Choosing an adjustable lift chair is easily one of the biggest gamechangers when it comes to improving your ability to relax safely and comfortably. Whether you're going from standing to sitting, sitting to reclining, or reclining to sleeping, you gain the benefits of a lift chair, power recliner, and adjustable sleep chair in a single piece of furniture.
Those features make Journey's Perfect Sleep Chair & Lift Chair a popular choice. If you've been thinking about purchasing one but still are unsure about certain features and how it helps support better rest and mobility, you've come to the right place. We've gathered some of the most common questions we hear from customers about the Perfect Sleep Chair and organized them to make it easy for you to learn about the two models, their biggest benefits, and which features may matter most for your needs.
In This Article:
Product Basics
What is the Perfect Sleep Chair?
The Perfect Sleep Chair is a powered lift-and-recline chair designed for sitting, relaxing, sleeping, and getting into and out of a chair more easily. Instead of relying on a manual lever, its motors move different portions of the chair at the touch of a button. There are two models—the 2-Zone and 5-Zone—and both models can move from an upright seated position into a fully reclined position and can raise the entire seat to assist with standing.
Who is the Perfect Sleep Chair designed for?
The chair may appeal to people who find conventional recliners difficult to get in and out of, want more control over their sitting position, or prefer resting with their legs elevated. It can also be useful for people who spend extended periods seated and want the flexibility to change positions throughout the day. It can be helpful with certain medical conditions, but you should always talk with your doctor first if you have a condition that significantly limits your mobility, strength, awareness, or ability to operate devices like an adjustable chair safely.
Is the Perfect Sleep Chair a recliner or a lift chair?
It is both. The chair functions like a powered recliner, allowing you to raise the footrest and lower the backrest, but it also has a powered lift mechanism that raises the seat to help you transition between sitting and standing. Because it can also recline into a lay-flat position, the Perfect Sleep Chair offers a wider range of positioning than a traditional living-room recliner.
Can the Perfect Sleep Chair be used for sleeping?
Yes. The chair is designed to move from an upright seated position to a fully reclined, lay-flat position for rest or sleep. Unlike a standard recliner that may stop at a partially reclined angle, the Perfect Sleep Chair allows you to continue lowering the back and positioning the legs until you reach a much flatter sleeping position.
Does the Perfect Sleep Chair lay completely flat?
The 2-Zone manual describes the chair as having a lay-flat design that reclines fully for rest or sleep. When fully reclined, the chair measures approximately 78 inches from end to end. You can also stop the chair before it reaches the fully flat position if a slightly elevated angle feels more comfortable.
Comparing 2-Zone vs. 5-Zone Models
What is the difference between the 2-Zone and 5-Zone Perfect Sleep Chair?
The biggest difference is the amount of independent positioning control. The 2-Zone lets you separately adjust the backrest and lower-body/footrest portion of the chair. The 5-Zone has this as well, plus powered adjustments for the headrest, lumbar area, and the angle of the seat itself, allowing you to fine-tune five separate areas of support.
Does the 2-Zone model have just one reclined position?
No, the 2-Zone allows you to independently move the backrest and footrest, so you are not limited to one preset reclining position. You might sit relatively upright while elevating your legs, for example, or recline your upper body more deeply while adjusting your legs separately. It also includes lift, lay-flat recline, heat, massage, and a USB charging port.
What are the benefits of additional adjustments on the 5-Zone model?
In addition to backrest and footrest movement, the 5-Zone lets you adjust the headrest, lumbar support, and cradle or seat-tilt position. The headrest can move to better support your head and neck, while the lumbar section moves in or out to change lower-back support. The cradle adjustment changes the angle of your entire seated body rather than simply lowering the chair back. For some people, small changes in head, lumbar, hip, or leg position make a noticeable difference in comfort.
Does the 5-Zone have preset positions?
The 5-Zone includes several preset positions, including TV, TV in Twilight, Lounge, Lounge Reclined, Zero Gravity, Rejuvenate, and Trendelenburg. These give you starting points for how you may use the chair, although you can still make smaller adjustments to customize your position. Consult your physician regarding use of the Trendelenburg position, since it is not advisable for everyone.
Positioning and Comfort
What is the zero-gravity position?
Zero gravity gets its name from the body position astronauts assume in space. It refers to a reclined position in which the legs and torso are slightly elevated relative to the hips, creating a weightless feel. On the 5-Zone, the powered cradle adjustment allows the seat itself to tilt, creating a deeper whole-body positioning effect than simply putting the footrest up. You can continue making small adjustments until the angle feels right for you.
What is Twilight positioning?
Twilight positioning is part of the 5-Zone chair's cradle system. Instead of moving only the back or footrest, the chair can move the seated body up and outward or down and inward. That additional motion changes the angle between your body and the floor and helps create several of the chair's MaxiComfort positions.
Can I elevate my legs without reclining all the way?
Yes. The footrest can be raised separately from the backrest, allowing you to put your feet up while remaining relatively upright. That can be useful when reading, watching television, or simply wanting to support your legs without moving into a deep recline.
Can I recline without raising my feet?
Yes. Because the chair uses separate powered adjustments, you can move the backrest without automatically moving the footrest to its highest position. This allows you to experiment with different combinations of upper- and lower-body support rather than relying on a single linked recline motion.
Does the 5-Zone have adjustable lumbar support?
Yes. The lumbar portion of the chair moves outward to provide more support or inward to reduce it. This lets you change how much the chair fills the curve of your lower back without repositioning the entire backrest.
How do I adjust the headrest on the 5-Zone?
Use the hand control to move the powered headrest up and outward or down and inward until it reaches a comfortable position. This can be particularly useful when you are reclined but still want your head positioned for reading, watching television, or conversation.
Lift Function
How does the lift function help me stand up from the chair?
The chair's lift mechanism raises the seat and angles it forward, helping bring you toward a standing position. You control the movement using the hand remote. Raise the chair until your feet are securely positioned and you can comfortably move into standing. The exact angle of lift you use will depend on your height, strength, balance, and transfer needs. Once you are standing, return the chair to its seated position so children, pets, or objects cannot get beneath the elevated frame.
How do I sit down using the lift function?
Raise the chair until the seat is high enough for you to comfortably back up against it. Once you are positioned securely, use the control to gradually lower the chair while settling into the seat. Avoid rapidly dropping or "flopping" into the chair because the sudden force can damage the mechanism and cause injury.
Can I use the armrests to help me stand up?
The chair is designed to perform the lifting motion for you, so you should not need to haul yourself upward using the armrests. For your safety, avoid sitting, standing, or placing excessive weight on the armrests or footrest because doing so can affect stability and damage the chair.
Heat and Massage
Does the Perfect Sleep Chair have heat?
Yes. The chair includes targeted back heat with low and high settings controlled from the hand remote. This allows you to add warmth without changing the chair's position.
Does the Perfect Sleep Chair have massage?
Yes. The chair includes vibration massage with several operating modes. Depending on the controller, you can choose pulse, wave, or constant vibration and adjust the strength or speed. It is a vibration system rather than a mechanical roller-style massage mechanism. The controller provides multiple intensity or speed settings so you are not limited to a single strength. Starting with the lowest setting is a good way to find out what feels comfortable before increasing the intensity.
Can I use heat and massage while reclined?
The heat and massage controls operate independently from the positioning buttons. That means you can use them while sitting upright, elevating your feet, or reclining rather than having to return the chair to one particular position first.
Size and Setup
How much weight can the Perfect Sleep Chair support?
Both models are designed for one person weighing up to 375 pounds. Staying under that limit is important because exceeding it can affect the chair's stability, lift mechanism, and overall safety. (Take note that exceeding the weight capacity may also void warranty coverage.)
What are the seat dimensions for the Perfect Sleep Chair?
The chair measures approximately 39 inches wide overall, while the seat itself is approximately 21.5 inches wide and approximately 21.5 inches deep, with the seat about 20.5 inches above the floor. Compare those measurements with your room, doorway, and your own body, so you can be sure the chair fits you—and your home—perfectly. Seat depth and height can affect how well your legs are supported and how comfortable it feels to transfer into and out of the chair.
How much room does the chair need to recline?
You need enough open space behind and around the chair for its moving frame—about 26 inches of wall clearance for the 5-Zone and 30.5 for the 2-Zone.
Can the Perfect Sleep Chair go on carpet?
It can be placed on carpet, but thick or high-pile carpeting may interfere with movement of the footrest. Adjust the leg levelers when necessary to raise the mechanism above the carpet pile. Make sure the chair remains stable and level after making any adjustment.
Power and Controls
How is the Perfect Sleep Chair controlled?
The chair uses a wired hand controller kept in the side pocket. On the 2-Zone, buttons control the backrest, footrest, chair lift/lowering motion, heat, and massage. The 5-Zone remote adds headrest, lumbar, cradle adjustment, programmable positions, and other control features.
Can the chair remember my favorite position?
Yes. Several buttons on the 5-Zone controller can be programmed with preferred positions. Once you have adjusted the chair exactly where you want it, you can save that configuration and later return to it using the memory button. The stored positions can also be changed whenever your preferences change.
What is Smart Tek?
Smart Tek is a power-indication system on the 5-Zone chair. Green indicator lights on the hand control, transformer, and power connection help show whether electricity is reaching each part of the system. If the chair stops operating, those lights can help you or a service provider determine whether the problem involves a disconnected cable, outlet, or another component.
What should I do if the 5-Zone is moving incorrectly?
The chair's control system relies on sensors and stored positioning information, so a power outage, surge, or abrupt disconnection can occasionally make a reset necessary. Check your manual for a specific setup/reset sequence designed to recalibrate the system. Because it involves holding a particular combination of buttons, follow the manual exactly rather than trying random controls.
Does the Perfect Sleep Chair have battery backup?
Yes, but the backup system differs by model. The 2-Zone uses two 9-volt batteries intended to provide emergency operation during a power outage. The 5-Zone uses a lithium-ion backup connected to its transformer. Backup power is intended for emergencies and not for routine cordless operation.
How often should the 2-Zone backup batteries be replaced?
The 9-volt batteries should be replaced every year even if they have not been used. They should also be replaced after they have been used during an outage, since the backup is intended as a limited emergency power source. Regular replacement also helps reduce the possibility of an aging battery leaking and damaging electrical components.
Safety
Is the Perfect Sleep Chair safe?
Yes! You can help keep it that way by always checking around and underneath the chair before operating it, particularly if children or pets are nearby. Keep hands, feet, clothing, cords, and other objects away from the moving frame and pinch points. Only the seated occupant should operate the chair, and no one should sit or stand on the footrest or armrests while the chair is moving.
Can I use an extension cord with the Perfect Sleep Chair?
No. It is best to plug the chair directly into a wall outlet rather than using an extension cord, power strip, or adapter. Power cords should also be kept away from walking paths and the moving lift mechanism so they cannot be pinched, crushed, or create a tripping hazard.
Care and Warranty
How much maintenance does the Perfect Sleep Chair need?
Routine maintenance includes keeping electrical components dry, inspecting wires and connectors for damage, and periodically checking fasteners for looseness, wear, or corrosion. Wipe surfaces with a soft, damp cloth and avoiding harsh cleaners. If wiring is frayed or anything appears damaged, unplug the chair and contact your provider instead of continuing to operate it.
What kind of warranty comes with the Perfect Sleep Chair?
Warranty coverage differs between models. The 2-Zone includes a three-year parts warranty on the frame, lift and recline mechanisms, and electrical components, with labor covered for one year. The 5-Zone includes lifetime coverage of the wood frame and metal parts for the original consumer, three years on electrical parts, and prorated electrical-parts coverage during years four through seven. Batteries are excluded from warranty coverage, and owners should consult the warranty supplied with their specific chair for complete terms.
Still Have Questions?
The Perfect Sleep Chair & Lift Chair is your ticket to make sitting, reclining, sleeping, and standing more comfortable. To learn more, call our product experts at 888-404-1724.
