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What to Know Before You Buy a Sectional Couches





Check out our collection of the top 32 best sectional sofas. Perfect for family, rec and media rooms.

  1. Homelegance Pecos 3 Piece Reclining Sectional Sofa with Cup Holder Console Leather Gel Match, Red
  2. Signature Design by Ashley Alliston Sectional with Right Side Facing Chaise in Gray DuraBlend
  3. AE Outdoor 4-Piece All Weather Hillborough Sectional Outdoor Furniture
  4. Homelegance 2 Piece Tufted Accent Sectional Sofa With Chaise Bi-Cast Vinyl, Black
  5. Homelegance 8579DB-3 Upholstered Sofa, Dark Brown Bonded Leather Match
  6. Baxton Studio 1868-CU001-LFC Voight Modern Sectional Sofa, Gray
  7. Modern Contemporary Sofa and Armchair Set of Two White
  8. Homelegance 8579DB-3 Upholstered Sofa, Dark Brown Bonded Leather Match
  9. The Dark Gray Friheten Thick Cotton Sofa Cover Replacement is Custom Made for Ikea Friheten Sofa Bed, Or Corner, Or Sectional Slipcover. Sofa Cover Only! (Left ARM is Longer (Durable)
  10. Carolina Dark Blue Fabric Sectional Couch with Storage Ottoman
  11. Poundex Bobkona Winden Blended Linen 3-Piece Reversible Sectional Sofa with Ottoman, Peridot
  12. 3-Piece Modern Grey Sectional Sofa with Ottoman and Floral Print Pillows, Microfiber Fabric L-Shape Couch
  13. Ikea Ektorp 3 Seat Sofa Cover, Tygelsjo Beige (Slipcover Only)
  14. Classic Two Tone Large Linen Fabric and Bonded Leather Living Room Sectional Sofa (White / Dark Grey)
  15. La-Z-Boy Outdoor New Boston Resin Wicker Patio Furniture Sofa with Pillows and Coffee Table, Denim Blue With All Weather Sunbrella Cushions
  16. Homelegance 2 Piece Tufted Accent Sectional Sofa With Chaise Bi-Cast Vinyl, Grey
  17. LexMod Loft Fabric Loveseat, Light Gray
  18. Flash Furniture Benchcraft Maier Sectional with Right Side Facing Chaise in Microfiber, Charcoal
  19. Moe’s Home Collection Plunge Reversible Sectional Sofa, Cappuccino
  20. Broyhill Cambridge Loveseat, Beige
  21. Furniture cover, 100% Waterproof Protector Cover for Couch/Sofa by PETMAKER, Non-Slip, Stain Resistant, Great for Dogs, Pets, and Kids – Tan
  22. OstepDecor Soft Short Floss Non-Slip Sofa Furniture Protectors for Winter With Multi Size Available (Beige), 28″W x 70″L (70 x 180cm)
  23. Modern Contemporary Polyfiber Fabric Modular Sectional Sofa (Blue)
  24. Sectional Set Azores HR, Sunbrella Fabric, 5pc Deep Seating PE Wicker Rattan Corner Couch with ottoman (glass and cushion), outdoor garden patio all-weather furniture (Azores, Cast Slate)
  25. Baxton Studio Panos Dual Configuration Fabric Sectional Sofa
  26. Coaster Home Furnishings 505881 Caldwell Collection Sofa, Silver
  27. Furniture of America Ladden Elephant Skin Microfiber Sectional Sofa with 2 Recliners, Dark Brown
  28. Layton Futon Sofa Bed Sectional Convertible Couch in Premium Linen, Available in Navy and Tan with Slanted Chrome Legs (Futon, Navy)
  29. LANGRIA Fabric Loveseat Sofa Couch Sleeper Bed, Linen Upholstered Sofa Set for 2 or 3 People, 71 inches/ 180 cm, Brown
  30. Creative Furniture Skylar Sectional Right Facing Chaise, Teal
  31. Classic Two Tone Large Linen Fabric and Bonded Leather Living Room Sectional Sofa (White / Dark Grey)
  32. Modern Large Linen Fabric Sectional Sofa, L-Shape Couch with Extra Wide Chaise Lounge (Purple)

Even though sectionals are a family-friendly alternative to the traditional sofa and love seat, they’re one of the more polarizing elements in room design. People either love them or hate them. Add to that the available configurations and myriad options (which can be confusing at best, and mind-boggling at worst), and you have a full-blown case of design angst.

Let’s take some of the mystery out of sectionals, and help you avoid a costly mistake.

First, let’s get comfortable with sectional terminology. “Right arm facing” (RAF) means that when you are facing the piece or section, the arm is on your right. “Left arm facing” (LAF) means that the arm is on your left. Getting the proper-facing arm is critical, because you will be joining two or more pieces, and the placement of the arm will determine if your new sectional works in your room.

The sectional shown here is composed of a left-arm-facing love seat and a right-arm-facing chaise.

A sectional is usually made up of two or more pieces. Generally speaking, the fewer pieces you use to create your sectional, the more reasonable the price will be.

This sectional appears to be made of a left-arm-facing sofa (three seat cushions), a square corner and a right-arm-facing love seat.

If you built that same sectional, still using the LAF sofa but using a RAF corner sofa rather than the RAF love seat and the one seat corner, you would have used two pieces, not three, and would have saved some major bucks. The corner sofa has a back that forms the corner and saves your having to purchase an additional corner piece.

Check out American manufacturer Miles Talbot’s spec sheet on sectionals, where you will find a line drawing describing each of the most common sectional components.

Once you understand the available options, you are ready to decide if a sectional will work for you. For starters, do not assume that you must have a large room for a sectional to work. A sectional like this, made up of a LAF love seat and a RAF chaise, is an excellent solution for a very small room like this one.

Imagine if this room had been furnished with a sofa and two chairs, or a sofa and love seat. It would have looked cluttered and crowded. Even though this loft is small — maybe especially because it’s small — a sectional is the perfect solution.

If your space allows for only a one-seat armless portion in the middle, seriously think twice about using a sectional at all. Consider who will be sitting on the armless portion, and how he or she will cope with the yawning chasm to the (in this case) right.

Although a sectional is a great solution space-wise, the lack of an arm nearby can make people squirm. A potential solution is to use a love seat and a short chaise.

When you are considering a sectional, there is much more to think about than just how it will fit the space, and comfort is of primary importance.

A sofa or love seat married to a chaise is a solution I often specify when the room will be used mainly for watching TV. If you use a conventional sectional in this situation, no one will want to sit on the portion that’s perpendicular to the TV, and craning necks will just make people cranky. That’s where the chaise is so handy. Just be prepared for a joust over who gets to use it.


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