How to Find the Right Sectional Sofa for Your Space

Choosing a Sectional Sofa

Craving a cozy night in? A sectional sofa is the perfect way to cuddle up—with your feet up. Sectionals were invented when an unknown furniture designer decided to attach the ottoman to the sofa and make it one piece. They’ve increased in popularity in the past decade or so, as more and more family time is being spent in the great room viewing television shows and movies at home. A sectional’s design allows you to completely relax and recline in a horizontal position—as opposed to an upright armchair or more classic, formal sofa style.

Choosing the right sectional is actually pretty simple. There are three sectional shapes: The U-shape, the L-shape and the Semi-circular shape. So the first step is deciding which configuration is right for your lifestyle. The best way to figure this out is to draw a floor plan. Draw your room to scale, then cut out some squares at the correct scale and experiment with different combinations. Maybe one side of the sectional needs to be longer because you have the wall space and want the extra seating. If you’re working with a small space, you might only be able to do a chaise and apartment sofa combo as opposed to a sofa and additional armchairs. Larger spaces allow for a complete pit set, which is a great option to accommodate your family when figuring out seating for your family room or finished basement.

Things to Consider

Consider the traffic pattern of your room. A chaise sounds great, but if it’s on the wrong side, it may be more of an annoyance if you have to always walk around it. A good rule of thumb is to place the chaise on the side with the least amount of traffic. Note: When a piece is labeled as right arm facing (RAF), it means the arm is on your right as you are looking at it. If a piece is labeled as left arm facing (LAF), the arm is on your left as you are looking at it.

Once you’ve decided on your configuration, make sure the dimensions are correct. Most sectionals have a pretty substantial depth, so measure the width of your current sofa and ask yourself whether or not you’d like a bit more space to really stretch out. Also, measure the length of the chaise. If you’re taller, you don’t want your feet hanging off.

Final Tips

Lastly, make sure the pieces of the sectional sofa fit in the pathway of delivery, and that they will fit in doorways, down a set of stairs (especially if there’s a landing with a 90-degree turn) and hallways. The good news is, sectionals can be made of two or more pieces, which allows for easier transporting, and offers a lot of versatility to create a configuration that works for your needs and for your space.

For even more options, consider designing your own unique sectional with a custom furniture service.