How to Arrange a Sectional Sofa

Sectional sofas take up quite a bit of space.

Sectional sofas allow flexibility in planning a space. The sofa is in individual sections rather than one large piece of furniture. The sections can stand alone or be put together in different configurations. A sectional sofa can pull two rooms, such as a formal living room and an informal family room, together. The rooms flow cohesively because the sofa colors and/or prints are the same in each room.

Things You'll Need

• Measuring tape
• Paper
• Pencil
• Ruler
• Scissors

Instructions

1. Measure each section of the sofa. You'll need the width and length. Draw the dimensions of the sofa to scale on paper. A scale of 1/4 inch to 1 foot works well, or you could use 1 inch for 1 foot. Cut out the templates of the sofa sections.

2. Draw the dimensions of the room to scale on paper. Include windows, doors, built-in shelves or fireplace.

3. Decide where the focal point of the room is. The focal point will draw the eye when you enter the room. It could be a stunning view out the window, a fireplace, a grouping of plants or an entertainment center.

4. Place the sofa templates in the room around the focal point. If the focal point is the view, then the sofa faces the view. If it's the entertainment center, face several sections of the sofa toward the center. Leave at least a 3-foot space around the sofa as a walkway. The exceptions are for a coffee table, which requires an 18-inch space in front of the sofa, and a side table, which can be right next to the sofa.

5. Measure the other furniture in the room and draw templates to scale. Place those templates in the room around the sectional sofa. You may have to split up the sofa sections for a pleasing arrangement. If you do so, make sure each completed section looks like it stands alone. In other words, don't put two end pieces together in one area and a middle section in another, as it will look odd.

6. Adjust the arrangement of the furniture and sofa section templates on paper until it looks good and shows off the focal point.

7. Arrange the real pieces of the sectional sofa and furniture in the room following your arrangement on paper. Real life doesn't always follow a plan. Don't be hesitant to make changes to the arrangement. Sometimes moving the sectional sofa back a foot, for example, allows you to see a view as well as complement the focal point of the room.

Tips & Warnings

• Consider moving the sofa toward the middle of the room instead of lining up all the sections against a wall.

• Use two shades of the same color for toss pillows if the sections are in two different rooms. For example, use light blue and coral in the family room and a medium blue and peach in the living room.

• Sectional sofas can be heavy, especially if they include a day bed. Use a friend to help move the pieces.

• Join two sections securely using the built-in locking mechanism between sections.

References

• "Complete Home Decorating"; Lowe's; 2001
• "New Decorating Book"; Better Homes and Gardens; 2003