6 min readThe last time I had a recliner in my house was in 1999—a polyester-blend, marshmallow-like sectional that had a side lever to pop out a footrest. Stylish it was not, but most of my friends had something similar in their parents’ house. That’s one of the reasons I resisted even looking at recliners for almost 30 years. That is until I noticed a wave of modern variations with a stealth reclining option.
My regular sectional suddenly felt like a dud. It had a chaise and an ottoman, but whoever sat in the middle had to prop their feet on the coffee table, which is far from comfy. Plus, it looked a bit bulky in my sunroom, which doubles as a family hangout spot and movie night hub.
When I saw the POVISON Elara reclining sectional, I was smitten. I could customize it to have three recliners—a win for my family of four. I ordered it in a silvery gray upholstery, which added an airy vibe to my sunroom. Since the carpet underneath is light blue, I needed some depth. I accessorized it with woodsy hues via the geometric Frank Lloyd Wright print pillows from Faribault Mill and a Boll & Branch grand waffle Marino wool blanket. The look was something straight out of House Beautiful pages, IMHO.
I’ve had the POVISON for over three months now, and it has become my family’s favorite furniture piece in the house. Read my full review of it ahead.
Quick Verdict
Rating: 4.9/5
Best For: This sectional is all about TLC and suits anyone who wants to sink into a sofa and put their feet up, quite literally. Great for families and roommates.
Not ideal for: Very small spaces. While you can order a two-seater sofa that is 83 inches long, the armrest is 43.5 inches wide, and that’s before you extend the foot recliner.
Price at review (3 armless chairs and 2 armrests): $3,699
Bottom Line: The smooth reclining technology of the Elara sectional makes relaxing easy, but it folds up into a sleek silhouette. Since there are no loose cushions or seating, you don’t have to worry about sagging or fluffing.
POVISON Elara Reclining Sofa Key Features
- Chenille upholstery feels incredibly soft, as though you’re petting a bunny rabbit. There is a slightly raised graphic texture that looks like ripples on a lake.
- High-resilience cushions balance support and comfort. The seats are soft enough to have a comfortable nap.
- Buttons create a smooth transition as you customize head and leg support. The range can vary from 90-degree to 145-degree angles to go from sitting to lounging in seconds.
- Built-in chargers make working from the sofa easy and keep kids worry-free that their device won’t conk out in the middle of a game.
- Carbon steel legs provide support and add a futuristic, modern look to the sectional.
Delivery and Assembly Process
While front-door delivery is free, I opted for White Glove delivery, which is $119. Two people delivered four boxes—three to accommodate each seat and one for the arms of the sofa. Each piece was wrapped in a quilted “baggie” that was definitely a step up from the flimsier covers of other boxed furniture that had shipped to my house. Because these are on par with storage seat covers, I kept them and plan to use them to store my outdoor seating in the basement during winter.
The team unpacked all the boxes and assembled the pieces, making sure that the wiring worked properly before leaving. Each piece needs to be plugged in, so I had to get an extension cord. They took away the boxes, and the entire delivery/assembly process took less than 30 minutes.
My kids volunteered to push all the buttons to make sure the recliner sections worked. I was a little anxious about all the back and forth as they figured out the ideal reclining position, but my sofa comes with a two-year warranty, so that puts me at ease. (New orders qualify for a limited five-year warranty.)
If someone wants to recline in the middle seat they can.
The headrest is adjustable too to your desired position.
How It Feels to Sit on It
When asked how this sectional feels, the word that pops into my head is “super.” When I watch movies, I can tweak the seating just so. I don’t like to lean back all the way, so I like that the headrest can be more vertical and support my neck, but my legs can be fully extended.
The high-resilience cushions are described as having a “cloud bounce,” and I would agree. They are very soft, but not so much that I feel like the couch is going to swallow me up. There is a nice give that is still comfortable, not too firm. Because the upholstery is chenille, it is soft to the touch, and this only adds to the luxurious lounging moment.
When the head portion is not facing up, it folds down to a platform-like top that my cat adores. He will sit on it like it is a throne and look out of the windows. This is also important to me because my sunroom has two big picture windows, a selling point, and I would be devastated if they were blocked by a sofa headrest. I like that the Elara sits low.
That said, I, too, look out the window and sit on the sofa with my legs stretched out across the seats. I use two pillows to give my back more support as I rest against the arm.
How It Feels to Sleep on It
While this is not a sleeper sofa, one person can definitely sleep or nap on the Elara. I wasn’t planning on spending the night on the sofa, but when I was tossing and turning in my bed and needed a change of scenery to fight my insomnia, this was the spot. I used one of the three included lumbar pillows and a weighted Luxome blanket and slept soundly until the morning. I’d do it again in a heartbeat.
When my father-in-law was visiting, he reclined all the way and took more than one nap with zero complaints.
Cleaning and Maintenance
I ordered the Elara in a Mist gray colorway, which is a bit lighter than I anticipated. It looks beautiful, and I want to keep it that way. I have a strict no eating on the sectional policy. We are a no-shoes-indoors family, but even so, I hound my kids about keeping their feet and hands clean. (And no one is allowed on here with their soccer socks!) My family may think I am a bit of a nuisance, but I just really want to keep the sofa from getting streaky marks or stains. The performance fabric is supposed to be water resistant, but I don’t want to take any chances.
My cat has not scratched at it yet, but there was one section where he stretched with his claws out and pulled out a thread. I snipped it off, and no one can tell. Three months into ownership, and the sectional looks the same as it did the day it was delivered.
POVISON Elara Pros and Cons
Pros
- At 116 inches long, the three-piece sectional has plenty of room. It can comfortably fit two adults, two kids and a cat.
- Customizable head and foot rests allow for all types of lounging.
- Seats feel comfortable and cushy without sagging or leaving a “seat spot.”
- Cushions retain shape and don’t require fluffing.
Cons
- When head rest is in a more erect position there is a slight “wrinkle” at the joint.
The Final Verdict: Is It Worth Buying?
I would definitely recommend the POVISON Elara sectional to anyone who wants to up their TV nights and R&R. When I am on the sofa, it reminds me of those fancy movie theater seats, but because the upholstery is so soft and cozy, I feel like I am in a spa.
My entire family (and cat) love this sectional. It is hands down a welcome addition to the house. Because it is a recliner, you can tuck the headrest and the footrest away, so the silhouette looks sleek and actually takes up less space than my old sectional with its chaise and ottoman. The only catch is if you have a heavy coffee table, it might be annoying having to move it out to make room for the foot extender.
The arms are already wide, which works great for resting, but I also added the Apto side table to create a little station for books, and I don’t need to worry about having anything loose on the coffee table. This combo makes the sectional function like an island where we could all gather and relax.
