Looking For A Sectional Sofa? Read This First.

Sectionals, corner sofas, or in Indian lingo, ‘L-shaped sofas’, are a sophisticated alternative to the conventional 3-2-1 sofa set and are becoming very popular in contemporary urban homes. In this guide, we will give you an overview of everything you need to know before you bring home a sectional sofa.

Let’s start by busting some myths.

Myth #1: Sectionals are best-suited for large spaces

Sectionals are a common fixture in office and hotel lobbies. That’s probably why we tend to think they belong in expansive spaces. The fact, however, is that like regular sofas, sectionals are available in different sizes and designs to suit different spaces.

Smaller spaces tend to look even more cramped when there are multiple pieces of furniture scattered around. A better idea is to place a sectional sofa against two adjacent walls. This will provide plenty of seating space and still leave the middle of the room and two sides open for free movement.

Myth #2: Sectionals are unwieldy and difficult to move around

Now, this depends entirely on the kind of sectional sofa you buy. A sectional sofa that consists of two large pieces is possibly not easy to move around or rearrange. For rooms where the layout is more or less fixed, this is a great option.

However, If you are the kind who likes to rearrange your living room every once in a while, opt for modular sofas, composed of individual pieces you can put together. That way, you will never be ‘stuck’ with one arrangement.

TYPES OF SECTIONAL SOFAS

Sectional Sofa With A Chaise Lounge

This type of sectional sofa consists of a 3-seater sofa joined at right angles to a chaise lounge. A chaise lounge, for the uninitiated, has a backrest and a seat long enough to support your outstretched legs.

Sectional Sofa with Ottoman

Some sectionals come with a movable ottoman that is typically large enough to be used as extra seating, or to extend the length of the chaise lounge. It could even be used as a footrest or a substitute for a coffee table or side table. Some ottomans come with storage, adding to their utility in your home.

Since it’s an immensely versatile piece of furniture, an ottoman is a good addition to your sectional. So, if the set you’re eyeing doesn’t come with an ottoman, consider purchasing one separately.

Sectionals with Corner Table

Some sectionals are so designed that the corner seat is replaced with a table of sorts that you can use as a telephone stand, media unit, or side table. Having a corner table rules out the possibility of having a chaise lounge - so choose which one you’d rather have.

FACTORS TO CONSIDER WHEN BUYING A SECTIONAL SOFA

1. It’s important to know the design of your sectional before you buy it. Choose the right kind based on the layout of your room.

• Left arm facing sectional - When you stand facing the sofa, the long arm is to your left.
• Right arm facing sectional - When you stand facing the sofa, the long arm is to your right.
• Symmetrical - There are an equal number of seats on both sides.
• Reversible - The arm is movable from left to right.

2. Consider is how many people the sofa needs to accommodate comfortably. If you host guests frequently, the living room will be the centre of all the activity. It will therefore need enough room for all your guests. If it’s going to be a den for just the family, five seats may be more than enough.

3. Always measure your space before buy a piece of furniture. Don’t make guesstimates - bring out a tape measure and take actual measurements. The last thing you want is the corner of the sofa jutting out a half-inch and giving you a bruise a week.

4. The living room is easily the most important in the house. It’s where impressions are formed and broken. So, choose the colour and style of your sofa after much deliberation because that’s what will set the tone of your home.

You can explore our collection of sectional sofas here. Do comment below if you need help with picking one that's right for your home.