So, you’ve been thinking about buying a sectional couch.
But you’re a bit worried that these fairly traditional couches are no longer in fashion.
And you don’t want to pollute your living space with something that is in poor taste, right?
Well, there’s some good news for living spaces that are going to be used for a sectional and this is what you need to know.
A Sectional Sofa Caters To The Entire Room
We’ve got a handy guide to what is a sectional sofa and another for measuring up a room to ensure that you get the ideal sectional sofa for your space.
But the reason people love sectionals is that they come in pieces that can then be rearranged whenever you want to.
This means that a.) you can buy bits of the sofa as individual pieces rather than having to buy them all at once and b.) they’re super easy to get into your home and to put in place.
You can arrange them in any way that you want (though we recommend reading our feng shui guide for living rooms before you do) and this means you can always fill the room or block off any awkward or ungainly spaces from view too.
The Good News – Sectional Sofas Are In!
Jennifer Burt, an interior designer, who works for Mississippi Maximalism has said that sectionals are the way to go in living spaces this year.
She attributes this partly to Covid which has seen more families spending time at home together than ever before and thus, the previous trends of small, statement-style sofas has run its course.
She says that it’s important to buy the furniture as soon as you see it though as she says even the separate pieces (whether you opt for a u-shaped sofa or l-shaped sectional) are likely to have long lead times due to their popularity at the moment.
Jennifer also says that if you don’t want your very durable couch to be the focal point of the room, you can opt for a lighter color and this will ensure it looks like it takes up less space. (See our guide to choosing the color of a sofa for more ideas).
How To Make U-Shaped and L-Shaped Sofas Work With Other Furniture
L-shaped and U-shaped sectionals are easy to put with existing furniture. The L-shapes can simply be made into a symmetric layout by the use of things like coffee tables.
You can also fill in gaps between areas of your sectional with neighboring furniture to help allow for a cozy flow of energy around your living space.
Great Materials For Sectional Couches
This very much depends on you. We don’t recommend, for example, leather if you have pets (unless you’re aiming for shabby chic when their nails destroy the surfaces).
Vinyl is highly durable though and a bit cheaper than leather. You can also go for materials like suede if you don’t need them to be so hardwearing.
At the luxury end, you involve special materials such as silk or linen but they are super sensitive to staining and wear quickly.
What Is A Good Alternative To A Sectional Sofa?
If you decide not to go with a sectional altogether then you might want to think about two sofas or two sofa chairs instead.
They won’t offer as much seating as the sectional but may provide enough seating for your needs.
Final Thoughts On Sectional Sofas
Nearly every living room, particularly if it has awkward spaces to fill, can benefit from a sectional.
We have a large sectional in our living room and we’ve found the practical benefits are incredible, and as you can see, sectionals are in fashion right now, so you really can’t go wrong with one.
