Furnishing your living room with a sectional sofa

Furnishing your living room with a sectional sofa is an excellent way to maximise space while adding a modern, social touch to the centrepiece of your home, whatever its size.

Why choose a sectional sofa?

Sectional sofas are ideal for enjoying a comfortable nook in your living room and spending quality time with family and friends. Unlike a chaise lounge, which has just one extended section for resting your feet, a sectional sofa has two sections that meet to form a right angle.

Placing a large sectional sofa in your living room

Depending on the size and shape of your living room, several layouts may be possible. However, your sectional sofa cannot take pride of place in the centre of the room, as it would get in the way. If you like change, you'll want to move your various decorative objects and light fittings around to accommodate your sofa, rather than trying to find a new place for the sofa at any cost as this could ultimately lead to your room being impractical and unsocial.

Against the wall or in a corner

The traditional positioning for a corner sofa is always a winner as it doesn't break up the room. This position involves pushing your sofa against two living room walls so it follows the contours of the space. This avoids breaking up the room and making it feel smaller, and your corner sofa will look cosier and more inviting. If your sectional sofa is also a sofa bed, when choosing how to position it consider how big it will be when opened out.

In the middle of the living room, to define the space

If you have a larger living room, you can place your sectional sofa in the centre of the room and use it to visually divide the space, creating distinct zones such as a sitting area and a dining area, or a study area and a reading area. This layout only works if there is enough room for people to move easily around the room. If you go for this option, choose wall shelves rather than free-standing furniture to save even more floor space and make the living room appear more airy.

Facing towards or away from a window

When you have an unobstructed view from your window or bay window, enjoy it by placing your sectional sofa facing the window. It's also important to take into account the natural light and position of windows in the room, as well as the presence of a wood-burner or fireplace, which can influence the sofa’s ideal position. The location of your TV may also depend on where you place your sofa; for small lounges, wall-mounted combination units work best for adding a TV without making the room appear cluttered with furniture.

Different sofa types for a small living room

In a small living room, the choice of sofa depends on the space available, and it's important to consider the different sizes and shapes available (sectional sofa or straight 2- or 3-seater sofa). It's always tempting to get the longest possible couch to comfortably accommodate your guests. However, in a small living room, armchairs and footstools are the best choice, providing additional easy-to-store seating while freeing up space for everyday use. Also, there are many ways to optimise space without cluttering the room, by using space-saving furniture, coffee tables with drawers or a lift-up top, modular wall shelves, extendable tables or consoles, and many other clever ideas.

Cost of a sectional sofa

The cost of a sectional sofa varies depending on several criteria, including its size and the materials from which it is made. Large corner sofas can be priced from a few hundred to a few thousand euros, especially if they offer additional features such as sleeping options or storage. Sectional sofas suitable for smaller living rooms can be priced more affordably and generally cost from a few hundred to just under a thousand euros.