There is a lot to think about when buying a new sofa: the price, the delivery, the material, the color, who’s going to use it, kids, dogs, etc., but what about when you want a sectional sofa?
Is there anything you should keep in mind for the case of looking at sectional sofas? They are more uncommon, so word of mouth might not prepare you for the pitfalls that can occur from a sectional sofa. Take a look at our tips to make sure you avoid the pitfalls of buying a sectional sofa.
Think about what corner you’re aiming for
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Every big decision when you’re rejuvenating your home should have a plan ahead of it anyway, but this is especially the case when you are buying a sofa. It’s a big ticket item and will take some forethought on where you’re going to put it, how it will fit in, and how you will pay for it.
Where you’re going to put it is particularly important when considering a corner sofa. Unlike a regular sofa, it takes up more space and isn’t a straightforward shape, so it takes some planning to get it in the right corner.
That’s if you’re aiming for a corner at all. You can slot a sectional sofa nicely into the corner of a room, with the arm against one wall and the back against another. This is a common option for smaller homes with smaller living rooms, but it also takes up two walls.
There is also the option of sectioning out the communal space in the living room with the corner sofa. Simply leave an arm exposed in the room as a makeshift boundary. This is best kept to larger living rooms as you will want space to move around the area and within the “boundaries” set by the sectional sofa.
Either way, make sure you have an idea before you go into the shop and if you find something you love, ask if the arms can alternate. If you’re looking for a sofa that can slot into the corner of your room, it doesn’t make much sense if the arm of the sectional sofa is jutting out at the other end of the sofa, and, therefore, the room. Price Busters and stores like it have a range of sectional sofas that come in various shapes, so you’re bound to find something that fits your living room the way you want it to.
Are there any obstacles?
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Take a look at your walls before you commit to a sectional sofa. Is there anything in the way that might cause a problem for putting a sofa against those walls? This is a real concern if you have a smaller living space. You now not only have to find a clear wall to put your sofa against but possibly two. So, is there a radiator in the way? A low window or windowsill? A plug socket? Some molding?
These don’t have to be a dealbreaker. In fact, putting one side of your sectional sofa against the radiator might feel like a great idea with the upcoming winter and the higher energy costs, but if you’re working within a smaller living room, you might find that you have to put the sectional sofa more inward than you were expecting.
This isn’t so much an issue if you’re using your sectional sofa to create a boundary in your living space. Maybe you have a long space with nothing connecting either side of the room. There is such a thing as too much space if it’s awkward or there is nothing connecting the two sides. Maybe you have a set of chairs by the window or a table, but they feel oddly far away from the seating area, which isn’t great for guests. Having a corner sofa simply sit there will section off the living area and connect the two areas.
Measure everything
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The worry about obstacles pushing your sofa closer inward brings us to the number one rule of buying a sofa: measure everything. Have a tape measure handy when you are wandering around the furniture store, but also some notes of the measurements in your home. Even a basic floor plan would be handy to keep your head straight.
This is especially useful for sectional sofas because there are essentially two ends, at least, to keep track of. Will the “arm” of the sofa fit the aligning wall jutting out from the back wall? Measure to make sure. You’re taking the width and length twice, and you have to keep track of which is which to be sure that your sofa will fit.
But it doesn’t have to just fit the room. Think about how you get it through the door and, if you’re in an apartment, through your halls. It’s notoriously difficult to get a regular sofa up a winding set of stairs, never mind a sectional sofa. Measure your halls to be sure that you aren’t disappointed when delivery day comes.
Style it with the right rug
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There are no hard and fast rules on what style of rug would best suit you, as that’s up to you, but the experts do keep pointing out that there is such a thing as the wrong-sized rug.
The rules go that you don’t want your rug to be big enough to accommodate all the items of your living space but not substitute for a carpet by hitting the walls. A good tip is to let the front two legs of your sofa sit on the rug but the back two on the bare floor. This is a good option to keep the budget and space down. If you have the budget and space, however, will allow you to let all the legs of the set lie on the rug.
But this is another thing you want to take your measuring tape to. Remember to measure before you buy. Rugs are oddly pricey, but the smaller you go, the more you’ll save.
