A sectional can seat the whole family and anchor a room, but only if the shape and orientation suit your space. Check these before you choose one.
L-shape, U-shape or chaise
- L-shaped sectionals tuck into a corner or float in an open-plan room to define a seating area.
- U-shaped sectionals wrap around a coffee table and suit large rooms and movie nights.
- Chaise sectionals have one extended seat for stretching out and take less floor space than a full L.
Left-facing or right-facing?
Sectional pieces are described as LAF (left-arm facing) or RAF (right-arm facing). The side is always named as you stand facing the sofa. So a “left-facing chaise” has its chaise on your left when you look at the sofa from the front, not when you sit on it.
Stand where you will usually see the sofa from, often the room’s entrance or the TV wall, and decide which side the chaise or return should be on. Some sectionals are reversible: the chaise can be moved to either side, which is useful if you move home.
Fixed or modular
Modular sectionals are made of separate pieces you can rearrange or add to. They are easier to carry through narrow doors and stairs, and many ship compressed in boxes. Fixed sectionals come in two or three large pieces and usually feel more solid, but check that each piece can get into your home.
Measure the whole footprint
Measure both the long side and the return (or chaise) length, and leave about 30″ to walk around it. Then measure your route in using our doorway guide. For sectionals, it is the largest single piece that has to pass.