Practically, you get 3 people on a sectional - one on each end and one in the middle. And, they take up a ton of space in a room. On 2 sofas, you get 4 people total - one on each end. Plus, sofas are easier to rearrange.
Sectionals create pre-defined pathways limiting how you navigate a space. Not only does this cut off traffic flow, but it is also visually stifling to the design flow. This is especially true in open concept spaces where it's important to be able to easily transition from one space into another.
Your home will feel more serene with two matching sofas, especially if they have a neutral colour. These sofas will produce a sense of harmony and symmetry, and your home will feel cohesive if you add other pieces of furniture with a similar design. A formal living room is the greatest place for identical sofas.
Sometimes picking a large sectional sofa can make a small living room feel larger. The key is to keep it the same, or similar color to the walls it's against so it's much more subtle and doesn't just dominate the entire room.
Flexibility - Because sectionals have such a large footprint they usually only fit in one position in a room. A standard sofa gives you the flexibility to change up your layout if you get tired of it in the future.
With the rise of modern design, sectionals are being designed with clean lines and minimalist features, making them a popular choice for contemporary homes. Sectional couches continue to be a fashionable and practical choice for homes, and their popularity is unlikely to diminish in the near future.
Since sectionals fit comfortably in the corner of your living room. This gives you much more space in the room to either move around or add additional pieces of furniture. Depending upon the layout of your living room, you can even split your sectional sofa into a chaise and a smaller sofa.
Sectionals are in this 2023. Aside from their multiple functions, sectionals can help zone your open-concept living space. For a small space, a sectional can help get rid of cramped or awkward corners. Sectionals with soft edges make up a relaxing area.
As Brianna Untener has commented above, couches that are raised off the ground can actually help a room feel bigger by creating more space. Interior designer, Jeanette Fusco, also supports this and says, 'a couch with legs or a raised base can create the illusion of more floor space. '
Don't be afraid to float it.
The most common placement for a regular sofa is against the wall, but this doesn't have to be the case for a sectional.
Consider the two thirds rule
A sofa that's the full length of the wall in front of which it is positioned could prove overbearing in a room scheme. But it's also the case that a sofa can look too small. One approach to getting the right proportions is to aim for a sofa that's about two-thirds of the wall length.
“You can spend $4,000 if you want a high-quality sofa, but in reality there are lots of companies where you can get a $2,000 sectional that will look good in five years' time,” she says. Here are a few things to look out for to be sure you're getting the most bang for your seating-area buck.
Determine TV Placement
Place your TV out of high-traffic areas. There's nothing more frustrating than trying to watch TV while people keep walking past it. In general, your TV should be positioned facing your seating so you can comfortably watch it from your couch or chairs.
Sofas last from seven to 20 years, though most cap out at roughly 15. The same goes for loveseats, sectionals and sleepers. Couches with solid wood frames (even better if it's kiln-dried) and reinforced joinery hold up the longest. Genuine leather upholstery has a longer lifespan than fabric.
While the best time of year for buying furniture depends on which type of furniture you're buying, when it comes to sofas and sectionals specifically, the best months to buy and save money are January, February, August and September.
As a general rule, you don't want to place a sofa in front of a door because you don't want to block it, and you don't want people to walk into the back of the sofa.
'A light-toned sofa in neutral colors, such as beige, cream, light gray, or white, can create a sense of openness in any room. These soft hues reflect the natural and artificial light that enters the room, making the space look brighter, airier, and more spacious.
In general, light, bright colours help to reflect ambient light and make a room feel bigger. Dark colours tend to absorb light and so can make a space feel smaller than it is, especially if they're used in abundance.
The top sofa colours in 2023 are grey, green and neutral-toned sofas. However, there are still other colours out there that offer something really unique to your living room. For example, a yellow sofa is great for those who want to add an extra pop of colour to their room, yet it still has a sophisticated look.
The consensus is that grey is out and warm neutrals will continue to dominate in 2023.
I prefer sectionals when it is a family space - they can be a comfortable place for a family watching movies or hanging out. And, I think sectionals are nice in a small space. While this may be counterintuitive, in a small room, they can be an efficient way to add as much seating as the space allows.
If you have a lot of space in your living or family room, you may opt for a sectional sofa. For medium sized spaces, the options are more open. You may actually find that a strategically placed sectional will make the room feel less cluttered than a tight grouping of a sofa and loveseat or chairs.
Contrary to popular belief, sectionals can work well in small spaces. A chaise sectional or a small L-shaped sectional sofa can help you make the most of a small living room or a studio apartment. The best position in spaces like this will likely be in a corner or against one wall.