Sofas by Size — What Size Sofa Do You Need?
The most crucial decision you will make is the one that people most often get wrong. Choosing the proper size sofa. Too big and the room is little. Too small and the area never really comes together. Get it correctly and everything else falls into place.
And this is how you figure out what you need and where to start seeking.
Start With the Two-Thirds Rule
The best rule in the business is that your sofa shouldn't take up more than two-thirds of the wall it rests against. Measure the usable wall, not the width of the room. Radiators, doorways and windows all cut down the run you can really use, and that is a common reason a sofa fits the room but not the wall.
Then make place for living. You'll want enough space to pass comfortably, and a big enough distance to the coffee table that you can reach it without barking your shins.
Choose Your Size
1 Seater — Armchairs & Recliner Chairs
The most versatile piece of furniture in the room. An armchair can fill a nook, add seats without the bulk or line up either side of a fireplace. A reclining chair offers you a place to prop up your feet. Single chairs are also the simplest solution for adding seating to a room that just can't accommodate a larger sofa.
2 Seater Sofas
Compact, practical and typically the smarter option for a smaller living room, a snug or an apartment. It easily fits two adults and creates a sensation of openness in the room. If room is tight, this is generally the size that works.
3 Seater Sofas
The traditional family sofa. It houses the family, offers room to spread out and anchors the room effectively. It requires a rather solid wall, yet in most living rooms it's the logical choice.
Corner & Modular Sofas
This room has the most seats. A corner couch uses a corner space that would otherwise be unoccupied , and is often more efficient than a long sofa against a wall . Modular designs allow you to fit the pieces to your room and re-arrange later. Before you decide, you should measure both walls from the corner out.
Before You Order: Measure the Route In
Here is where the costly mistakes are made. A sofa that fits the room is useless if it won’t fit through the front door.
Take measurements of your doors, hallways and any tight curves or staircases. Also check the sofa’s height and depth against them, not just its width – a sofa often has to fit through a door on its side or at an angle. If you really have tight space, check for a modular sofa that comes in pieces.
And the easiest method of all: Before you buy, mark the footprint of the sofa on the floor with masking tape. You will know in thirty seconds if it is right or not.
Come and Sit on Them
A measurement can tell you only so much. Comfort. Depth. How hard the seat is. How it feels to truly sink into. Nothing translates to a screen.
You are quite welcome to visit our showroom in Enniskillen and see a selection of our couches in person and discuss sizes with our experts. Bring in your room dimensions and we’ll assist you figure out what will and won’t work.
Sofa Size FAQs
What size sofa do I need for my living room?
Begin with the wall. Measure the wall your sofa is against (considering windows, doors and radiators) and start from there. Your sofa shouldn’t be more than two thirds of the useable wall space. In smaller areas a 2 seater usually works well but most normal living rooms can easily manage a 3 seater. Before you commit, mark out the footprint on the floor with masking tape. It shows you more in thirty seconds than all the measuring on paper.
Do "2 seater" and "3 seater" mean a standard size?
No, and this is something that catches a lot of folks out. The label informs you how many people it will seat, not how wide it is. Two sofas both sold as 3 seaters can vary by well over a foot depending on the design. In particular, chunky padded arms add a lot of width but don’t provide you any extra sitting area, which is why slim-arm designs are so popular in compact houses. Always examine the real size of the sofa you are looking at.
How much space should I leave around a couch?
Leave around 2ft (60cm) of free floor space for walkways so people can pass past comfortably and about 18in (45cm) between the front of the sofa and your coffee table, close enough to reach, far enough not to bark your shins. If the room is a main pathway through the house, leave a little more. A space feels more thoughtful if a sofa is moved a few inches away from the wall rather than being pushed right up against it.
Will my sofa fit through the door?
Order after you measure, not before. Check every door, hallway, corner and staircase on the delivery route and compare these with the height and depth of the sofa and its width, as a sofa often has to be turned on its side to go through. If space is tight, consider modular sofas made of parts or ones with legs that can be removed. If you are not sure give us a call and we will talk it over.