Hi everyone, I have a part of an electric recliner sofa and I need some advice on how to improve it. The issues I’m facing: * Front legs placement: The two front legs are set slightly towards the centre/inside. Because of this, when someone sits down, the weight distribution makes it feel like the person is falling forward. I’d like to shift the legs a little further forward to make it more stable. * Exposed sides: The sides of the chair look open and unfinished, which makes it less attractive. I’d like some ideas on how to cover up the sides and give it a more polished, standalone look so it feels like a complete piece of furniture. * Swivel base idea (optional): A bit of a stretch, but I was also wondering if it’s possible to attach a swivel base to an electric recliner, so it could rotate like a swivel chair while still functioning as a recliner. What I’m looking for: * Suggestions on how to safely adjust or reinforce the legs. * Creative DIY or ready-made solutions to cover the exposed sides. * Any insights or feasibility checks on adding a swivel base (even if it’s a big job). I’d really appreciate any tips, product recommendations, or DIY ideas from the community. Thanks in advance!

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How to modify electric recliner sofa?

ronaldcdutt

Hi everyone,

I have a part of an electric recliner sofa and I need some advice on how to improve it.

The issues I’m facing:

Front legs placement: The two front legs are set slightly towards the centre/inside. Because of this, when someone sits down, the weight distribution makes it feel like the person is falling forward. I’d like to shift the legs a little further forward to make it more stable.
Exposed sides: The sides of the chair look open and unfinished, which makes it less attractive. I’d like some ideas on how to cover up the sides and give it a more polished, standalone look so it feels like a complete piece of furniture.
Swivel base idea (optional): A bit of a stretch, but I was also wondering if it’s possible to attach a swivel base to an electric recliner, so it could rotate like a swivel chair while still functioning as a recliner.

What I’m looking for:

Suggestions on how to safely adjust or reinforce the legs.
Creative DIY or ready-made solutions to cover the exposed sides.
Any insights or feasibility checks on adding a swivel base (even if it’s a big job).

I’d really appreciate any tips, product recommendations, or DIY ideas from the community.

Thanks in advance!

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MitchellMc

Hi @ronaldcdutt,

It looks like you could actually tackle the tilting-forward issue and the exposed sides in one go. One approach would be to cut new timber panels in the same profile as your current side panels, but have them extend all the way down to the floor as per the image below. By doing this, you’d effectively create a solid edge on each side that sits firmly on the ground, which should help stabilise the recliner. This can compensate for the front legs being set further back, since the weight would be distributed across the entire side panel instead of relying on just the legs. Depending on exactly where the tipping point is, you might also need to extend those panels slightly further forward to fully eliminate the “falling forward” sensation.

Finishing these side panels would also solve your aesthetic issue. You could upholster them in a fabric that matches the rest of the recliner, wrap them in faux leather, or even paint and finish them if you’re going for a timber accent look. That way, they’ll give the piece a more polished, intentional appearance while also contributing structurally.

As for the swivel base idea, you’d need a flat, continuous bottom surface to mount the swivel mechanism to. One way of achieving that would be to fix a sturdy horizontal base panel across the two new vertical side panels underneath the recliner. That base panel would give you a platform to attach a heavy-duty swivel plate. For strength and stability, it’s usually best to sandwich the swivel mechanism between two horizontal panels: one fixed to the chair itself, and one acting as the new base.

If you go down that path, make sure to use a swivel plate rated for heavy loads. Electric recliners are significantly heavier than standard chairs, and you’ll want to be certain the mechanism can safely handle the weight and movement over time. The one above is rated for 225kg, but you might like to speak with our Special Order team in-store to see if there is something slightly larger we can order.

Let me tag @Dave-1, @prettyliving, and @Renowayoflife to see if they have any thoughts.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell

Dave-1

Good Morning @ronaldcdutt

This is a difficult one, I have an old captains styled chair that I have wanted to put on a new base as the one that someone has used (Attached by 3 large wood screws) have the metal feet worn away from being scraped across concrete. I am yet to find something that would be suitable to carry the load of the chair and especially the load of the tilted chair 🙂 I have almost found parts that I could use but they never seem to align or center on what I need. I would see if there is a model name for your chair, you may find actual drawings for it online.

I would have a sit down (on the ground 🙂 ) and sketch out the parts that stay stationary when the seat is at rest and also a seperate sheet the parts when they have moved. That way you end up with somewhere you can attach the side you are after to. (The fake leather that @MitchellMc has suggested sounds good)

For the feeling of tilting forward, is it the whole chair or just the foot rest part? I remember my grandfathers chair had that feeling and it was only the foot rest part as us grankids would all ride it. The supporting levers/arms actually were bent out of true so it would tilt easily. Have a look at your footrest part, sketch it up the same way as in the moving mechanisim and also the parts that can maybe be strengthened (a new bar bolted to the side of the arm partially is my thoughts) You may need to dissasemble part of the chair doing this. If you have access to a welder, better yet. Not any addition of weight and you will need the counter weight at the rear to ballance the chair.

I will tag @Noyade as he has very good ideas on metal mechanisims 🙂

Dave

ronaldcdutt

Thanks so much for the detailed replies and suggestions — really appreciate it. I’ll take it easy on the swivel base idea for now and focus on the side panels, as that seems like the most practical solution.

I don’t have the tools or equipment to make the panels myself, so I was wondering if Bunnings would be able to cut and prepare side panels to size, and roughly how much that might cost.

Thanks again for taking the time to help me out!

ronaldcdutt

I’ve also come across some armrests from IKEA online and was wondering if these could be repurposed to help lower the cost and amount of work.

MitchellMc

The team in-store @ronaldcdutt could cut some rectangular panels for the sides.

You could potentially re-purpose those armrests. Working out a way to attach them will be the most difficult part. They appear to be timber inside, so you might be able to screw through the frame of the chair into them.

Mitchell

AlanM52

Hello @ronaldcdutt,

Apart from modifying the front legs to improve the balance thing I would not do any other modifications to the recliner.

The recliner sits inside a cradle for want of a better name.

A proper chair swivel plate sits between the cradle and the round base sitting on six rubber feet.

Cheers

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