most homeowners and are worth the investment. Maybe it’s due to the unmatchable comfort you feel or the adaptability to move to other spaces in your home. But there are times you may need a lift chair, and you may wonder if it’s possible to use a recliner to achieve this.
Can you convert your recliner to a lift chair? Well, it’s possible depending on the type of recliner you have and the modification to apply. But before you can convert your recliner, let’s find out the difference between a recliner and a lift chair.
What is the Difference Between a Recliner and a Lift Chair?
A recliner is an armchair that you can tilt backward and extend the footrest in front to help elevate your legs and feet. Recliners have a limited sitting position that includes normal sitting or backward reclining with a footrest upwards. Recliners are perfect for anyone, especially if you don’t have mobility problems.
A lift chair gives you more options and a powered mechanism with a remote control to adjust the chair to your comfort position automatically. Lift chairs come in various positions that include two, three, or infinite positions to give more and better flexibility. If you’re dealing with mobility issues, a lift chair can help you rise from a sitting position to a standing one safely and without a struggle.
Steps to Follow When Converting a Recliner to a Lift Chair
A new lift chair is expensive. If you want to save your money by converting your recliner to a power lift chair, all you need is patience and a guide to doing this successfully. You can achieve this by following the below steps.
- Consult the seat manufacturer to advise on the conversion kits compatible with your seat and determine if they have the kits. This may save you money and time.
- Purchases several conversion kits from a store or online, which will help add electric features to your recliner seat. The kits are affordable and widely available.
- If you decide to buy online, check the reviews from previous customers to ensure the products are quality.
- Depending on your confidence to do this conversion, you may want to contact a professional with the experience and the know-how for this work.
- Gather all the tools close at hand for an efficient job.
- Follow the steps on the conversion kit. The process will involve spending most of your time working on the recliner frame and replacing the manual mechanism with an electric one.
- Push the recliner seat forward to reveal the reclining mechanism. Next, you should follow the instructions to know where to put the kit and how to stabilize it.
- Lastly, ensure you reassemble the parts once you place the conversion kit. The good thing with recliners is that you can easily disassemble them into parts and then reassemble them.
By now, you know converting a recliner into a lift seat is not a complex process as it involves working on the seat’s frame and tightening the screws.
Considerations Before Converting a Recliner into a Lift Chair
If you’re considering converting your recliner to a lift chair, it would be best to consider the below factors.
The Height of the Lift Chair
Once your recliner can convert, you need to ensure that the chair back gives good support when converted to a lift chair position. When the back of the lift chair becomes too short, your biceps may slump forward, giving you poor posture. For this reason, the depth of your recliner seat must be adjustable to make your back comfortable.
Dimensions of the Foundation
A wider base offers more stability, allowing for different reclining positions. Evaluate the passage from the wall, as larger footprints may necessitate furniture relocation to fit behind recliners
Extremely Adjustable
Adjustability matters and helps you customize your chair to meet your preferences and needs. The reclining mechanism, for instance, should lock into various angles, allowing you to sit up, recline, and lie flat. In addition to the adjustable neck rest, the headrest should also move back and forth and tilt side to side.
Safety and Comfort
If your recliner seat is convertible to a lift chair, you must ensure that the lift chair recliner supports your weight comfortably. For example, you could do a strength test at the shop to ensure the seat can hold a minimum weight capacity of 250 pounds. This way, you’re sure that the seat is high quality and safe for you.
Vertical Tension
Some lift seats use tension when lifting, but some popular models employ a linear actuator that moves freely like a piston that provides a more vertical tension. You must make sure that your preferred technique can support you in a seated position and elevate you from a seated to an upright posture.
What are the Benefits of a Lift Seat?
Easy to Customize
Depending on your needs, you can easily adjust the footrest, neck rest, and backrest due to their powered features. In addition, the comfort in lift seats can make your napping session enjoyable, and you can adjust to your desired position.
Health Benefits
Lift chairs are perfect for anyone with mobility issues or physical limitations. It makes it easier for you to get up once you lift the seat. For example, if you have swollen ankles, you can lift your feet and find a comfortable position for your backaches.
Conclusion
It’s possible to convert recliners to lift seats, but it would be best to consult with the chair manufacturers first since some recliners may not be suitable for conversion. You may also find conversion kits for your seat model from the manufacturer or purchase them online.
When it comes to converting your seat, you can either hire a professional to do the work or follow the instructions from the conversion kits. Lift chairs are an incredible advantage for people who have difficulty getting into a standing position and will reduce the strain on your lower legs when getting up from a seated position.