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Living room design with sectional sofa


How to Style a Sectional Sofa to Perfection

Sectionals are equal parts comfortable and versatile, allowing you to create the perfect sofa configuration for your unique living space and lifestyle. They’re also typically the biggest pieces of furniture in a room, so how you style yours can help to make or break your aesthetic.

Fortunately, these expert-informed tips make styling this comfy piece of furniture a breeze, helping you determine everything from the right colors and upholstery material to the perfect placement.

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What Is a Sectional?

In a nutshell, sectional sofas consist of at least two sofa pieces, aka sections, that you can join together and use to create various configurations for your space. Below, professional interior designer and founder of Dōr Design House, Bri Ussery, shares easy tips for how to buy and style the perfect sectional sofa for your living space.

18 Sectional Living Room Ideas

1. Place it Against a Wall

Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need to have a huge living space to enjoy a new sectional. If you have a small living room, you can often get sectionals to fit beautifully with the right furniture arrangement and sectional shape.

“If your living room is small, choose a configuration that doesn't take up too much floor space,” advises Rohr. “A good option is to place the sectional against a wall to save space; L-shaped and U-shaped sectionals are ideal for this purpose.”

2. Pair with Statement Art

Statement art is typically bigger, bolder, and/or more vibrant than other art pieces, making it a great fit for the large footprint of many sectionals. Placing a compelling piece of art above your sofa will create a strong focal point while helping to solidify your living room design.

“You can choose a big statement art piece to elevate the sectional, or you can opt for an asymmetrical art display to help balance the room,” recommends Rohr. And when it comes to art and design, there are no wrong answers so, “don't be afraid to get creative with your styling; mix and match different shapes and sizes.”

3. Use Throw Pillows

Throw pillows are an easy way to add texture and color to your sectional. They’re also relatively inexpensive compared to many other home decor pieces, so you can swap them out for new ones when a new season (or design mood) strikes.

But you don’t have to take our word for it. According to design expert Swanzy, “It is an absolute must to fill up the sectionals with pillows because sectionals tend to have a deeper seat than normal couches.”

Karen Rohr also shared some tips for styling sectionals with pillows:

4. Add Some Leather

Burrow Nomad Sofa in Leather

Review: Check our Burrow Nomad review here

Leather upholstery never goes out of style, and it comes in nearly infinite colors, so you should have no trouble finding a leather sectional that perfectly aligns with your aesthetic.

High-quality leather sectionals are also highly resistant to peeling, sagging, and cracking. And cleaning them is often as easy as simply wiping them down. This means they tend to last longer than many other upholstery types, so it’s a great investment for your next living room makeover.

5. Float the Sectional

Credit: CutlerSchulze

If you have an expansive living room you’re looking to fill or an awkwardly shaped living room, consider floating the sectional, aka placing the sectional at least a few feet from the wall. “In large rooms, we like to float sectionals in the center to create a buffer,” said Cutler. “Almost like a room within a room.”

Floating it off the wall also means you can add furniture pieces behind it to optimize your style. “If you are floating a sectional, you might want to consider adding a low console or bookcase to the back. Doing so can create a more attractive presentation, especially as you enter the room,” recommends Cutler.

6. Go Grey

We love a bold statement couch as much as the next person, but some spaces call for a more subtle sectional, especially since these sofas are often the largest pieces of furniture in a room. Grey is an amazing sectional color because it won’t overwhelm your look.

Grey sofas serve as sophisticated yet neutral foundations that will complement all kinds of color schemes and interior designs. You can pile on colorful throw pillows and blankets to give it a bolder look or more neutral pieces in rich textures to give it an organic, textural feel.

7. Frame a Space

Credit: Darlene Halaby, Design by SKD Studios.

Have an open floor plan? Sectionals are awesome when it comes to framing and defining uncertain spaces. “In a recent Newport Beach, California, project we used sectional couches to frame the living room from the dining room,” said Swanzy.

And you can use thoughtful styling elements to further define the space. For instance, if you want to turn your sectional frame into a cozy reading nook, you can take advice from Swanzy, who “added lamps in the corner of the sectional so our client could cuddle up and dive into a great book.”

8. Add a Rug

Speaking of defining spaces, placing a rug under your sectional is an easy way to do just that. Rugs also have a knack for making a room feel more complete, warm, and intentional. When pairing a sectional and a rug, you have a few options.

A popular option is to choose a small, vibrant rug that fits right in the middle of an L-shaped or U-shaped sectional. This is a fun way to add colors and patterns to your look without taking up too much visual real estate. You can also purchase a very large neutral rug that sits under all of your sectional’s legs. Doing so will help make your living space feel warm, cozy, and welcoming.

9. Use a sectional to anchor your space

Credit: CutlerSchulze

A sectional’s large size allows it to anchor your entire design. You can use it to soldifiy an already well-honed aesthetic or as a stylistic reference point that can inspire the rest of your look.

For instance, if you have a minimalist style sensibility, then a sectional featuring a pared-back silhouette and long airy legs can help punctuate your look. And if you’re at a loss for how to design a space, consider investing in a sectional that already has a strong design point of view, such as a luxe velvet sofa, that you can use to inform your aesthetic.

10. Embrace Flexibility with a Modular Sectional

Inside Weather Modular Bondi Sofa

Review: Read our Bondi Modular Sofa review here

Modular sofas are customizable by design, allowing you to pick the perfect configuration for your space, whether you want an expansive U-shaped sectional or a smaller L-shaped couch. But the right configuration for you largely depends on your existing space and lifestyle.

“No matter what arrangement you choose, make sure the sectional fits well with your space, and avoid compromising the good flow or closing too much of the area,” advises Rohr. For example, if you have a sectional in a living room that connects to the kitchen, you probably don’t want to configure your sectional in such a way that it blocks the path between these two rooms, since people naturally tend to flow to and from them.

11. Make a Statement

Looking for ways to make your living room makeover pop? Consider creating a statement-making focal point out of your sectional. You can easily do this by choosing upholstery in a bold color or vibrant pattern.

Or you can opt for a sectional in a more neutral color, such as beige or gray, then dress it up with all kinds of fun throw pillows and blankets. This option is perfect for anyone who wants to make a major style statement but isn’t keen on the idea of committing to a bold design style long-term.

12. Pair it with an Armchair

Interior Define Sloan Sectional with armchair.

Sectionals basically epitomize cozy, so they’re a great match for armchairs, which also have a special ability to create a relaxing environment. Armchairs work particularly well for L-shape sectionals since they can turn the L into a U-shaped seating arrangment.

But you can also pair an armchair with a U-shaped sectional, transforming the U into a circle that serves as a welcome invitation to enjoy conversations with loved ones.

13. Create a Pit

Kova Pit Sofa.

Review: Check out our review of the Kova Sofa here

If you really want to step up your relaxation game, consider creating a cozy pit out of your sectional. Pit sectional sofas feature at least two lines of seat cushions that are parallel and adjacent to each other as opposed to a single line of cushions.

The result is a bed-like appearance that will make movie nights that much more comfy and inviting. And if you don’t want to commit to a 24/7 pit, you can invest in a large modular sectional that allows you to create the ideal arrangement for any given situation.

14. Add an Ottoman

A potential drawback of L-shaped sectionals is that there’s only room to put your feet up on one side. Fortunately, this is a super easy fix—all you have to do is place an ottoman on the other side to create a makeshift chaise lounge.

Not only will an ottoman increase the comfort factor of your sectional, but it also provides additional styling opportunities. You can incorporate an ottoman in a different style than your sectional to create compelling contrast, or you can match the ottoman to add cohesion to your look.

15. Embrace Beige

You can pretty much never go wrong with beige living room furniture. The timeless hue is at once neutral and sophisticated, and you can incorporate it into virtually any aesthetic, from minimalism to maximalism and everything in between.

A beige sectional will add warmth to your look while offering a blank canvas for your living room design You can pair it with funky side tables, colorful throw pillows, and a vibrant area rug to create an eclectic look. Or you can pile on other neutral colors and textiles for a soft, organic appearance.

16. Go Low-Profile


Few pieces of furniture are more inviting than a great low-profile sofa. Featuring low-slung backs and an often deep-seated design, low-profile sectionals are endlessly comfortable and relaxing.

Plus, they’re super on trend and come in a variety of different styles. You can opt for a low-profile sectional with soft rounded edges for an organic, cloud-like look. Or choose a sectional with sharper lines and airy legs for a more futurustic feel.

17. Pair it with a Circular Coffee Table

Have a small space that you want to makeover with a great sectional? Consider adding a circular coffee table to the mix. “A circular coffee table is perfect for small spaces. It will fit in the small nook of the sectional, keeping circulation open,” advises Rohr.

But you can absolutely enjoy the benefits of a circular coffee table in larger spaces as well. Tucking it into your sectional’s nook means you’ll have even more room to play with other home decor elements and pieces of furniture.

18. Go Bold with a Chesterfield

Ms Chesterfield Sofa by Interior Define

What’s better than a classic Chesterfield sofa? A classic Chesterfield sectional! These pieces combine the ornate details for which Chesterfields are so beloved, like button tufts, with the comfort and flexibility of a gorgeous sectional.

Incorporating a Chesterfield sectional into your living room design also means you’ll have an instant statement piece around which you can create the rest of your style. These beauties are killer conversation pieces and can help elevate your design from good to unforgettable.

22 Sectional Living Room Ideas That Will Inspire You

By

Sarah Lyon

Sarah Lyon

Sarah Lyon is a freelance writer and home decor enthusiast, who enjoys sharing good finds on home items. Since 2018, she has contributed to a variety of lifestyle publications, including Apartment Therapy and Architectural Digest.

Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process

Updated on 10/07/22

Marisa Vitale for Amy Peltier

If your living room is large enough in size to accommodate a sectional, you're in luck! Sectionals are great for hosting guests for game nights and movie marathons, and they're super comfy to plop down and nap on, too. If you've been wondering just how exactly to station a sectional in your space, you'll want to keep reading. These 22 sectional setups are worth exploring as you consider sectional layout, color, size, and much more.

50 photo ideas - INMYROOM

If the room is small in size, then make it functional and not overloaded furniture is quite difficult. Especially when it comes to the living room. After all, this the room is the center of the living space and has several purposes. First of all, it should be suitable for receiving guests, as well as become a place comfortable stay for all family members. Often this room is also a dining room. zone. Therefore, in order to design small living room is ideal for your family, you need work out certain details.

Basic design rules

When creating harmonious interior, you need to take into account the purpose of the room, its size, configuration and illumination. As for the small living room, it is important to adhere to such rules:
1. Only the most necessary things so that it does not become cluttered;
2. Interior a small living room is created using a compact furniture;
3. Furniture and accessories must have simple shapes, as they leave much more free space than artsy or multi-level products;
4. light colors;
5. complement it with bright accessories, for example, it can be indoor plants, carpets, decorative pillows or paintings.

Layout and zoning

Create a functional and a comfortable living room without the correct arrangement of furniture is impossible. One of The biggest mistakes to avoid when decorating the interior of a small living room is the desire place the so-called "wall" or "slide". You also can't force large objects the passageway of the room.

Compact basic kit furniture for the living room may look like this: sofa, coffee table with a glass top, small shelving (it is desirable that their height be about 70 cm below the ceiling level), two armchairs or poufs. As seen from of this list, the most voluminous items are the sofa and armchairs. Therefore the choice furniture should start with them.

If purchased double sofa and two armchairs, then a lot of free space will be lost in the room space. However, there are more opportunities to create a comfortable design for a small living room. If you buy a corner sofa, there will be more free space. But at the same time rearranging furniture will become almost impossible.

Very successful, maybe be the layout of a small room using the space near the window. Interior of a small living room plan in such a way that in the area next to the window there is a low cabinet with TV. But to make the room look more spacious, near the window you can arrange a bed or chairs. Do not be afraid that the furniture can deteriorate due to proximity to the battery. To protect a sofa or chair, it is enough to move it about 30 cm from the window.

Another original the layout option involves placing the sofa in the center of the room. In such case, all attention is focused on the window, so it is worth decorating drapery with the addition of tulle and light curtains. And here is the furniture next to it should not be placed.

Selection color range

If you pay attention small living room design rooms in Khrushchev in the photo, you can see the predominance of light, pastel shades. Thanks to this the design of a small space visually increases. While the use of dark or too bright shades will make the living room look more like to the pantry.

White color is certain leader in the design of small spaces. If the ceiling, walls and floor are white, it will add lightness to the living room and make it more spacious. But to the room did not look boring, it definitely needs to be decorated with bright accents yellow, pink or green.

Original solution can become white furniture. With it, the interior of a small living room will not look cluttered. However keep in mind that the white color gets dirty quickly, so the furniture is better choose with removable covers or one that can be easily cleaned.

Possible use in the design of the living room and cold pastel shades. For example, the combination of green and blue will give the room freshness. You can stop your choice and on grey. But in this case, so that the interior does not look detached and uninhabited, a few warm accents are sure to be placed.

More one interesting technique is the monochrome design of the living room. Small living room design in this case is based on the use of white and black. To the living room did not look like an office, in this case it is also necessary to complement the interior with bright interspersed.

What should there be trim?

Ideal for a small room a design option can be both painting the walls and using light wallpaper with a miniature pattern. If a decision is made to wallpaper the living room, with their choice must take into account the configuration of the room. For example, to divert attention from low ceilings and small spaces, you need use wallpaper with vertical stripes. Visually lengthen the square the room will help photo-wallpaper with picturesque landscapes. You can also come up with interesting design for one wall, so that all attention is concentrated only on her.

A special approach is also needed for ceiling decoration. White gloss - fits perfectly into the design of a modern living room in a small apartment. It will give it extra lightness and help visually increase its size. premises. As an alternative, especially if the ceilings are in the room is low, you can make the decoration with mirrors.

Work over the expansion of space

There are many tricks that can visually increase the size of the room:

Lighting

Good natural and artificial lighting, small rooms always look bigger. To start the window needs to be correct. The main rule is the absence of pretentious elements, ruffles and draperies. It is enough to curtain the window with tulle or light curtains. A good option for modern apartments can also be Roman or Japanese curtains.

Need to take care of additional lighting for a small living room. The best option is point lighting, with the location of lamps on the ceiling and walls. This will give the room additional volume and will help to divide it into zones.

Stylistic direction

What will be the design of a small living room, largely depends on the style of decoration. Choosing options that best emphasize the individuality of the room and will help create maximum comfort, special attention can be paid to several design directions.

Loft

His advantage is the possibility of visually increasing the space due to using large mirrors. To enhance the desired effect will help a huge panoramic window. If the apartment is located on the upper floors, then such a window is not necessary even hang up.

Classic

This direction never does not go out of fashion, but choosing it you need to take into account some of the nuances. So, creating the interior of a small living room, you can not clutter it with palace sets and decorate intricate drapes. It is better to focus on a few classic parts such as lamps.

Eco style

For decorating a room gray and beige shades will go well in this direction. Special attention should be given to the choice of furniture. It must be wooden and shaped as close to natural as possible. Curtains can be an additional accent from natural fabrics, such as linen.

Furniture

Even in a very small living room without furniture is impossible. However, you need to put only the most necessary items. It is also important to adhere to some selection criteria:

Straight living room

For maximum expansion of space is often used to combine different rooms. At such redevelopment in most cases requires the dismantling of one or several walls. However, such changes should be carefully considered, so that the load-bearing wall is not accidentally removed.

In small apartments the living room, especially after redevelopment, can become a walk-through. equip the interior a small living room is needed in such a way that there are no extra things. Items that can be easily hooked should also be positioned away from aisles.

Good an option for such a room would be the choice of transforming furniture, since it can be assembled as needed, and there will be more free space. And do not forget that one of the main purposes of the living room is a reception guests, so you need to decorate it in a fairly seasoned style.

Living-bedroom

If apartment limited not only in square meters, but also has few rooms, you can consider the option of combining a recreation area with a sleep area. When arranging such rooms the most practical solution is to place the sleeping area as far as possible from the door, in that part of the room where there will be less noise. To divide a room into zones, you can use screens or curtains. Often used in zoning shelving with books or drywall partitions. Another division option – the use of a different floor covering or design in each area multilevel floor.

Photo

Below is a gallery with original photo design ideas for a small living room.

Video

design, photo of a living room with a corner sofa

When buying furniture, its ergonomic arrangement in the room is taken into account. If there is a free corner and you need to fill it with something and at the same time use it practically, then a corner sofa in the interior is the best way for an apartment or house.

Table of contents of the article:

Advantages of using corner sofas

There are such advantages of using this type of furniture:

  1. There are more seats available. It is comfortable when the family is large or friends constantly come to visit.
  2. You can create a beautiful design in the apartment, this option fits many styles.
  3. Thanks to the corner sofa, you can zone the room, visually divide it into two functional zones.

For those people who have limited space in the apartment, it became possible to avoid cluttering up the room with other furniture with the help of corner sofas.

Correct location in the living room

Basically, if you buy a sofa for the living room and it has a corner configuration, then it is placed in a free corner of the room. But this is not the only location. In a studio apartment, this type of furniture can become the boundary between two areas: a kitchen and a living room. This will distribute the space.

There are different types of corner sofas. If you put a corner sofa with a “P” configuration in the middle of a spacious room, then you can create a visual center and place all other interior details around it.

What goes well with the interior

You can complement the sofa with an armchair or ottoman. If there is a coffee table, then it should be placed in front of the seats to create convenience during tea drinking or receiving guests.

Do not forget about the small details of the decor. If the corner sofa stands near the wall, then it is better to hang a picture or a poster on this surface. The dimensions of this decoration should not exceed the dimensions of the furniture.

Recommendations for choosing a model

Types of sofas differ not only in configuration, but also in appearance. Corner sofas what are:

  1. Half round. This method can be used to divide a room into two zones.
  2. With accessories. This type of furniture has additional elements that move. Additional elements can be independent blocks or puffs.
  3. Transformer. This model will be ideal for those people who have a limited area of ​​​​the apartment, the living room can become a bedroom. Then at night the sofa unfolds and a sleeping place is formed.

Variety of sizes

The design of a living room with a corner sofa needs to be thought out, to make one overall composition. It is recommended that this piece of furniture matches the available dimensions of the room. There are no generally accepted standards for sizes.

Each manufacturer models their own variants, but they are divided into large and small models.

To find your model, you need to consider the depth of the seat, the height of the backrest, the overall length.

The interior of the living room with a large corner sofa will be quite beautiful. The advantage of placing such a large sofa will be the ability to comfortably accommodate many people on it.

For a small apartment, the interior of the hall with a corner sofa is one of the good options. This allows you to arrange the furniture ergonomically, leaving free space for other elements in the room. You can consider a small model with a classic configuration.

Upholstery materials

Upholstered furniture is distinguished by the type of upholstery. If there are small children or animals in the house, then the dark tone of the upholstery will be a balanced decision. There are fabrics that clean well.

Good material - eco-leather. It is easy to clean and looks beautiful. But such upholstery has disadvantages: it creaks and can stick to the skin in the hot season.

Fabric upholstery looks nice. Today there is a large selection of materials, different in texture and shade: jacquard, velor, microfiber, flock. They are dense, have good quality indicators.

Fillings

But it is also recommended to find out what kind of filling is in the inner part. Today there is a large selection of fillers that affect the characteristics of sofas, their softness.

Modern sofas have the following fillings:

  1. Sintepon. This type of material is often used, gives them softness, elasticity.
  2. Polyurethane foam. The type of filler can withstand heavy loads. Suitable for apartments where small children who love to jump on furniture live. Material resistant to wear, high-quality, durable.
  3. Springs. This is a slightly outdated technology, which is sometimes used in new models. The block consists of springs attached to its base. Springs give softness and cushioning to the sofa.
  4. Strutto fiber. Anatomical filler that can adapt to the position of the body. It consists of springs based on synthetic or natural fibers.
  5. Foam base. This filler is used frequently. It is affordable, can return to its original shape, and will last a long time. Suitable for intensive use.
  6. Latex mats. This material has pores at its base. It is soft, reliable, durable. It differs in elastic indicators, which in this case are at a high level.
  7. Lamels. Orthopedic type of material. Elastic lamellas can withstand heavy loads and do not require special care.

Transformers

The structure of the furniture is important for its application. This will help ensure a comfortable seating on the surface of the sofa while it is used for lounging.

For sleeping there is furniture with a transformation function.

Transformers:

  1. Dolphin. These sofas are corner. Decomposing this piece of furniture is not difficult. You need to pull it towards you and the sofa will decompose until a bed is formed. The mechanisms are durable and can withstand many unfolding cycles.
  2. Eurobook. After transformation, an extensive sleeping place is formed, even and comfortable for rest. There are many models with such a transformation mechanism.
  3. Accordion. The sofa has a convenient unfolding, quickly transformed.
  4. Modular. There are no mechanisms to be set in motion. The berth is formed by moving the modules.

Photo examples of sofas in the interior of the living room

To understand what furniture or corner will look beautiful in the room, you need to see them from all sides.

Learn more