Sectionals & Sectional Couches
How to Choose a Sectional Sofa or Modular Sofa
A sectional is chosen by the shape it makes in the room. An L shaped sofa gives one side of the seating area a longer run and leaves the other open. A U shaped sectional turns the seating inward, which suits a room where people are meant to face each other. A sectional with chaise gives someone room to put their feet up without taking the full depth of another return.
A sectional sofa can come as one fixed arrangement or as a modular sofa made from pieces that can be moved around. Armless pieces and corner pieces let a modular sectional grow or change direction. An ottoman can fill out the open side of an L. A sleeper sectional adds a bed to the room. Storage can be built into the chaise or another section, which is useful when there is nowhere else for blankets or other things that tend to collect in the living room. A sectional with recliner seats changes the way people use the piece without changing the basic question of how its configuration fits the room.
Sectional dimensions are easier to understand when the two runs are measured from the shared corner. A small sectional or apartment sectional can work well in a compact room, while a large sectional often works best pulled away from the walls and used to organize the room around it. Start with the outside runs, then look at how far the chaise or return projects into the room and what is left to walk around.
What is a sectional, and how is it different from a modular sofa?
A sectional is made from more than one piece, joined together to turn a corner or create a longer run than a single sofa. A sectional couch is often sold in one set arrangement, so the overall shape stays the same.
A modular sofa is made from individual pieces that can be rearranged and, in some cases, added to later. Both fall under the broader idea of sectional seating. The practical difference is whether the arrangement is fixed or can change with the room.
Which sectional configuration should you choose?
An L shaped sofa works well when the seating needs to face a focal point while the shorter side helps define the edge of the room. A sectional with chaise keeps that return lighter and shallower than a full second run.
A U shaped sectional brings the seating inward and gives more attention to the people sitting in it. A bumper can make more sense where a chaise would project too far into the room. With a modular sectional, armless pieces and corner pieces make it easier to lengthen a run or change direction. Recliner sections need clearance behind them unless they are built to sit close to a wall.
Which side should the chaise be on?
Stand facing the sectional and note which side the chaise or return falls on. That is the reference point often used when describing the configuration, although makers do not all describe the sides the same way. Check the product diagram before ordering rather than assuming.
The room usually makes the decision. The wrong hand can put the chaise across a doorway or into a walkway that needs to stay open. Start with the floor plan, then place the longer return on the side that has room for it.
What size sectional fits a room?
Measure the two outside runs separately. They share the corner, so the total is not the two measurements added together. A two-piece L commonly runs about 100 to 120 inches on the long side and 75 to 95 inches on the short side. A small sectional or apartment sectional often runs about 80 to 100 inches by 55 to 65 inches.
A chaise commonly reaches 60 to 70 inches deep, compared with 35 to 40 inches for the rest of the sectional. Allow about 30 inches wherever people need to walk past it. A sectional for a small living room does not have to sit in a corner, and a larger sectional can work well floating in the room.
Is a sectional better than two sofas?
A sectional usually puts more seating into the same footprint because the corner is shared instead of being taken up by two sofa arms. Two sofas are easier to move, rearrange, or replace separately.
The difference comes down to how fixed the room needs to be. A sectional commits the layout to one configuration, while two sofas leave more options open. The corner seat is usable, though it is often the least comfortable place on the sectional.
What size rug goes under a sectional?
The front legs of both runs should sit on the rug. If the rug reaches one side of an L and stops short of the other, the seating can look disconnected. In a larger room, the entire sectional can sit on the rug.
An 8 by 10 rug works under many small L configurations. A standard sectional often takes a 9 by 12. Large L and U shaped sectionals may need a 10 by 14 or 12 by 15. The rug should usually extend about 6 to 12 inches beyond the open sides.
What coffee table works with a sectional?
Leave 14 to 18 inches between the coffee table and the seat along both runs. A coffee table for a sectional should be reachable from the long side and the return. If only one side can use it, the table is doing half the job.
Round and square tables often sit more naturally inside an L than a long rectangle because of the diagonal inside corner. Keep the table clear of the chaise. With longer sectionals, two smaller tables, or a table paired with an ottoman, can make more sense than one large table.
How do you care for a sectional?
Separate the sections before cleaning underneath rather than dragging the whole sectional across the floor. The connectors can loosen with use and may need tightening. Vacuum the seats and crevices, and blot spills rather than rubbing them in. Check the upholstery cleaning code before using anything wet on the fabric.
Keep indoor sectionals out of prolonged direct sun. Rotate and flip loose cushions so wear does not settle into the same seat over time.