How to Choose a Corner Sofa: The Complete Buying Guide

How to Choose a Corner Sofa: The Complete Buying Guide

Corner sofas are the best-selling sofa configuration in Europe for a reason: they maximise seating in the space they occupy, they define a living zone effectively, and they suit the modern open-plan living room better than any other configuration. But they are also the most complex sofa purchase to get right — more dimensions to measure, more configuration decisions to make, and a greater financial commitment that makes an error more costly. This guide covers everything you need to choose the right corner sofa with confidence.

Left-Hand vs Right-Hand: Getting the Configuration Right

The most fundamental decision in corner sofa buying is which side the longchair or chaise should be on — left-hand facing or right-hand facing. This is defined from the perspective of a person sitting on the sofa looking toward the room: left-hand facing means the chaise is on the left as you face outward; right-hand facing means it is on the right. The correct choice depends entirely on your room layout — specifically, which direction you want the chaise to point and which side keeps the main sofa run closest to the focal point (usually the TV).

Merlot Corner Sofa — from EUR 1.490
The Merlot corner sofa is a modular system, which means the configuration can be reversed — making it genuinely flexible for different room layouts. The high armrests provide a defined, structured silhouette that works particularly well in contemporary and mid-century modern interiors. Available in multiple colours, with the leaf green and sand variants being most popular.

Asti Corner Sofa — from EUR 1.490
The Asti is designed for larger living rooms and open-plan spaces. Its generous proportions create a strong visual anchor and provide ample seating for larger households. The clean, architectural silhouette suits contemporary and minimalist interiors particularly well.

Measuring for a Corner Sofa: The Critical Checks

Measuring for a corner sofa requires checking three things: the footprint in the room (mark it with tape before buying), the diagonal depth of the corner itself (to ensure the sofa does not block a door or circulation path), and the delivery access (the individual modules or sofa sections must physically fit through doorways, staircases, and hallways to reach the room). Corner sofas are typically delivered as separate pieces that are assembled in the room, which significantly reduces delivery access issues, but it is still worth checking with the retailer how the specific sofa you are buying is packaged and delivered.

Sofa Height: Low vs High Back

Corner sofa backs come in two main height ranges: low-profile (sofa seat height plus approximately 60–70 cm of back height, giving a total height of approximately 80–90 cm) and standard (a total height of approximately 90–100 cm). Lower-profile sofas create an airier, more open feel in a room and work better in rooms with lower ceilings. Higher-backed sofas provide more head and neck support and create a more enclosed, intimate seating feel. Most people find higher-backed sofas more comfortable for extended sitting.