Review of the La-Z-Boy Joel Furniture Family: Recliner, Loveseat, Sofa

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According to Nameberry, the popular baby name website, only one popular baby name in 2022 started with the letter J. This baby's name was none other than… Jonah!

You thought it was going to be Joel, didn’t you? Although Joel isn’t a trending baby name, it is the name of a modern furniture frame at La-Z-Boy!

According to Lina Najia, a design consultant at La-Z-Boy Cyrville, “the Joel is a very comfortable furniture family that has attracted a lot of people.”

While this may sound impressive, what are some key features that help set Joel apart from other Recliners at La-Z-Boy Ottawa & Kingston? This article will show how Joel might be right for you by looking at unique features, cost and customer reviews.

In This Article…

1. Joel Furniture Family (Available Frame Options)
2. Unique Features
3. Sizes & Dimensions
4. Options & Upgrades
5. Cost
6. Warranty
7. Customer Reviews
8. Is the Joel Furniture Family Right For You?

Joel Furniture Family (Available Frame Options)

Before we get into our deep dive into the Joel furniture family, it is always best to familiarize yourself with the different furniture frames included in the furniture family. As listed below, the Joel is available as a recliner, a loveseat and a sofa.

Joel Reclining Chair

If you’re looking for individualized comfort for your living room, the Joel Recliner is a perfect choice. Users can effortlessly recline by using the convenient handle located on the frame’s outside arms.

The Joel comes as two different recliners: the rocking recliner or the wall recliner.

When not in a reclined position, the rocking recliner rocks in a smooth and graceful motion. 

On the other hand, the wall recliner can be placed mere inches away from a wall while still being able to recline fully.

To learn more about the differences between a Rocking and Wall Recliner, take a look at this article.

Joel Reclining Loveseat

With two seats in this furniture frame, the Joel Reclining Loveseat is great for those who wish to share a spot with a friend, family, or that special someone. 

Joel Reclining Sofa

With the Joel Reclining Sofa, you can enjoy family-friendly comfort and relaxation with three seat cushions. 

Unique Features

To begin, a furniture frame’s unique features can reveal what kind of furniture you like.

The Joel, for instance, is a “very plushy and comfortable recliner,” says Lina. Because of its ultra-plush chaise seat, it has many layers of padding that keep the shape of your recliner for a long time. 

The same applies when discussing the arms and the back of the frame. Since this furniture family is more oversized in scale, it is suitable for solo reclining comfort or for story time with your little ones. Chair & a half frames can also provide this dual functionality.

Lastly, what makes the Joel and other recliners at La-Z-Boy unique from the competition is that our recliners come with 7 unique “Onlys” that no one else has. You can learn more about this with our article Why Does a Recliner Cost What It Does?

Size & Dimensions

When looking at the size and dimensions, the Joel furniture family is larger than most recliners at La-Z-Boy. 

According to Lina, because the Joel is big in size, it may not fit in a small living room. “This has to do with the plush seats that it carries–if the arms and seats weren’t so pouffy, maybe they could,” she says.

As for its scale, the Joel is taller than most recliners. Due to this, it can comfortably seat those around the height of 5’10” to 6’2”. To learn more about La-Z-Boy Recliners for Tall People, check out this article.

While your height can be a considerable factor, it is important to note that height guidelines are NOT set in stone. The way you sit in a furniture item can drastically affect how someone might find a seat comfortable.

Ultimately, we recommend always coming in for a sit test to see if the Joel is comfortable for your body type. To learn more, look at How to Find a Recliner That is The Best Fit For You.

In terms of space, the Joel would work better in an open-concept design, with as much room as possible. To ensure that Joel’s large frame can fit in your space, be sure to Measure Your Room.

Below is a breakdown of Joel’s size & dimensions.

Joel Recliner Dimensions (Inches)

Joel Loveseat Dimensions (Inches)

Joel Sofa Dimensions (Inches)

Options & Upgrades

When compared to other La-Z-Boy products, Joel has plenty of options and upgrades to choose from. Always remember that all options and upgrades will increase the price of your furniture. 

Fabric & Leather Options

La-Z-Boy has over 800 fabrics and leathers to choose from, making the experience of personalizing your furniture seemingly endless. 

The Joel has 4 select fabric covers selected to compliment its unique frame. Customers can choose between sand, brownstone, and slate, coloured fabrics.

Further, Lina says the Joel leather selection is limited to one faux leather choice. Customers can also choose recycled leather for those who prefer Leather Alternatives. 

You can learn more about La-Z-Boy’s Leather Selection by checking out this article.

These select fabrics are available at the starting price. You’ll incur an additional fee if you purchase the Joel in an upholstery outside of these 4 select fabrics. 

Leather options, even select leather, will always increase the overall cost. Ultimately, choosing fabric or leather is up to you if you’re willing to spend extra cash on leather products.

Please note that this article's leather or fabric options may be discontinued or unavailable without prior notice. We recommend contacting your local Ottawa or Kingston La-Z-Boy store by phone or in person to confirm availability. We apologize for any inconvenience caused by any changes to our upholstery selection.

In addition to the cover options mentioned above, the Joel is offered in specialty fabrics and leathers that offer unique features and benefits …

Stain Resistant Cover

Innovative iClean Technology surrounds each fabric and leather fibre, creating a barrier that repels spills before turning into stains.

Pet Friendly Fabric

Tested and formulated to withstand the scratches and wear a pet can cause to ensure a durable and easily washable fabric.

Antimicrobial Covers

Antimicrobial properties surround each fibre to protect against mould, mildew, and odour-causing bacteria.

Performance

Superior stain and fade resistance properties make fabrics easy to clean and incredibly durable.

Eco-Friendly

Conserve Sustainable Fabrics are soft, durable and made from recycled water bottles.

Energy Restoration

Restore by Nanobionic® features a mineral-based fabric coating that transforms natural body heat into energy using infrared technology

Cushion Upgrade

At an additional cost, you can update Joel’s cushions to include firmer cushioning, meaning over time, your furniture will remember your unique figure and enhance the comfort of your furniture. This could be a great option for people with mobility issues, allowing you to get in and out of your furniture more comfortably.

​For more information, view our Recliner Furniture Collection catalogue and our in-depth Review of La-Z-Boy’s Chair and Sofa Seat Cushions.

Optional Swivel Base

If you're interested, the Joel rocking recliner is available with a swivel base for an extra cost. La-Z-Boy's swivel bases provide a 360-degree rotation, allowing you to easily turn and face any direction.

You can also upgrade your swivel base into a power swivel recliner, which can recline at the touch of a button. The power swivel base, however, only rotates 165 degrees to prevent the power cord from getting tangled within the furniture frame.

To learn more about our Swivel Chair options, check out our list of Swivel Accent Chairs.

Handle Options

To add more style to your La-Z-Boy manual recliner, you have the option to customize the length and material of the convenient reclining handle.

At an extra cost, you can opt to elongate the handle if you find it too short for your comfort. Additionally, you can choose from a variety of materials for the handle, including wooden, brushed nickel, or matte black. The chrome handle can also be elongated, matching the wooden one in size.

What’s more, for all left-handed users, you can change your handle from the standard right side to the left. This also comes at an additional cost.

Power Upgrade with Adjustable Headrest

You can upgrade the Joel to power. 

Unlike manual furniture that uses a handle or latch, power recliners come with a control panel or a wireless remote for easy reclining at the touch of a button. You can also adjust the headrest support with this convenient feature.

The adjustable headrest allows you to move the head of the recliner from 0-55 degrees, giving you more range of motion with your reclining positions.

What’s more, the recliners have USB ports next to the control panels to charge your electronic devices and two memory settings that allow you to save any of your favourite relaxing positions. This way, you can easily recline back to the position you favour quickly and accurately. 

All power upgrades can be cordless, thanks to our rechargeable battery pack. With this, you can place your power recliners anywhere without worrying about plugging them into an electrical outlet.

Adjustable Lumbar Support

The Joel can also be upgraded to include adjustable lumbar support for an additional cost when choosing the power option.

Like the headrest feature, you can control the lower lumbar area of your recliner with the wireless remote. In this case, the lumbar support can expand 3 inches out or deflate to perfectly match the unique curvature of your lumbar spine. 

To help you decide of the headrest & lumbar upgrade is right for you, check out the Review of La-Z-Boy Power Recliners with the Headrest & Lumbar Feature.

Console Upgrade (Loveseat Only)

The Joel Reclining Loveseat has the option to include a console in the middle of the seat. This handy center console adds extra storage. 

Included cup holders allow you to sit back and relax without having to get up to grab a drink. Further, the console offers an interior electronic charging input instead of the ports outside the loveseat.

If the console interests you, the power model has an upgrade with headrest control or headrest & lumbar support to enhance your Joel Loveseat into a truly comfortable experience.

Cost

In terms of cost, the Joel furniture family falls within the mid-price range at La-Z-Boy.

While the cost of the Joel recliner is slightly over standard at La-Z-Boy, it is important to note that La-Z-Boy furniture is considered more expensive than mid-market furniture costs. Our products’ quality of materials and craftsmanship dictate this cost.

With this, the investment tends to be worthwhile if you are looking for long-lasting furniture.

To learn more about the Cost of a Recliner, check out this article.

*All La-Z-Boy prices listed in this article are subject to change. We aim to update all cost-related articles twice per year. This article was last updated on May 26th, 2023. Contact your local Ottawa or Kingston location by phone or in person for up-to-date pricing.

Warranty

The Joel is covered by La-Z-Boy’s Limited Lifetime Warranty. This warranty covers the repair or replacement of the frame, spring systems, and mechanism, given that they are quality-crafted and built for long-lasting comfort.

For full details of the Limited Lifetime Warranty, check out this full La-Z-Boy warranty breakdown.

While still quality-crafted, other aspects of the product, such as fabrics, leather, and cushion, are not meant to last a lifetime. However, these parts are still covered by the La-Z-Boy Manufacturer’s Warranty for a given period of time.

To further protect your purchase, La-Z-Boy Ottawa & Kingston offers an extended warranty plan at an additional cost. To learn more about the Extended Warranty Plan and if it’s right for you, take a look at this article.

Customer Reviews

Many La-Z-Boy customers enjoy the Joel. This table shows how our customers have rated each piece of furniture out of five. Other furniture products from the Joel furniture family are not shown because they have not been fully rated yet.

Star ratings can only tell you so much. Here are some reviews from satisfied customers …

Is the Joel Recliner Right For You?

Now that you’ve read details about the Joel furniture family, the question may remain if the Joel is right for you. If you’re still struggling to find the answer, let’s take a look one last time at your budget, the functionality, and the overall style of the Joel.

Regarding your budget, the cost of the Joel is within the mid-price range at La-Z-Boy. This means that it is not an entry-level reclining furniture family but it is also not the most expensive one. 

La-Z-Boy’s furniture prices fall within the mid to high-end range of the market, given the high quality of materials used to make our furniture intended to provide longevity. If you’re looking for furniture to last you decades, the Joel might be right for you. 

If you’d like to shop for additional options, take a look at the Affordable Chairs at La-Z-Boy article.

Next, when talking about functionality, this recliner is tall, very plushy, and bulky in size. Lina suggests that those with a top-heavy body shape may benefit from the bulkiness of the Joel. “You can also use this furniture if you need a big chair to sit with your small children,” she says.

If you’re shorter than 5’10” and live in a small space, this piece of furniture might not be right for you.

Lastly, when discussing style, Lina says the Joel is “very stylish in leather and can go well with any modern household.”

Since the arms and seats are well-padded, this lounging chair works well for long or short sits. If you are looking for a clean look to your modern living room, this furniture piece might be right for you.

Check out our Formal Furniture Frames or our Contemporary Sofas if you want to browse other furniture styles.

What's Next?

Now that you have a more knowledgeable understanding of the Joel furniture family, you can confidently decide if this is the right recliner for you. That said, why not discover the Joel and our other furniture families in person?

You can start shopping by visiting one of our local showrooms located in Ottawa or Kingston. You can also schedule a visit online before coming in.

Our design consultants are always eager to lend a helping hand. Take advantage of our interior design services to see how the Joel could fit into your home design. 

If the Joel wasn't what you were looking for, take a look at some of our similar La-Z-Boy product reviews:

• Review of the Dorian Furniture Family
• Review of the Pinnacle Furniture Family
• Review of the Greyson Furniture Family

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