A good recliner is one of those purchases that's easy to get wrong from a photo online. Comfort is personal — how a chair fits your body, how it reclines, how it holds up after a few years of daily use. That's why, at Fortin's Home Furnishings, we let you sit in every recliner on our Winslow showroom floor before you decide. It's also why we get asked the same question all summer long: which is really the best recliner brand — La-Z-Boy or Flexsteel?
Last July, Living Room was our best-selling category in Central Maine, and La-Z-Boy recliners led the way. But Flexsteel has its own loyal following, especially among shoppers who want steel-reinforced construction built to last. Here's an honest, side-by-side look at both brands to help you figure out which one belongs in your living room.
La-Z-Boy: Comfort-First, Endless Styles
La-Z-Boy has built its name on comfort engineering. If you've spent any time in a recliner showroom, you already know the brand — it's practically synonymous with "recliner" for a lot of Maine families, and it's consistently our top-selling Living Room brand.
What stands out about La-Z-Boy:
- Widest style range. Rocker recliners, wall-hugger recliners (recline within inches of the wall — ideal for smaller Maine living rooms), and power recliners with one-touch positioning.
- Comfort-tuned cushioning. La-Z-Boy's foam and support systems are designed around long-term seating comfort, not just the first five minutes in the showroom.
- Fabric and leather variety. From performance fabrics that stand up to pets and kids to leather options for a more traditional look, La-Z-Boy offers styles to match almost any decor.
- Broad price range. Because the lineup is so wide, there's a La-Z-Boy recliner at a range of price points — helpful if you're comparison shopping.
La-Z-Boy tends to be the right call for households that want variety — different sizes, mechanisms, and price points — and want a recliner that's built around all-day comfort first.
Flexsteel: Built to Last, Backed by Steel
Flexsteel takes a different approach, and it's right there in the name. Instead of leading with style variety, Flexsteel leads with durability — specifically, a steel-reinforced seat spring system that's the foundation of every piece they build.
What stands out about Flexsteel:
- Steel Blue Seat Construction. Flexsteel's signature steel spring system is engineered to flex without losing shape, even after years of regular use — a real advantage for households that put a lot of daily wear on their furniture.
- Lifetime warranty on the frame and spring system. Flexsteel stands behind its construction with a warranty most competitors don't match.
- Solid, substantial feel. Flexsteel recliners tend to feel a bit firmer and more structured than La-Z-Boy's comfort-first cushioning — a plus if you prefer supportive seating over sink-in softness.
- Straightforward style lineup. Fewer variations than La-Z-Boy, but each one is built with the same durability standard.
Flexsteel tends to be the right call for households that plan to keep a recliner for the long haul and want the reassurance of a lifetime warranty on the parts that matter most.
Side-by-Side: La-Z-Boy vs. Flexsteel
Not Sure Which One Fits You?
Shop our Summer Living Room Sale and see La-Z-Boy and Flexsteel recliners in stock now.
Shop Living Room FurnitureHow to Choose the Right One for You
There's no wrong answer between these two brands — it really comes down to what matters most in your living room:
- If you want options — different sizes, mechanisms, and a wide range of fabrics — start with La-Z-Boy. Wall-hugger models are especially popular with Maine homeowners working with smaller living rooms.
- If durability and warranty coverage are the top priority — especially in a busy household — Flexsteel's steel-reinforced construction and lifetime warranty are hard to beat.
- If you're not sure — sit in both. This is the one piece of advice we give every customer, no exceptions. Recliners are deeply personal, and the only way to really know is to test the recline, the headrest position, and the cushioning yourself.
"Recliners are one purchase nobody wants to guess on from a photo online. Sit in every option before you decide." — Fortin's Home Furnishings sales team
Why Test Recliners at Fortin's Instead of Ordering Online
Big-box retailers and online furniture sites will happily sell you a recliner sight unseen. We don't think that's the right way to buy one.
At Fortin's Home Furnishings in Winslow, our showroom floor has La-Z-Boy and Flexsteel recliners set up side by side, so you can compare them in person — not in your imagination. Our team has spent years learning the differences between rocker, wall-hugger, and power mechanisms, and we'll help you figure out which one actually fits your space and how you sit.
We're also a family-owned, independent furniture store — not a commissioned big-box floor. Our 30,000 sq. ft. warehouse means most in-stock recliners are ready for same-day pickup or scheduled delivery anywhere in Maine, with white glove service available, without the special-order wait.
Whether you're leaning La-Z-Boy, leaning Flexsteel, or still on the fence, the best next step is the same: come sit down. Visit our Winslow showroom, try both brands side by side, and let our team help you find the best recliner brand for your home — not just the one that looked good in a photo.
Shop Living Room FurnitureFortin's Home Furnishings, 412 Augusta Rd, Winslow, ME 04901 · 207-872-5941. Family-owned since 1947, delivering to all of Maine.