Choosing a sofa for your living room is a crucial task, and sofa size does matter. It takes more than just picking your favourite colour and assuming what will fit in your room to get the right sofa.

Before you make the purchase, take into account the scale of the sofa, the form of the room, how traffic moves, and the purpose of the furniture. Here is a summary of all these factors, along with advice from the experts at FCI London.

1 - Start by Defining the Purpose of Your Sofa

In the age of consumerism, it is extremely important to think before you purchase. So start by considering your intended use for the sofa:

Be straightforward and realistic with this. You might adore the concept of using the sofa as a spot to read or as a place to entertain your friends with drinks, but in reality, you might actually be spending most of the day curled up on it with snacks and Netflix. 

A larger sectional can be worthwhile if you enjoy having plenty of guests watching television with you. If you don’t really entertain a lot and prefer your own company only, then a smaller sofa that fits your space would be the better option.

Next, consider how many people will use the sofa at the same time. If there are more than two people, you might want to think about a more extended sofa with three seats. A two-seater, though, is comfortable enough for a couple.

Two couches facing each other can also be better than one giant sofa that forces people to sit in a line - particularly when a room is used for entertaining guests. In a setting like this, the sofas will need to be smaller with enough room around them.

You should also think about your preferred position on the couch. Do you prefer to relax, or do you prefer to sit straight up? If it depends on the day and how you feel, check out our loungers for reclining whenever you like.

2. Read the Room

Take note of the room's length and width to obtain a sense of the size of sofas that will fit there. It's a good idea to look for sofas with higher backs if your room is big and has high ceilings because the open space will complement such sofas. 

Consider buying a shorter sofa or a small loveseat that won't overpower the room if you have limited space or low ceilings.

While purchasing a sizable, three-piece chaise couch could increase your comfort, it will take up all of your available space if you live in a studio apartment. So even though the couch may be soft, you won't feel as comfortable when moving around the room. 

While all this may sound obvious, many people continue to select sofas that are either too big or too small for their living rooms. A useful rule to apply when determining whether a sofa or sectional couch would suit your space is that it shouldn't take up the entire wall length and that there should be at least 18 inches of room on either side of the sofa. If you want a sectional with a chaise, the length of the chaise shouldn't go past the middle of the space. 

Here’s what our senior interior designer, Cristina Chirila had to say on this: “I always ask my clients to bring measurements of the room and if that’s not possible, I request them to schedule a video call with me or at the very least, bring pictures of the room so I can have an idea of the size and shape of their space and then guide them in choosing a sofa that would fit perfectly in that space.”

Not every living room is made equal. Our living spaces are now more varied than ever before. In contrast to open-plan residences, converted lofts may feature load-bearing supports and exposed pipes that are in the way of the furniture. Some rooms in a house are designed as square areas while others can be very narrow.  

Homes with open floor layouts benefit greatly from the shape and separation that a sectional sofa can provide. For instance, a sofa arranged carefully can act as a divider between the living room and dining room zones.

Examine any distinctive architectural elements in your room, such as windows, fireplaces, or built-in storage. Consider these built-in characteristics as you choose the appropriate sofa size for your room, making sure that these features are not blocked off by your furniture.

3. Settle on a Sofa Style

There are a number of different sofa styles, each of which comes in different sizes - for example, you can buy a regular 3-seater sofa for a room but if you’re going for a recliner, you would probably have to size down to a 2-seater as recliners take up comparatively more room. 

“If you’re unsure about the right style for your room, I would recommend going for a modular, sectional sofa - you can create an arrangement that suits you best, like the U-shape arrangement or the L-shaped one. These sofas also offer more customisation options and are really versatile, especially in terms of the sofa arrangement,” says Benjamin, business manager at FCI London. 

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How to Measure a Sofa?

Having said all this, it is also important for you to know how to measure a sofa.

The following image marks out the different dimensions that need to be taken into account:

One of the most neglected measurements is the sofa depth, which tells how large the sitting space is and this has a big impact on the seating experience. While some people prefer deep seats, others look for shallow ones for greater back support so make sure that you consider both the sofa depth and the seat depth before making the purchase.

Summing Up

Your living room's lighting fixtures and coffee table have a significant visual impact, but your couch is the furniture item that anchors the room. Additionally, it's a meaningful spot because this is where family and friends gather to chat or watch a movie. Those looking to buy a new couch probably have some questions because couches are such significant furniture elements (and because they sometimes come with higher price tags). By paying attention to its size and style, you can choose a couch that not only complements the design of your area but also provides plenty of seats. 

If you're still unsure about choosing the right size sofa or if you would like some expert help, book an appointment and our team will be in touch with you for a free design consultation.