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Living room ideas with sectional sofas


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.

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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.

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.

20 gorgeous sofas for an elegant living room

A sofa is more than just a place to sit. It's one of the big pieces of furniture that can set the tone for your entire room, which is why people spend so much time choosing the right one. Stick to a neutral color and add pillow accent colors. Or do you choose a flamboyant statement? There are many options to choose from…

While a large number of sofas on the market are celebrating the mid-century of modern style, other, outdated styles are making a comeback. Who would have thought that sectional sofas would return to the mainstream? And why not? nine0003

Large size will only be an advantage in your living room, as additional furniture can be used to a minimum. Take a look at the current offerings below, complete with helpful links to guide you to the point of purchase. You never know when you'll find your new living room centerpiece!

Hard sofas

We start with hard, strong sofas. They are the anchor of space with one strong color. The simplicity of one shade attracts to the shape of the product. Grab the Avec tweed sofa below. Who can resist its retro style, elongated shape and bronze legs? nine0003

Somehow, this amazing sofa manages to be elegant. [From CB2]

Some sofas make you want to sink into the middle of the soft cushions and sink into the furry place! Five plump back cushions make the Walton sofa extraordinarily comfortable. There is nothing better than enjoying TV programs while enjoying such a decadent place. [From West Elm]]

Speaking of comfort, the Oasis sofa also boasts an assortment of soft, large back cushions as well as a light linen cover. [From Crate & Barrel] nine0003

The Jack sofa is distinguished by its rust red, cotton velvet finish. While some design experts recommend a neutral wall color, when placing this color of furniture, it's hard to resist a red sofa in front of a wall of the same accent color, as shown below. [From Z Gallerie]

What about gray on gray? Deep textured walls covered in faux silk are the perfect complement to the Harrison sofa. Plush furniture and ornate walls? Perfection! [from Z Gallerie] nine0003

Long and narrow. It's a Lorimer sofa! Wide armrests and a low back are two reasons that make for an ultra-modern statement. And who doesn't love the elegance of a blue sofa? [from West Elm]

Go bold behind the Movie Pool sofa. Yes, its color evokes the feeling of the water depth of the pool! What prevents this sofa from being in the first place? Mid-Century Retro Legs, Fits in with Modern Design Clearly! [from CB2]

Patterned Sofas

Patterned sofas aren't just for outdated living rooms these days! A new range of modern printed fabrics for furniture made them irresistible, not to mention attractive. Grab the Bancroft sofa below. The thistle-like pattern makes it modern, while the tapered legs give it a wonderful retro effect. [From Dwell Studio] nine0003

The Larkin sofa shown here in the sample, Freja Citrine, is available in a variety of fabrics. Recessed legs smooth out the boxy look and create a fabulous floating effect. [from Dwell Studio]

Below we see the Larkin sofa again, this time in the Medallion Band Mineral pattern. Note how this large patterned sofa upholstery is complemented by smaller patterned wallpaper in a similar color scheme. [From Dwell Studio]

And now let's take a look at the Blanche combination sofa with a patterned front. The unconventional shape, interchangeable floral seat cover, and white back give it a new look. Talk about unexpected lightness! We now see the Blanche sofa, with a changeable cover in a fancy wool fabric. nine0003

But why is it impossible to look away from such a striking specimen? Dalmatian not included. [From Bruehl]

Leather sofas

Previously, such furniture was used for bachelor apartments and men's offices. Thanks to new structures and the strategic use of tarting, leather sofas have been transformed. Take the Chester Leather sofa, which incorporates mid-century modern leg styling and button quilting. [From Dwell Studio]

Tan Petrie leather sofa. Who can resist its 60s style shape and overall individual look? [from Crate & Barrel] nine0003

Next we have a more seductive version of the 50s style leather sofa in a charming silhouette. Mid-Century-style leather sofa, stunning with its rounded back, dainty wedge-shaped legs and rich Italian leather. [From West Elm]

It's funny how the wide, padded armrests make this Domino sofa super modern. White restored skin won't hurt anyone...[from Z Gallerie]

Sectional sofas

Ah, the sectional sofa is an eyesore for an outdated living room! This model is back with a vengeance! The Edward Angled Sectional Sofa with quilted back is perfect for maximum comfort when it comes to entertaining or just relaxing at home. [From Dwell Studio] nine0003

Oasis sectional sofa complete with additional white linen cover. An abundance of white fabric and bulging cushions tempt you to sink into comfort…[from Crate & Barrel ]

Modern grandeur of the 50's style, the Dual Pebble sectional sofa consists of three parts that can be easily swapped, left or right. [From CB2]

We end with modular sofas, which stand out for their functionality and versatility. Tillary modular sofas can be purchased in sets for different arrangements. Add a chic look to the hall and it's clear that there are as many options as there are styles to this accommodation. [From West Elm] nine0003

If you've never considered a leather sofa, tufted might have caught your attention. If you never thought you'd pay attention to white sofas, then perhaps the modern, airy effect they create in a room will make you change your mind.

You can plan whatever you want, but when you see your dream sofa, you will find a way to place it. On the other hand, don't forget important design elements like the color of the room where the sofa will be located, as well as the style of your main furnishings. nine0003

With a little foresight and creativity, you will find your dream sofa and the perfect place for it in your home.

how to perfectly zone the space with seating

Sectional sofa ideas for the living room are only suitable for large open-plan spaces. However, this furniture can also enhance a more sophisticated setting. Whether your living room is compact or spacious, there are many configurations of sectional sofas that will encourage you to relax in a comfortable environment. nine0003

“A corner sofa becomes the centerpiece of a space, creating the perfect setting for lounging or entertaining,” says Zoe Bailey of design agency StudioMorey.

Zone out a large open space with a chaise longue

Modular sofas can be fully adapted to the layout of the living room. Large L-shaped models allow you to zone large open spaces, creating partitions for aisles or dining areas. “Most sectional sofas on the market are now modular, so we We always recommend this style to our clients,” says Zoe Bailey of StudioMorey. nine0003

Arrange sectional sofas back-to-back

L- and U-shaped sofas are now very popular when choosing sofas. The central back-to-back arrangement looks stylish. “In larger rooms, it’s a good idea to place sections in the center of the room to make that area comfortable for socializing and receiving guests,” says designer Charu Gandhi.

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Create a cozy nook for reading or relaxing

Cozy nooks for relaxing are now in vogue, especially in homes where the rest of the living space is open-plan. An L-shaped sofa will create a cozy atmosphere that will contribute to a relaxing pastime and recuperation after a long day of work. Choose rich colors and soft fabrics to keep you comfortable. nine0003

Organize a social corner

If you like house parties or have a large family, consider placing three section "U" shaped seats. The beauty of this style is that several people can fully relax here.

“This year we really saw a resurgence of the iconic 1970s in living room and furniture trends. A U-shaped sofa offers many benefits without the need for major renovations or too much remodeling,” says Zoe Bailey. Most of the sofas in this shape also serve as a bright accent, and a well-thought-out classic detail forms the overall design concept of the room.” nine0003

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Personalize Your Space

The sectional sofa allows you to personalize your space. “Design options such as removable upholstery and, in some cases, replaceable legs, different seat cushion fillings and armrest types, allow you to choose a sofa for your individual requirements,” says Denis Barclay, furniture selection consultant at Chaplins. nine0003

Scandinavian style furnishings

Clean lines and a pale, uncluttered palette are reminiscent of minimalist Scandinavian design that works well in small spaces. This unfussy aesthetic also lends itself well to a low-rise sectional sofa.

“When designing small living rooms, we usually recommend a sofa with an ottoman, not an L-shape,” says Zoe Bailey. “This option is especially suitable for family-style design, as we can create a cozy atmosphere for relaxing without using pieces of furniture that will overload the room.” nine0003

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Small room model

The L-shaped sofa is very suitable for small spaces. This compact model does not clutter up the space and looks more neat. “In a small room, put an L-shaped sofa in a corner to open up the rest of the space,” says Irene Gunter, co-founder of Gunter & Co. nine0003

Customize the interior according to your needs

The advantage of a sectional sofa is that, depending on the configuration and its location, it can both close the space and expand it. In a home that doesn't have an entryway, positioning a corner sofa with one side facing the front door will help create a sense of privacy. Buying a sofa piece by piece also gives you the option to later add tables, ledges, and more if needed. nine0003

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A young couple from Spain creates unusual pictures in the style of surrealism the future, as it is a system that can be reconfigured if necessary,” says Denis Barclay of Chaplins. “Its versatility means you can buy it for one space and then add or downsize sections for use in a completely different part of the house.” nine0003

Level the perimeter of the room

“In a small room, placing a corner sofa around the perimeter creates a cozy atmosphere without taking up much space,” says Zoe Bailey.

Learn more