Sectional sofa designs for living room
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.
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:
- Place a base pillow in each corner of the sectional and pair it with an accent pillow. In the corner of the sectional, add some kind of interest with a pattern/texture pillow.
- Play with the sizes; more oversized pillows should be placed in the back and the smaller ones placed in the front.
- Create layers in the corner with shorter pillows and maybe even some lumbars. This corner should have the most!
4. Add Some Leather
Burrow Nomad Sofa in LeatherReview: 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: CutlerSchulzeIf 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: CutlerSchulzeA 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 SofaReview: 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 DefineWhat’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.
51 Sectional Sofas for Elegant and Functional Living Room Seating
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Sectional sofas are a powerhouse of living space utility. These pieces offer expansive space for seating and stretching out yet, because they are packaged as multiple pieces, they are so much easier to move and setup than a single-piece sofa of a similar size. They're also available in a dizzying array of formats – you can find sectional sofas with cozy chaise lounges attached, modular sofas that allow for endless layout formats, sectionals that include storage pieces, sleeper sectionals, and so many more. We've collected a style-forward selection of our favorite sectionals from around the web, each available online for your redecorating convenience.
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Small Sectional Sofas That Show Just As Much Style As The Big Boys
Modular sofa in the living room - types, selection criteria, placement in the interior
Sofas belong to the category of furniture that is used most often, intensively and, often, in different functional qualities. During the day, they can act as a place for sitting, communicating with household members or guests, and in the evening they offer comfortable sleeping places. These functions largely determine consumer requirements for sofas, the main of which are their size, shape and the presence of layout mechanisms.
Speaking of upholstered furniture for living rooms, one has to take into account not only the availability of comfortable accommodation for all potential guests, but also the dimensions of the room, the location of the sofa, the presence of other interior items (tables, cabinets, etc. ) Sometimes such a room requires furniture of a non-standard shape or large enough, and in some cases it would not be superfluous to have a serious transformation of a soft headset, which would be perfect for both relaxing a large company at the same time and creating several separate beds. Too difficult a task? Not for modular furniture!
What is a modular set?
It is customary to call a module a separable, but relatively independent part of a certain system or structure, capable of ensuring its scalability. In the furniture industry, this concept has taken root perfectly in relation to furniture elements that are part of sets. Made in the same style and having a special design that allows you to connect with each other (complement each other), these parts can form a complex of modules of any required size and configuration.
Initially, modular furniture was represented by cabinets, walls and kitchen sets, which made it possible to use any required number of sections in a ready-made set. Today, exactly the same technologies are successfully used in the production of upholstered furniture, which offers modular sofas - products consisting of several independent, but complementary blocks. The most interesting thing is that their number can vary within any limits!
Photo: Cantata 9 modular sofa0013Manufacturers have long found successful solutions that help to give individual modules universal properties. The basis of the design is the so-called. straight and corner elements, making up which you can get U-shaped, L-shaped or ordinary straight sofas. By adding modular parts to them with armrests, tables, built-in folding mechanisms, drawers for storing bed linen, shelves and even compartments in the form of mini-bars, you can get a “set” suitable for shaping upholstered furniture for every taste.
Types of modular sofas
Soft sets of this type can be divided into two large groups:
- Sectional, where the models are fastened together, forming a kind of single (not intended for disassembly!) design.
- Convertible, in which the components are not fastened, but simply arranged relative to each other in any desired order or combination.
The first category of sofas is represented by sets consisting of dozens of modules, each of which is equipped with a special mechanism designed to be connected to any other component. All these elements are made in the same style and design, so that after compiling the kit, a one-piece set of the required shape is formed. Many popular models of modular sofas include up to 40 different modules that help, like a designer, to compose a product of any desired size and configuration. At the same time, such separate parts always include modules that help to make a right angle or make a beautiful rounding of the sofa.
Transformable sets offer an easier way to compile a set: in this case, the modules are simply placed next to each other, which allows not only to assemble a sofa of the desired size and shape, but also to “disassemble” its parts at any time, obtaining, for example, several free-standing pouffes or beds.
In the photo: modular sofa GirroAlready within this classification, sofas can be distinguished that have certain mechanisms for their layout. Accordingly, models in such furniture can be equipped with the “book”, “dolphin”, “scissors, “puma”, “pantograph”, etc. systems. Also, modular headsets may or may not have backrest tilt controls, headrests, armrests built into the body of the modules boxes for storing linen - everything that allows you to distinguish between the types of ordinary monolithic sofas.
The main advantages of modular sofas
The main advantage of any modular design is that it does not limit your imagination, allowing you to create furniture of any size and shape. All that remains for the buyer of such a sofa to do is to calculate the required number of modules and select them in accordance with the invented project. From here, modular furniture will be the best solution for those who simply cannot find a monolithic sofa of the right size and shape for sale! Another important advantage is the transformation of furniture, which helps to change the situation to your liking or in connection with the circumstances. So, in a large living room there can be 2-3 separate soft pouffes, which, in the event of the arrival of a large number of guests, will instantly form a large U-shaped sofa. Finally, modular furniture is ideal for installation in non-standard sized rooms, filling niches, irregular corners, etc.
In the photo: modular sofa BellunoAre there any cons?
In pursuit of the versatility of individual elements of modular sofas, many manufacturers continue to make them extremely simple geometric shapes, which clearly does not contribute to giving the furniture, and with it the interior of the room, individuality. Fortunately, this problem is being successfully solved, as you can see by looking at the latest collections: constructors and designers are constantly improving their models, trying to offer the market a product that is different from competitors' furniture, which leads to unconventional solutions. On the other hand, the modules are clearly not suitable for classic interiors, where standard monolithic structures would look better, which, as you know, put serious restrictions on the choice of their shapes and sizes. The disadvantage of modular sofas can be considered their relative high cost, but it should be borne in mind that such furniture does not belong to the budget category.
Features of choosing a modular sofa
The primary issues when buying a modular upholstered set should be its final size and shape, which will help determine the type and number of required modules. Further, the criteria will be reduced to the list of "ordinary", where you will need to select the type and color of the upholstery, as well as the type of layout mechanism. Right now, it is important to take into account all the nuances, up to the presence of children and pets in the house, which can ruin the upholstery, or the high frequency of using a bed, because in this case, more reliable transformation designs should be preferred.
In the photo: modular sofa CalpeDo not lose sight of such an important factor as the filling material of the sofa. He, like upholstery, largely determines the cost of furniture, so giving preference to inexpensive models, be prepared for low quality materials, and in some cases also assembly.
How to properly place a sofa in the living room
Any furniture, including upholstered furniture, is selected in such a way as to create the most comfortable living space. Convenience most often comes down to the presence of a sufficient amount of free space, that is, the selected furniture should not interfere with movement around the room. Conversely, too large a room requires such furniture that would not leave a feeling of emptiness. Both problems are perfectly solved with the help of modular sets: for spacious living rooms, you can always assemble a U-shaped structure that occupies the center of the room, for small ones, use corner options that are installed against the walls and visually expand the space.
Pictured: Stelvio modular sofaThe modular sofa is also a great zoning tool, so it's easy to organize a reception area, for example, in a studio apartment or in a room where the living room and kitchen are combined. And, of course, using transformable modules, you can resort to different schemes for arranging upholstered furniture in the room and use those that are more convenient or simply more pleasant at the current time!
Benefits of sectional sofas
Sectional sofas have many advantages over other types of living room sofas and can usually also fit into any decor style. This dual functionality is one of the reasons why segmented sofas have been so popular in the last decade or so. With sectional sofas, you'll get the most bang for your buck if you know where to find the really good deals.
You can buy a sofa in Gomel for your home through the website https://mersi.by.
Here are some advantages of sectional sofas over other types of living room sofas:
The most obvious advantage of sectional sofas over regular sofas is that they have several positions in which they can be placed. Sectional sofas can be made into a longer sofa type, a corner sofa, and any shape in between. This allows you to tailor the furniture to your space rather than trying to create a room around the sofa. Sectional sofas are very versatile in this regard.
Another great advantage of segmented sofas over conventional sofas is that they can be easily adapted to fill empty spaces. If you have a large living room, a sectional sofa can be manipulated to fill the space much more easily than a standard sofa. With a regular sofa or settee, you generally get what you see. Visually, the size of the sofa is not adjustable. With a sectional sofa, you can at least visually change the amount of space the sofa takes up by moving the pieces into different positions. This gives you a completely different look in a large room and also gives you more options for decoration.
Without a doubt, the biggest advantage of sectional sofas over conventional sofas is that they are much easier to move around. Not only can you carry them piece by piece, but you can usually place them in a small apartment or space that wouldn't otherwise have a sofa or daybed. If you have a narrow doorway, stairs, or space, then a standard sofa usually won't fit. With a segmented sofa, the pieces tend to be able to get into tighter spaces. This allows you to have a great option for even the most cramped living spaces.
Sectional sofas can really save you money in the long run. Many people who go with a standard sofa end up needing to add a chair or two seater to fill their living room.