A sectional sofa is usually the largest piece in a living room, and once it is delivered it is also the hardest one to rearrange. Getting the shape, the orientation and the measurements right on paper takes one evening with a tape measure and saves a great deal of trouble later.
This guide covers the choice between an L-shape and a U-shape, how to decide which side the corner or chaise goes on, which clearances to keep around the sofa, and what to check in the corner seat itself. The same steps apply whether you choose a standard model from our sectional sofa collection or ask for custom dimensions.
L-shape or U-shape: start with the room
An L-shaped sectional has two runs of seating that meet at a corner. It suits most living rooms: it can stand against two walls, or float in an open-plan space with its back marking the edge of the lounge area. A typical L-shape seats four to six people.
A U-shaped sectional adds a third side. It creates a closed conversation area and seats more people, but it needs a room that is roughly as wide as it is deep, and it closes the seating off from one direction. A common rule is that a U-shape works when the room measures at least about 4 metres in both directions, so that walkways still fit around it.
- Choose an L-shape if a door or a large window sits on one of the long walls, if the TV is on a single wall, or if the sofa also has to divide an open-plan space.
- Choose a U-shape if the room is large and close to square, the seating faces a fireplace or a central coffee table, and you regularly host bigger groups.
- Consider a chaise version (one extended seat instead of a full second side) if the room is narrow; it gives a place to stretch out without a second backrest.
Left or right: deciding the corner and chaise side
Orientation is the most common ordering mistake. Makers usually describe the side as seen when you stand facing the sofa, so a "left-hand" corner is on your left as you look at it, not as you sit on it. Confirm the drawing in writing before production starts.
To decide which side you need, stand where people enter the room. The open end of the sectional should face that entrance, so guests walk into the seating area rather than around a backrest. Then check three points:
- The main view: the long side usually faces the TV or the window.
- The light: a chaise next to the window is pleasant for reading, but leather in direct sun fades over time.
- Sockets and radiators: keep the back of the sofa at least 10 cm away from a radiator, and plan where a reading lamp will plug in.
How to measure walls, walkways and doors
Measure the room first, then draw the sofa into it. Marking the exact footprint on the floor with masking tape is the easiest way to feel the size before you order.
- Wall lengths: measure each wall the sofa will run along, from the corner to the nearest obstacle such as a door frame, radiator or window sill. Leave 5–10 cm between an arm and a wall or door frame.
- Walkways: a main walkway typically needs about 90 cm; a secondary path behind or beside the sofa needs at least 60–75 cm.
- Coffee table gap: keep about 40–45 cm between the front of the seat and the coffee table so there is room for knees and feet.
- TV distance: a common guide is roughly 1.5 to 2.5 times the screen diagonal.
- Delivery route: measure door widths, the inside of the lift, stair turns and corridor corners. A sectional arrives in separate modules, but the longest module still has to pass through.
For more on how walking routes shape a layout, see our article on how circulation patterns influence furniture placement.
The corner seat: where a sectional works or fails
The corner is the seat people avoid when it is badly planned. Where the two sides meet, the seat becomes deeper on the diagonal and the backrests form an inside angle, so the person sitting there has less room for their legs.
When you compare models, sit in the corner and check whether your back is supported and your feet reach the floor. Seat depth on a sectional is typically around 55–65 cm and seat height about 42–46 cm; deeper seats feel relaxed for lounging but need extra back cushions for upright sitting. Compare the corner on models such as the Toronto corner sectional sofa, the Sky corner sectional sofa and the Isabella corner sectional sofa to see how arm height, back height and cushion shape change the feel of a similar footprint.
Inside, our sectionals are built like our other upholstered pieces: frames of kiln-dried beech and seats of high-resilience (HR) foam over sprung seating, so the corner keeps its shape with daily use.
Standard models and custom sizes on request
Our catalogue has standard models in set dimensions, and in many rooms one of them fits as it is. When a wall is a few centimetres short or a walkway needs more space, custom dimensions are available on request: the length of each side, the seat depth and the corner orientation can be adjusted. Send us your room measurements with the position of doors, windows and radiators, and we will check what fits.
Every piece is handmade in our own factory in Büyükçekmece, Istanbul, and upholstered pieces have a lead time of 3–4 weeks. Upholstery is available in genuine leather, with 76 colours in 12 colour families, or in fabric; customer's own material (COM) is also accepted.
If you have a floor plan or a photo of the room with its measurements, contact us for leather samples and a quote for a sectional that fits it.
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