Sofas by Type — Corner, Recliner, Sofa Beds & Modular
What kind of sofa you choose depends on how you really use the room. Would you like to seat the maximum number of people? Want to put your feet up after a long day? Use the living room as an extra bedroom when family visits? Or give yourself the freedom to rearrange things later?
Here’s a breakdown of each sofa style and who they’re best for.
Corner Sofas
A corner sofa makes use of a corner that might otherwise go to waste, providing you extra seating without taking up any more of your floor space. In open-plan settings the L-shape is particularly effective for demarcating the lounge from the eating area without the necessity of a wall.
All that matters is to get the alignment perfect. Corner couches are available in left hand or right hand configurations, depending on which way you look at the sofa from the front. The typical mistake is to order the wrong one, so measure both walls from the corner outwards and double check before you commit.
Our corner sofas range from corner sofa beds, recliner corner sofas, modular corner sofas to chaise sofas.
Modular Sofas
A modular sofa is made up of individual elements that are put together by you. Modular is the versatile option if you’ve got a weirdly shaped room, prefer to mix things up or want a sofa that could work in another house one day.
They’re also much easier to transport through a narrow corridor, as they come in parts instead of one big item - something to think about if access to your living room is restricted. And because you make the shape yourself, a modular sofa completely sidesteps the left-hand/right-hand question.
Recliner Sofas
If comfort is the priority, reclining sofa is for anyone. It reclines and raises a footrest so that you can really stretch out instead of sitting at the edge of the seat.
They are operated by a simple lever or push back motion. They're the more affordable option, they need no power supply, and there's nothing electrical to go wrong.
Electric recliner couches can be adjusted with the touch of a button allowing you to stop at any position you like rather than preset settings provided by a manual. They need to be close to a socket and some include frills like adjustable headrests.
Either way, leave some room behind and in front of the sofa so that the back and footrest can move freely.
Sofa Beds
Transform your lounge into an extra room with a sofa bed for when someone sleeps over. It’s the practical solution to “where will they sleep?” for smaller homes, flats and box rooms that are already doing a lot of work.
Think honestly how often it will really be used as a bed. If you have company once or twice a year, focus on how comfy the sofa is to sit on every day. If you plan to sleep on it on a regular basis, the mattress and the mechanism become significantly more important — and that’s where a pull-out design usually outperforms a click-clack.
Which Type of Sofa Should You Choose?
If you want maximum seating, go corner. If you want flexibility, go modular. If comfort is everything, go recliner. If guests stay over, go sofa bed.
And whatever type you choose, remember that the frame and the cushions matter more than the mechanism. A sofa with every feature going, built on a poor frame, will disappoint you long before a simple, well-made one does.
If you'd rather try a few before deciding, you're very welcome to visit our Enniskillen showroom and sit on them properly — with recliners and sofa beds especially, five minutes in person tells you more than any photograph.
Sofa Type FAQs
What's the difference between a corner sofa and a modular sofa?
A corner couch is a permanent L or U form made as a single piece. Modular sofas consist of individual portions that may be pushed together, moved about and sometimes added to over time. If you know exactly where it’s going and want a clean, cohesive design, go for a corner sofa. If you have a room that's an odd form, like to change your layout or want a sofa that may adapt to a future home, go for a modular sofa. Modular designs also eliminate the left hand/right hand decision since you build the corner on whatever side suits you.
Should I choose an electric or manual recliner sofa?
Manual recliner sofas employ a lever or push-back action, cost less, don't need a power source and have nothing electrical to break down. Electric recliner sofas are adjustable at the touch of a button and can be stopped at any position rather than preset positions, but they need a power connection nearby and they are more expensive. For simplicity and value, go manual. For ease and exact placement, especially if getting out of a chair is a struggle, use electric.
Are sofa beds comfortable to sleep on?
It is contingent upon the mechanism and mattress. Pull-out couch beds have a genuine mattress tucked inside the frame so you get the most bed-like night's sleep, but they do need floor space to expand out. A click-clack folds the backrest flat, using the sofa's own cushions as the sleeping surface — faster and more compact, but less pleasant for more than a night or two. Choose accordingly, but be realistic about how often it will be used as a bed.
Which type of sofa is best for a small living room?
A corner sofa can work surprisingly well, because it uses a corner that would otherwise sit empty rather than taking up a long wall. A modular sofa is also worth considering, since you can configure it to fit the space exactly and it's easier to get through narrow doorways. What tends not to work in a small room is a large recliner sofa, which needs clearance front and back to function properly.