Clients ask for a chair that can hold a long evening without looking like a recliner from the 1990s. That is the job Stressless still does well. The brand sits in our Evansville showroom because the glide, the headrest, and the ottoman work as a system, not as three separate pieces fighting the room.
What the glide actually does
The Plus system moves the headrest as you lean, so your neck stays supported when you watch television or read. The glide tension can be set to the person who uses the chair most. A heavier sitter needs more resistance. A lighter sitter needs less. If that setting is ignored, people blame the chair when the issue is setup.
We keep several leathers and base finishes on the floor so you can feel the difference, not just see it in a binder. Grain, sheen, and temperature of the hide change how the chair reads next to a wood sofa or a patterned rug.
Ottoman or no ottoman
An ottoman completes the recline. It also claims floor. In a tight sitting room we sometimes specify the chair alone and add a small pull-up stool that can tuck away. In a larger family room the matching ottoman is usually the right call. Try both in the store before you decide.
Matching a chair to the rest of the room
A Stressless chair is a comfort piece, not the only furniture in the plan. Pair it with a sofa that has a similar seat height so conversation stays level. Keep a table at the hand of the chair. Leave a walkway behind the recline so nobody kicks the base.
Wood bases warm up a traditional room. Metal bases sit more quietly in a newer build. If the rest of the furnishings are light oak, a dark walnut base can still work if you repeat that darker tone in a lamp or a picture frame. For layout help, start with living room furniture that fits the room and then sit the chair in that plan.
Trying one in the Evansville showroom
Photographs hide the glide. Sit for five minutes, not five seconds. Lean back, reach for an imaginary cup, and look at a point on the wall the way you look at a television. If your shoulders climb, the tension is wrong or the size is wrong.
We stock current Stressless models and can order additional leathers through the line. Details live on our Stressless page and the earlier note on Stressless Glide Chairs. When you are ready, contact the store and we will hold a chair on the floor for you to try.