Living Room Sectional Sofas

Sectionals are the flexible member of the furniture family. With sectionals, there are options — oh, how many options! Sectionals can come with separate components that you match like a set of blocks, or they are designed and come with a specific configuration. Here you find the Urban 57 explanation of sectionals, and what the various parts are called, to help our Sacramento furniture buyers make exactly the right choice for their sectional.

Placement of Your Sectional

First we have to consider how your sectional will be used in the home or office. Will it rest against a wall, or reside in a corner? Will it sit in a large space and help define the open center? Will step towards the seating area of the sectional when you enter the room, or will you face its back? All of these questions help determine the best designs and fabric styles for your sectional.

Sectional Layouts

Sectionals typically are purchased with one of the following layouts.

  • Chaise — one side of a chaise sectional features just that — a chaise lounge. While everyone else sits on the sofa, the person on the chaise can bring their feet up and lay back against the sofa while resting their arm on the side. These often take up the same amount of floor space as their near relative, the L-shaped sectional.
  • L-Shape — this sectional looks as its described, like a combination of a love seat and a sofa meeting at the corners and making a 90-degree angle. Unlike the chaise, both ends of the sectional have armrests for seated individuals.
  • U-Shape — Considered the best sectional for fostering conversation, the U-shape has extensions on both ends — usually as a sofa with two 90-degree love seats facing each other.
  • Symmetrical — whether its two love seats meeting at the corner or two sofas, the symmetrical sectional gives equal consideration to both parts. These are great in the corners of a room with lots of wall space.
  • Curved — any of the above sectionals can define itself with strict 90-degree angles or they can also come curved. Curved sectionals are usually placed away from the walls with the curve helping to define the style and space of the room. Curved lines tend to seem softer and more inviting than the sharp angles that come standard.
    Next you should consider whether you want your sectional to be left-handed or right-handed.

Sectionals Come with Hands?

Sectionals are usually referred to as right-hand facing or left-hand facing. To determine what design is used with the sectional you want, consider yourself looking straight at the longest seating section of the sectional. On what side of your body is the sectional extended with a short side? If the sectional extends on your left side, that is left-hand facing. If the sectional extends on your right side, that is right-hand facing.

Sectional Components

You can look for sectionals with certain features, order sectional components that are interchangeable for greater flexibility, or design a sectional to be put together with specific parts. Here are the most common sectional components:

  • The Corner Chair — although sectionals are defined by their combination of two sofa-like components into an “L” or “U”-shaped piece of furniture, it takes the corner chair to meld them together. If the seating area from the backrest to the front of the sectional is exceptionally long, however, the corner chair becomes a difficult spot for a short-legged person.
  • The Love Seat — when you want the option of sitting close and personal with someone, the love seat is your favorite part of a sectional. On the other hand, when you want to claim a large spot all for yourself, sit on the love seat, spread your arms wide, and act like you have just enough room. The love seat comes with or without an arm on one side.
  • The Chair — The long side of a sectional usually combines a love seat with a chair. Or it may just be a combination of three chairs. Chairs also come with or without an arm on one side.
  • The Chaise — Do you want a lounging sectional? Do you want a U-shaped sectional with one chaise, or two? Just how relaxed will you be in the room you have picked for your sectional? The parts of your sectional help define the purpose of a room, for a chaise motivates relaxation.

Now that your perfect sectional is configured, you should also consider your optional features.

Additional Sectional Features

Here are some additional terms to describe features discussed above and to provide more options and flexibility for your sectional furniture.

  • Modular or Stationary — As described earlier, if a sectional’s parts are interchangeable, allowing you to mix and match components like building blocks, your sectional is modular. If the design is set, with the components locked together, the design is stationary.
  • Recliners — some or all of the chairs in a sectional can be recliners. This is considered the ultimate sectional accessory for man caves and theatre rooms.
  • Sleeper — Remember the pullout bed that is spring loaded to pop into place when you have unexpected guests (or need to save studio space)? That’s a sleeper sectional.
  • Convertible — similar to the sleeper, but designed more like a futon, it’s the backs of the sectional that fold down to create a bed. The cushions are then typically used for a mattress.

When you have your sectional all figured out, or when you’re ready for a free in-store consultation with an interior designer, contact us at Urban 57!