The Recliner: Okay, It Can Stay But I Don't Have To Like It!

[PrimeTimer]

When I was young, I made a promise to myself that I'd never, ever, EVER own a recliner. Growing up I saw all my friends dad's recliners in their living rooms...their dads would be all slumped back in it snoring (or worse, making other noises), and the chair would always have some wadded up old smelling stained blanket on it. Those things were nasty! And uncool. In fact, it was years and years before my own dad got a recliner and even then, he hardly used it. Us kids did. But still...I knew that when I grew up and had my own place I was never, ever, EVER going to own a recliner. Well....

So, I've read that Billy Bob Thornton actually has a phobia about recliners or old furniture. I can sort of understand that. Maybe he, too was around too many of those smelly disgusting awful things while growing up. Anyways, I don't have a phobia but I do really hate recliners. And since we do my husband's home hemo in the living room (so that he may be a part of the land of the living, tv, music, etc...), we got him a recliner for his treatments. Not the kind you see at centers but rather, the cheapies from Big Lots. And it's fabric. Luckily, no blood spills on it yet and if/when that happens I already know what to use to clean it...but any suggestions on how to dress up a recliner when it's not in use?? I mean, the ugly thing just sits there looking, well, UGLY. Throwing a big sheet over it make me think of a museum or as if we are leaving town for an extended period of time. Even reminds me of how I'd cover the furniture if leaving the dog home alone a few hours. Whenever he could, he'd wait for us to leave so that he could roll on the couch and jump into the big chair, displacing the cushions. Had himself a good 'ol time. Finally learned to cover the furniture before leaving. But how in the heck do I live with looking at this ugly recliner the rest of our lives??

Funny, I have the NxStage Cycler and Pureflow machine setup in the living room, along with a little table that I use as a treatment table and another little table that I use for my clipboard and small supplies, so yes, our living room does look a little like a med clinic going on but it's the DANG RECLINER that is getting to me!! Ahhh!!! I feel like it's staring right back at me, as if to mock my taste in decorum, knowing that I hate it. Gee, I never thought myself a snob because I am about as down to earth as you can get but c'mon! It's a freaking ugly recliner!!! I just do not understand why it gets to me so much. Perhaps there are more of you out there who feel the same way and have suggestions on how a person might handle living with a recliner. If my husband didn't need it for his treatments, I'd take out to some back road, light a match to it and turn it into Old Sparky!

[Charlie B53]

When we bought our leather sectional couch the Wife insisted on getting a matching leather recliner.  I've used it, but seldom ever tip at back.  The back is too short for me and the way it is stuffed there isn't enough low back support.  It makes my back curl, sort of.  It just not right.  But it looks good in the room.  We keep a clean folded blanket on the seat as it's the dog's most favorite napping spot.

One day at a community type yard sale we stumbled upon two overstuffed wing-back chair, wooden legs and trim, nice plaid material in earthy colors.  Felt great to sit in.  Fit me just fine.  Bought the pair and discovered while moving them out to my truck that they were both recliners!  Wouldn't know it to look at them.  And comfy!  We both use them.

[PrimeTimer]

I completely forgot about those "recliners that don't look like recliners" before going off on my little rant. Now, if they could make "pizza that really isn't pizza" we'd be in even better shape! 

[Charlie B53]

When I was a kid, Mom used to buy the Pizza 'kit'.  We would make the dough, let it rise, roll it out, form the edges, use the can of sauce from the kit, and cheeses.  Then add our own selection of meats, mushrooms, and olives.  They were GOOD!

Now that i'm older the Wife and I are too lazy to do all that and just call for delivery, or go pick one up.

We've tried some of the take and bake, as well as some of those from the freezer section.  I'll never buy a frozen again.  But sometimes the store made take and bake are pretty good.

I'll have to look next time at the store to see if they still make those old 'kits', they really were pretty decent. Especially when you 'adjust' the recipe, making it your own, add or leave out whatever you want, like, in the amounts that you want. 

[SooMK]

I can relate to the recliner phobia. Any chance your living room is big enough for a room divider? You know--those partitions that fold and unfold? You could hide your whole medical setup as well as the recliner and open it up when needed.

[PrimeTimer]

We live in a small apartment and altho I've thought of one, a partition or screen divider wouldn't work. But also, my husband enjoys sitting back in the same recliner to watch tv or to read or nap even when he's not doing dialysis in it. I'd never take something he enjoys away from him so until we can afford one of those recliners that doesn't look like a recliner, I will just have to live with the beast (the chair, not my husband). At least it looks somewhat better when he's sitting in it...and who knows, maybe one of those "pizza kits" that Charlie B53 mentioned could make it easier to live with! 

[amanda100wilson]

I would be inclined to invest in a good quality throw, not one of those ones that look like a rag in Avery short time.  May help overcome the brain ache that you get from looking at the recliner in all of its glory. I had a dialysis chair, but found that it looked and felt ugly.  Invested in a big leather LazyBoy.  Looks and feels great.