A chaise sofa is a standard sofa with one end extended into a full length lounging seat, and the main thing to get right before you buy is orientation: decide whether the chaise sits on the left or the right as you face the sofa, because most designs are fixed. After that, the decisions are about depth, seat firmness, fabric and how the extended end affects the flow of your room.
Chaise designs have become a default choice in British homes for a simple reason. They give you the stretched out comfort of a corner sofa without the bulk of a second full arm and back, which suits rooms where every centimetre counts.
The two are often confused. A corner sofa has two full seating runs meeting at a right angle, with backs and usually arms on both sides. A chaise sofa has one seating run plus an open extension with a back but no outer arm, so it feels lighter and takes up less visual space.
Choose a chaise if your room is medium sized, you want one person to be able to lie out fully, and you would rather keep sight lines open. Choose a corner if you regularly seat four or more people, or if you have a large square room that can carry the extra mass. Our modern corner sofas UK sale range is worth comparing side by side if you are torn between the two formats.
This is the single most common cause of regret, so take your time. Stand where the sofa will go, face it as if you were about to sit down, and note which side the long section needs to be on. That is the side the retailer means when a listing says left facing or right facing, though it is always worth checking how a particular description is worded.
Three practical pointers. Keep the chaise away from the main walkway so nobody has to squeeze past the extended end. Position it so it does not block a radiator, door swing or window. And if the room has an obvious focal point such as a television or fireplace, put the chaise where the person lying on it still has a comfortable view.
If you genuinely cannot decide, or you expect to move house, look for a design with a reversible or detachable chaise section. Modular systems solve the problem entirely, since the pieces can be rearranged whenever the room changes.
Write down four numbers: overall width, overall depth at the chaise end, seat height and the depth of the seat itself. Overall depth is the one people miss. A chaise typically pushes out to between 150 and 170 centimetres, which is considerably more than a standard sofa at around 90 to 100 centimetres.
Leave at least seventy centimetres of clear floor in front of the chaise for circulation. Where the sofa faces a coffee table, forty centimetres between the seat edge and the table keeps drinks within reach without creating a barrier.
Then measure the route into the room: front door width, hallway width, any turn in the hall, stair returns and the living room doorway. Chaise sofas are usually delivered in two or more sections, which helps, but the largest single section still needs to fit. If access is tight, ask about the packed dimensions rather than the assembled ones.
Seat depth is a comfort decision, not just a space one. A deep seat of around 60 centimetres or more suits lounging and taller adults, but it can leave shorter users perched with their feet off the floor or their back unsupported. A seat depth closer to 50 to 55 centimetres feels more upright and is easier to get in and out of.
Try both if you can, and pay attention to seat height as well. Around 45 centimetres suits most people. Lower seats look relaxed and modern but are harder work for anyone with stiff knees or hips.
Back support varies too. Fixed backs hold their shape and look neat with minimal fuss. Scatter back designs feel softer and more casual but need regular plumping to stay looking good. For a chaise that will be used daily for lounging, a fixed back with a supportive foam core usually stays tidier over time.
Fabric chaise sofas are the most popular choice in the UK, largely because they feel warm to sit on year round and come in a wider spread of colours. Look for a fabric with a solid rub test rating, a tight weave if you have pets, and removable covers if the sofa will take heavy use. Our modern fabric sofas UK sale selection covers weaves from flat linen looks through to plush velvets.
Leather works well on a chaise because the long uninterrupted seat shows off the material. It wipes clean easily, ages attractively and suits households where spills are a fact of life. The trade off is that it feels cooler on first contact in winter and can be slippery for anyone who likes to curl up. Our modern leather sofas UK range includes both full grain and bonded finishes at different price points.
Velvet sits between the two. It is soft, catches light beautifully on a long chaise seat and brings a sense of occasion, though it does show pressure marks that need brushing out.
Some chaise designs lift at the extended end to reveal storage underneath. In a flat without a loft or spare room, that space is genuinely useful for spare bedding, board games or seasonal items. Check the hinge mechanism feels solid and that the lid stays open safely.
Others convert into a bed. If you host occasionally, a chaise with a pull out section can replace a dedicated guest bed, though a purpose built sofa beds UK sale option will usually offer a better night of sleep if guests stay regularly. Decide which function matters more before you compromise on either.
The open end of a chaise is a visual full stop, so keep it clear. One long bolster cushion and a folded throw is enough. Piling it with scatter cushions defeats the purpose, since the whole point is a surface you can stretch out on without rearranging anything first.
Place a side table or slim lamp table at the chaise end rather than a bulky unit, so there is somewhere to set a mug down. Our modern side tables UK range has plenty of compact options that tuck in without crowding the walkway.
If the chaise floats in the room rather than sitting against a wall, treat the back of it as a surface people will see. A console table behind the sofa closes the gap neatly and gives you display space, and it also stops the arrangement looking like furniture that has drifted out of place.
Most chaise sofas arrive in two or three sections that clip or bolt together in the room. That is good news for access, but it does mean the assembly happens at your end, so clear the space before delivery and check which orientation each section belongs in before fixing anything.
Ask about the number of packages and the weight of the heaviest one when you order, particularly if the sofa is going upstairs or into a flat without a lift. Two people can usually manage a sectioned chaise between them. A single piece frame of the same size often cannot be managed at all in a tight stairwell.
Once assembled, leave the sofa in position for a few days before deciding whether the layout works. Seat foam settles in the first weeks of use, so the sofa will feel slightly softer and sit a little lower after a month than it does on day one. That is normal and not a sign of poor quality.
Stand facing the sofa position as though you are about to sit down. The side the long section appears on is the side you need. Always sense check this against the retailer wording, since some listings describe orientation as viewed from the sofa itself.
Yes, if you choose a compact design and position the chaise against the shorter wall or into a corner. Look for a slim armed model under 230 centimetres wide, and keep the chaise out of the main route through the room.
For an afternoon nap, certainly. For overnight guests, a sofa bed with a proper mattress is the better answer. Some chaise models include a pull out section, which is a reasonable middle ground for occasional use.
It does not have to. Floating a chaise sofa works well in open plan rooms, where it separates the seating area from a dining or kitchen zone. In smaller rooms, placing it against a wall usually frees up more usable floor.
Most sit between 150 and 170 centimetres deep at the chaise end, compared with roughly 90 to 100 centimetres for a standard sofa. Measure the full projection rather than assuming, because the difference shapes how the whole room works.
When you are ready to compare designs, orientations and fabrics in one place, you can browse the full seating collection at Furniture in Fashion and shop modern furniture with free delivery to most UK mainland postcodes.
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