Should I Choose L-Shape Sofas for a Small Living Room?

If you’re the sort who enjoys relaxing and bingeing on your favourite TV programmes, a large, comfortable sofa is an absolute essential. In fact, the bigger your sofa is, the better.

L-shaped sofas are a great choice for those who want a large, generous seating area. Offering plenty of room for everyone to sprawl out, L-shaped sofas are a good option for living rooms of all shapes and sizes.

One of the most important things to consider when buying an L-shaped sofa is the size of your living room. As L-shaped sofas take up more floor space than standard 2- and 3-seater sofas, you need to ensure that your interior is big enough to accommodate this generous furnishing before you buy.

If you’re not sure whether an L-shaped sofa is right for your room, don’t worry! Our guide to will tell you everything you need to know about these irresistibly comfy seats.

Make family time a priority with the Pebble L-Shape Sectional. Image credit: @xomyhome

Benefits of an L-shaped sofa

L-shaped sofas are not only great for busy households – they’re also perfect for those who like to spread out, lie back and relax at the end of a busy day. Offering more seating space than a standard 2- or 3-seater sofa, a corner modular sofa is also the perfect choice for people who like to have friends and family over on a regular basis.

In general, L-shaped sofas take up less room than two standard sofas. This means they allow you to accommodate more people in your living space. What’s more, if you opt for a modular design, you can add sections to your sofa if you need to expand your seating area to cater for more guests.

Pictured: @rebeccaandgenevieve sure knows how to create a cosy spot in the living room with the Adams L-Shape Sectional Sofa

Fitting an L-shaped sofa in a small living room

L-shaped sofas can look great in small living rooms. This is especially true if other furnishings are kept to a minimum, allowing the sofa to take the spotlight. If you fill your small living room with a large l-shaped sofa, you can transform it into a welcoming, comfortable cinema room.

However, if you want to have other pieces in the space, like a coffee table, sideboards or a home office, a smaller 3 or 2-seater sofa may be a better choice. In general, a corner sofa is not the recommended option for a small living room, unless it is a small L-shape specifically for a compact living room. This is because it could be restrictive when you want to move around the space, leaving insufficient room to accommodate other furniture. This may cause the small living room to appear even smaller.

When deciding on a layout for your small living room, measure the space from wall to wall and think about how you’re going to arrange your furniture and use the space. This should give you a good idea of whether you can fit a corner sofa into the design.

How much seating do you need?

Another good way to decide if an L-shaped sofa is right for your small living room is to think about how much seating you need in the space. For example, if a lot of people live in your home, or you host friends and family on a regular basis, an L-shaped sofa could be a good choice. An L-shaped arrangement generally takes up less room than two separate sofas, so, if there’s a need to seat more people in the space, a corner couch could be a great option.

If you want an L-shaped sofa in your small living room but are worried it will dominate the space, opt for an L-shaped chaise sofa design. Smaller than standard corner sofas, these elegant furnishings give you lots of room to stretch out while still leaving plenty of space for other items.

Any time is nap time on the Tana Chaise Sectional Sofa. Image credit: @aubreyhearty

Alternatives to L-shaped sofas

If an L-shaped sofa isn’t right for your living room, there are lots of other great ways to boost your seating space and create a modern, contemporary design. A good option is to add an ottoman to your layout. Ottomans are great for creating more seating space and can also double up as coffee tables when not in use.

You could also add some stylish armchairs to the layout. Accent chairs can be moved around easily, used to style your home, and provide additional seating. It’s also easier for people to walk around chairs than large sofas. This will free up the space and make it more accessible. Look out for a sofa and chair set to add instant style to your living room.

Are sectional sofas good for small spaces?

Sectional sofas can be a good option for small spaces. Because they come apart into separate sections, they’re very versatile and can be designed to fit rooms of different shapes and sizes. However, sectional sofas do generally take up more space than standard 2- and 3-seaters. So, if your living room is particularly small, they may not be the best option.

How do you put an L-shaped couch in a small living room?

If you opt for an L-shaped sofa in your small living room, try to minimise the number of other furnishings in the space. This will ensure that your sofa is the main focal point and that your room doesn’t feel crowded or cluttered.

Where should an L-shaped sofa go in a small living room?

When placing your L-shaped sofa in your living room, try to avoid blocking doors or other access points. You can place your sofa right up against the wall to maximise floor space or move it into the middle of the room to bring you closer to your TV and allow foot traffic to pass behind the sofa.