A chaise sofa is a good choice for a bungalow when it is sized to the room’s width, placed to keep the route to the garden clear, and chosen with a seat height that is comfortable to get in and out of. Bungalow living rooms are often broad rather than deep, the ceilings are usually lower than in a two storey house, and many open onto a garden through patio or French doors. A medium sized chaise design with a moderate back height tends to sit far more comfortably in that kind of space than a very large, high backed model.
Many of the chaise designs people choose are part of our range of modern corner sofas UK, where the chaise end offers a place to stretch out without the full footprint of an L shaped corner. In this article we look at the questions that matter most when the home is all on one level.
Bungalows built across the UK in the middle and later decades of the last century share a few common traits. The living room is often at the front or the back of the house, with a wide window or a set of glazed doors. It may be connected to a dining area through an arch or a wide opening. Ceilings are typically a little lower, and the room can feel long and horizontal. Radiators often sit under windows, which limits where furniture can go.
These features shape what works. A sofa with a very tall back can make a low ceiling feel lower still. A huge corner unit can take over a room that also serves as a walkway to the garden or kitchen. A chaise sofa, which is essentially a sofa with one extended seat, sits between the two: it gives you room to put your feet up, yet keeps one end open. If you are comparing it with other shapes, our wider collection of modern sofas UK sale shows straight, corner and chaise designs together.
Chaise sofas are usually described as left hand facing or right hand facing. The terms refer to the side the chaise sits on when you stand in front of the sofa and look at it. It is easy to get this the wrong way round, so it is worth checking the product description carefully and picturing the room from the front of the sofa.
To decide which side you need, think about three things. First, where the main entrance to the room is: the chaise should not project into the path of anyone walking in. Second, where the garden doors or main window are: a chaise that faces the view gives you a place to sit and look out. Third, where the television or fireplace sits: the chaise end is the natural spot for whoever wants to lie back and watch.
In many bungalows, the best arrangement is to place the sofa along the longest wall, with the chaise end extending towards the window wall but stopping well short of the glazed doors. That keeps a clear walkway to the garden and still frames the view.
Low ceilings do not rule out a substantial sofa, but they do change the way height reads. A sofa with a lower back, roughly in line with the window sill, keeps sightlines open and helps the room feel broader. Raised legs that show a little floor beneath the frame make the piece feel lighter, which suits single storey rooms well.
Consider depth, too. A chaise extends further into the room than the main seat, so measure how far it will reach and how much space remains between it and the next piece of furniture. Allow comfortable walking room around it. If the chaise will end near a door or an arch, make sure the door can open fully and that the route through the opening is not narrowed.
Many people move to a bungalow because single level living is easier day to day. If that is part of your reason, seat height deserves particular attention. A seat that is very low and very soft can be difficult to rise from. A slightly higher, firmer seat, combined with arms at a supportive height, makes standing up easier for everyone, including visiting grandparents and anyone recovering from an injury.
Cushion construction makes a difference. Foam seat cushions with a fibre or feather wrap hold their shape and give a steady base. Fully fibre filled cushions can feel cosy but often sink more over time. The back cushions can be softer, as they affect comfort more than ease of movement. Firm, fairly upright arms are useful as push points.
Chaise depth matters for comfort as well as space. If you plan to lie on the chaise, check that its length suits your height. If it is mainly for resting your feet, a shorter chaise may be all you need.
Bungalows often enjoy plenty of daylight, especially when the living room faces the garden. That is lovely to live with, but strong sunlight can fade upholstery over time. Mid tones and textured weaves tend to age more gracefully than very dark or very saturated fabrics in sunny rooms. If the sofa will sit directly in a sunny spot, a lined curtain or blind drawn during the brightest part of the day will help protect it.
Lighter colours, such as warm greys, oatmeal and soft green, keep a single storey room feeling airy and suit the garden view. Deeper colours, such as navy or forest green, can look rich and cosy, particularly in a room that faces north. Easy care fabrics are worth considering if grandchildren or pets share the space.
Once the chaise sofa is placed, the remaining furniture should support it rather than compete. In a wide bungalow room, a single armchair angled towards the chaise end creates a conversational group without closing off the space. A low coffee table, round or oval if the walkway is tight, keeps edges away from knees and feet. Side tables at the arm end give somewhere to put a cup or a book within easy reach.
Lighting matters in single storey rooms, where ceiling pendants may hang lower than usual. A floor lamp behind the chaise end, or a table lamp on a side table, gives a softer evening light and avoids the need for a large central fitting. Keep cables tidy and away from walking routes, especially if the room leads to the garden.
If the room is too narrow for a chaise to sit comfortably, or if you would like more flexibility, there are other ways to achieve the same feeling of putting your feet up.
One of the advantages of a bungalow is that there are no stairs to negotiate. That said, front doors and internal doorways in older bungalows can be narrow, and hallways often have tight turns into the living room. Measure the front door opening, the hall width and the doorway into the living room, and compare them with the sofa’s diagonal depth. Chaise and corner sofas that arrive in separate sections are much easier to bring in. Our guide to buying a corner sofa set online in the UK covers how sectional designs are delivered and assembled, which applies to many chaise models too.
The most successful chaise sofas in bungalows are those that work with the room’s horizontal shape. Choose a moderate back height, raised legs and a seat that is supportive enough to rise from easily. Place the chaise where it frames the garden view without crowding the doors, and consider a footstool or chaise chair if the room cannot quite accommodate a fixed chaise. With those decisions made, the sofa becomes the comfortable heart of a single level home. You can browse our full living room range at Furniture in Fashion, where we offer free delivery to most UK mainland postcodes.
A chaise sofa has one extended seat that projects forward from one end. A corner sofa has two sections meeting at a right angle, each with a backrest. A chaise takes up less floor space and keeps one side of the room more open.
Place it on the side that does not block the main entrance to the room or the garden doors. Check whether the design is left hand or right hand facing by looking at the sofa from the front.
They can be, provided the seat height and firmness make it easy to stand up. Look for supportive seat cushions and arms at a comfortable height to push against.
Not if it is sized correctly. A lower back, raised legs and a chaise that stops short of walkways help the room feel open.
In a shared flat, the sofa is where housemates meet, eat, watch television and occasionally…
To choose sofas for a detached home, start by giving each living space a clear…
Measuring for an electric recliner sofa means checking more than the wall it will sit…
For people who work from home, the living room now does far more than host…
Quiet luxury is about restraint: beautiful materials, considered colour and nothing that tries too hard.…
Compact sofas and smart sofas solve different problems. A compact sofa saves space, with slim…
This website uses cookies.