A longchair sofa is a sofa with one seat extended into a lounger you can lie on – the piece that is called a chaise sofa in the UK, a canapé avec méridienne in France and a Sofa mit Récamiere in Germany. It is the most popular corner-sofa shape in Europe for a simple reason: it gives one person a bed-length lounging spot without the floor space a full L-shape demands. This guide covers what a longchair actually is, how to get the left/right question right, how much room each size needs, and which Furni longchair models suit which living room.
Shop the look: browse our chaise sofas & corner sofas with longchair – MERLOT, MALBEC, PINOT, BAROLO, COMO, ASTI, RIVA and TORINO, chaise left or right, made in Poland with free EU & UK delivery.
What is a longchair sofa?
On a longchair sofa one of the end seats is roughly 160–200 cm deep instead of the usual 90–110 cm, so you can stretch out fully while the rest of the sofa stays a normal seat. Unlike a true L-shaped corner sofa, the longchair has no backrest along its length – it is open on the room side, which is why the sofa feels lighter and takes less space than a corner sofa of the same seating capacity.
Three terms get mixed up, so here is the short version:
- Longchair / chaise: a deep, open-sided lounging seat at one end of the sofa.
- L-shape corner sofa: two full sofa sections meeting at a corner, both with backrests.
- Récamiere / méridienne: historically a daybed with one raised end; today used in German and French as synonyms for a longchair.
On a modular sofa such as MERLOT or MALBEC the longchair is a separate module, which means you can add it later, move it to the other side or swap it for a seat when your room changes. For the original primer, see Longchair sofa: what is it and how to choose one.
Left or right longchair: how to decide
This is the question that causes the most returns in the industry, so get it right once. The convention Furni and most European manufacturers use is this: stand facing the sofa, as if you were about to sit down. If the longchair is on your right, it is a right-hand longchair; on your left, left-hand. Some retailers describe the side as seen sitting on the sofa, which is the mirror image – always check the product's own diagram.
Four rules of thumb
- The chaise goes towards the open room, not the doorway. Nobody wants to squeeze past a lounger to get in.
- Point it at the view or the TV. You lie on the chaise with your head at the sofa end, so your feet point away from the backrest – make sure the screen is visible from that angle.
- Keep the walkway on the short side. The standard seat section should sit along the wall with the main traffic route; the chaise projects into the quieter zone.
- Window on one side? Put the chaise there. A low, open chaise under a window keeps light flowing; a high armrest would block it.
If you cannot decide, choose a modular system where the longchair is a module you can move: MERLOT, MALBEC and PINOT all allow it. For BAROLO, COMO, ASTI, RIVA and TORINO the side is fixed at order time, so sketch the room first.
Longchair sofa sizes and the room they need
Total width is the straight sofa section plus any armrests; total depth is the longchair itself. The table below uses Furni's current models as reference points.
| Configuration | Typical footprint (W × D) | Minimum room | Furni example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compact 2–3 seater + longchair | 190–215 × 160–185 cm | 12–14 m² | PINOT corner 190 × 167 cm; MERLOT corner 3-seater 212 × 184 cm; COMO corner 3-seater 214 × 159 cm |
| 3-seater + longchair with arms | 230–300 × 160–205 cm | 14–18 m² | BAROLO corner 3-seater 214–234 × 159 cm; ASTI corner 282 × 155 cm; MERLOT corner with low arms 302 × 185 cm |
| 4-seater + longchair | 310–340 × 160–190 cm | 18–22 m² | COMO corner 4-seater 311 × 159 cm; PINOT 5-seater 334 × 190 cm |
| 5-seater + longchair | 360–400 × 200–220 cm | 22 m² and up | MALBEC 5-seater longchair 395 × 217 cm; MERLOT 5-seater longchair |
Two checks before you order. First, lie down: a longchair you can actually sleep on needs about 160 cm of usable length for most adults, 180 cm if you are tall. Second, walk around it: leave at least 60–70 cm between the end of the chaise and the next piece of furniture, otherwise the room's circulation breaks.
MERLOT Modular Corner Sofa 3-Seater Longchair, Low Armrests — from €1,875
302 × 185 cm, 70 cm high, longchair left or right and movable later. Eleven fabrics from Retro Bliss chenille to brown bouclé, plus an optional sleep function. The bestselling longchair at Furni.
Chaise Sofas & Corner Sofas with Longchair — from EUR 1
Every Furni sofa with a longchair in one place: modular MERLOT, MALBEC and PINOT, the BAROLO and COMO families with three armrest styles, the ASTI corner sofa in chenille and the RIVA and TORINO corner sofa beds with storage.
The best longchair sofas at Furni
MERLOT – the flexible low-profile longchair
MERLOT sits at 70 cm high with a 111 cm deep seat, which gives it that relaxed, low-profile look that works in Japandi, mid-century and contemporary rooms. The armless MERLOT corner sofa is 212 × 184 cm – the smallest real longchair sofa for a 12–14 m² room – while the high-armrest version adds cosy sides for film nights. Need more seats? The MERLOT 5-seater longchair keeps the same height and fabrics. Every version comes with the longchair left or right, and because it is a module you can move it when you move house.
PINOT – the compact longchair for small rooms
At 190 cm wide, 167 cm deep and only 67 cm high, the PINOT corner sofa with chaise is the longchair we recommend most often for flats. The 43 cm seat is low but not slouchy; Retro Bliss chenille comes in beige, dark grey, navy and dark green.
BAROLO and COMO – choose your armrest
Both are 82 cm high with an 87 cm deep seat – a more upright, sofa-like feel than MERLOT. The BAROLO corner 3-seater is 214 cm wide with a slim or headrest arm (234 cm with the wide arm) and 159 cm deep, in four Melody colours. The COMO corner sofa has the same footprint in Rhythm bouclé – cream, taupe, sage green or terracotta. The headrest armrest is the one to pick if you nap on the longchair.
ASTI – the one-piece chenille corner sofa
The ASTI corner sofa is 282 × 155 cm and 98 cm high, upholstered in velvety Euphoria chenille with HR 35/38 foam. It is not modular, but it is the most generous single-piece longchair in the range, in six colours from ivory to deep blue.
MALBEC – the pet-friendly longchair
Upholstered in Sorriso, a tightly woven performance fabric that resists claws and wipes clean, the MALBEC 5-seater longchair (395 × 217 cm) is the family-and-dog option. See our best modular sofas in Europe guide for how it compares.
RIVA and TORINO – longchair sofa beds
If the longchair must double as a guest bed, the RIVA and TORINO corner sofa beds have a pull-out mechanism and a bedding box under the chaise, delivered in two parts for easy access up stairs.
Longchair vs L-shape vs U-shape: a quick comparison
- Longchair: best for 2–4 people, rooms from 12 m², open and light. One person lies down.
- L-shape corner sofa: best for 4–6 people, rooms from 18 m². Two people can lie down, but the corner section needs wall or floor space on two sides. Browse corner sofas.
- U-shape: the family cinema sofa for 22 m² and up.
Our high back vs low back guide helps with the other big decision – a 67–70 cm back (PINOT, MERLOT) keeps a room feeling open, while 82–98 cm (BAROLO, COMO, ASTI) gives head support.
How to choose a longchair sofa: checklist
- Sketch the room with door, windows and TV, then draw the sofa with the chaise pointing into the quiet zone.
- Decide left or right standing in front of the sofa – and check the retailer uses the same convention.
- Measure depth, not just width. Allow 60–70 cm clearance beyond the chaise end.
- Lie down on 160–180 cm. That is how long the chaise must be if you plan to nap on it.
- Choose the back height for the room: low to keep it open, high for support.
- Prefer a modular longchair if you rent or might move – you can swap sides or add seats later.
- Order fabric samples. Chenille for softness, bouclé for texture, Sorriso for pets – all OEKO-TEX certified at Furni and free to sample.
- Check the terms: free EU & UK delivery, 30-day returns and a 2-year warranty at Furni mean a wrong-side decision is fixable.
Frequently asked questions
What does "longchair" mean on a sofa?
It is the extended, open-sided seat at one end of a sofa that you can lie down on – the same thing as a chaise longue section, a Récamiere (German) or a méridienne (French). The term is standard in Dutch, German and Scandinavian furniture retail and increasingly used in English.
Which side should the longchair be on?
Towards the open part of the room and away from the door, with a clear line of sight to the TV or window from a lying position. Facing the sofa, "right-hand" means the chaise is on your right.
How big is a longchair sofa?
Compact versions start around 190 × 160 cm (PINOT), typical 3-seaters run 210–300 cm wide and 160–205 cm deep, and 5-seater longchairs reach around 400 × 220 cm. Allow 12–14 m² for the smallest and 22 m² for the largest.
Can you sleep on a longchair?
For a nap, yes – a 160–185 cm chaise fits most adults. For regular overnight guests choose a longchair sofa bed such as RIVA or TORINO, or a MERLOT with the optional sleep function.
Longchair or corner sofa – which is better for a small living room?
The longchair. It seats as many people along the wall as a straight sofa, adds a lounging spot and leaves the room open on one side. A true L-shaped corner sofa needs two walls or a lot of floor.
Can I change the side of the longchair later?
On modular systems such as MERLOT, MALBEC and PINOT, yes – the longchair is a separate module. On BAROLO, COMO, ASTI, RIVA and TORINO the side is fixed when the sofa is made.
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