There is something quintessentially cozy about having a sectional. I remember shopping for furniture for Chris and my very first apartment together. We went to a local furniture store, and there was a U-shaped sectional right in the front. We’re both tall, and it was the kind that had a bench seat and then a chaise on either end. We fell in love with it and bought it for $800! We also got a square leather ottoman that went in between the chaises. The couch was getting delivered the next day, and when we got back to our apartment, we’re like “Oh my goodness, I hope it fits.” Well, it fit but there was no room for anything else in the living room! It’s always worth measuring your space first to make sure it can fit the room (or go up a stairwell!)
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Types of Sectional Configurations
What I really love about a sectional is that there are so many layout options:
- There’s the L-shape with backing on all sides, which is what we have in the bonus room. This is great when you want maximum seating for a small amount of space because the seating is like fully on two sides and then you have one open side.
- Then there’s the L-shape with a chaise on one side. They really inviting and really versatile, you can fit these almost anywhere. They’re great with the chaise placed against a wall.
- The U-shaped sectional can go from really small to really large. We have one in our playroom with a really long sitting area with two chaises on the end. This shape is really great for lounging and watching TV or movies — it’s not really built for conversation. It’s basically the same seating as a couch, but hey a couple of people get to lie down.
- Then there’s a U-shape that has a backing on all sides, which really maximizes the seating and allows for more conversation, but you have to have a lot more space.
- Lastly, there are the DIY sectionals which are modular ones. You can usually put part of the sofa into an ottoman in any way you want, which can be helpful for different size gatherings.
What to Consider When Buying a Sectional
When buying a sectional, definitely consider whether you can flip the cushions or not. If you have little kids, it might be worth looking for ones that can flip. Also, our sectional in the bonus room that we recently replaced now has Crypton fabric. This is our first time with it, and we went for the color nomad snow (which was mildly terrifying with kids). But the Crypton does exactly what they say: anything messy just wipes right off! For a family space, a high-performance fabric is so worth the price point. But also look at upholstery rub count or cleaning capabilities. Our very first sectional we got Scotch-guarded so that it was easy to clean as well.
Here are some of my favorite sectional couches at every budget:
- Bobbi 2 Piece Upholstered Sectional $2,399
- Bernathe 4 – Piece Upholstered Sectional $1,089
- Turner Square Arm Leather Chaise Sectional $3,993
- Luisa 3 Piece L Shaped Sectional $5,799
- Maia Sectional Sofa $2,299
- Kipton Corner Sectional $8,197
- Unwind Modular 3-Piece Reversible Sectional Sofa $3,597
- Beckstead Chaise Sectional $10,869
- Performance Bouclé Hull Sectional $4,498
Some other not-to-miss favorites:
- U-Shaped Sectional Sofa $369
- Oversized Modular Sectional Sofa $1,499
- Arthur 3 Piece Sectional $5,099
- Roswell Left Arm Sectional $5,249
- Aurelia Sectional Sofa $6,999
Thank you for this post on sectionals. We are going to shop for a sectional, or sofas, for our family room that we would like to make into a comfortable movie room. The modulars look like they will work for us due to the flexibility of arrangement. Thanks again.