The Complete Guide to Buying a Corner Chaise Sofa Online

Buying a corner chaise sofa online comes down to five checks: confirm the orientation of the chaise, measure both the room footprint and your narrowest doorway, read the full dimensions rather than judging by the photograph, compare the fabric or leather specification, and understand the delivery and returns terms before you order. Do those five things and online buying is as reliable as seeing the piece in person.

A corner chaise sofa is a corner design where one end opens into an extended seat with no arm, giving a full length place to stretch out. It has become the most requested shape in British living rooms because it offers both upright seating and a lounging position without needing a separate footstool.

Understanding the shape

A standard corner sofa has arms at both ends. A corner chaise replaces one arm with an open extended seat, usually 160cm to 200cm long. That open end changes how the sofa is used and how it looks in a room.

Because there is no arm on the chaise end, the sofa feels less enclosed and the room reads as more open. It also means the chaise can sit against a wall or project into the room without the visual barrier an arm creates.

The chaise is available in two configurations. A left hand facing chaise sits on your left as you look at the sofa from the front. A right hand facing chaise sits on your right. Getting this wrong is the single most common problem with online sofa orders, so check it twice against a sketch of your room. Our modern corner sofas UK sale listings state the orientation clearly on each product.

Measuring for a corner chaise

Start with the room. Note the length of both walls the sofa will relate to, the position of doors and windows, and where the radiators and sockets sit. Then tape out the full footprint of the sofa on the floor using the dimensions from the product page.

Pay particular attention to the chaise projection. On many layouts the chaise runs into the middle of the room rather than along a wall, and it can eat into the walkway in a way the main run does not. Leave 75cm clear where people need to pass.

Next, measure the delivery route. Front door width and height, hallway width, the narrowest turn on a staircase, and any internal door frames. Corner chaise sofas arrive in sections, so compare those figures with the depth and height of a single section, then check the diagonal of your doorway against the diagonal of the section.

Reading a product listing properly

Photographs are taken in rooms chosen to flatter the piece, so the dimensions are the honest information. Look for overall width and depth, chaise length, seat height, seat depth and back height. If a listing gives only two figures, ask before ordering.

Check the frame description. Kiln dried hardwood with glued and dowelled joints is the standard to look for. Then look at the suspension: serpentine springs or webbing give a more consistent seat than a simple foam base.

Cushion filling determines how the sofa feels and how it ages. High resilience foam holds its shape and offers firm support. Feather or fibre wrapped foam gives a softer surface that needs regular plumping. Pure feather is the softest and the most maintenance.

Choosing the upholstery

Fabric suits households that want warmth underhand and a wide colour choice. Look for a rub rating suitable for heavy domestic use, a tight weave if you have cats, and a stain resistant finish if the room is used for food. Removable covers are a genuine advantage on a chaise, because that section takes the heaviest use. Compare specifications across our modern corner fabric sofas UK range.

Leather suits households that want a surface that wipes clean and ages into a patina. It handles pet hair better than fabric and copes with spills easily. Check whether the hide covers the whole piece or only the contact surfaces, since that affects how the sofa wears over the years. Our modern leather sofas UK sale collection lists the finish on each model.

Order swatches wherever they are offered. Colour on a screen is affected by your display and by the lighting in the photography studio, and a swatch viewed in your own room under both daylight and lamplight tells you far more.

Storage and sofa bed versions

Many corner chaise sofas include storage under the chaise seat, accessed by lifting the base. It is genuinely useful for bedding, board games and seasonal cushions, and it costs nothing in floor space.

Check the lid action. A lid that lifts upwards needs clearance in front, so a coffee table positioned too close makes the storage awkward to reach. Check the depth of the compartment too, because a shallow tray holds less than the photographs suggest.

Corner chaise sofa beds fold out from the main run or the chaise depending on the design. The important figure is the projection of the opened bed into the room, which can exceed a metre. Measure it before ordering if the room doubles as a guest space.

Planning the room around the chaise

The chaise end determines the layout more than any other element. Position it where you want to face, whether that is a television, a window or a fireplace. Lying on a chaise facing a blank wall is a mistake that only becomes obvious after delivery.

Coffee table placement needs a little thought. The usual central position can leave the chaise seat isolated from the table. A round table set slightly towards the chaise, or a small side table beside it, solves the problem. See the shapes available in our modern coffee tables UK sale range.

Rug size should account for the chaise projection. The rug needs to sit under the front legs of the main run and beneath the chaise, which usually means a larger rug than the same room would need with a standard corner sofa.

Buying online with confidence

The hesitation most people feel about ordering a sofa online is about comfort rather than appearance, and there are reasonable ways to reduce that uncertainty. Seat depth and seat height are the two figures that predict comfort best. Measure a sofa you already find comfortable and compare the numbers, since your own furniture is a far better reference point than any description.

Read the specification for cushion filling and suspension alongside those figures. A seat depth of 60cm with a soft feather wrapped cushion feels entirely different from the same depth with firm high resilience foam, and the listing will usually tell you which you are getting.

Photographs are still useful when read carefully. Look for images taken from the side, which reveal the true depth and the line of the back, and images showing the chaise end, which show how the open seat meets the corner. Detail shots of stitching and legs indicate a manufacturer confident in the construction.

Finally, note the dimensions of anything you are replacing. Knowing that your current sofa is 220cm and felt slightly small gives you a far more reliable starting point than guessing at a number.

Delivery, assembly and returns

Sections are usually joined with metal brackets or interlocking clips, and feet screw on by hand. Two people can assemble most models in under half an hour. Clear the space before delivery so the sections can be joined in position rather than moved afterwards.

Inspect each section as it arrives. Check the upholstery for marks, confirm all fixings and feet are present, and make sure the orientation matches your order before assembly begins.

We offer free delivery to most UK mainland postcodes, and returns are available up to 30 days. Knowing those terms before you order removes most of the uncertainty that comes with buying a large item online.

A final checklist

Confirm chaise orientation. Tape the footprint. Measure the doorway diagonal. Read every dimension on the listing. Check frame, suspension and cushion filling. Order a swatch. Decide on storage. Plan the coffee table and rug. Clear the route before delivery day.

The full range of corner chaise designs, with dimensions, materials and configurations listed on each product, is available at Furniture in Fashion.

Frequently asked questions

What is a corner chaise sofa?
A corner sofa where one end is an open extended seat with no arm, giving a full length lounging position alongside conventional upright seating.

How do I choose between a left and right hand facing chaise?
Face the wall where the sofa will sit. If you want the open chaise on your left as you look at the sofa, choose left hand facing under the usual UK convention.

Will a corner chaise sofa fit through my front door?
Almost always, because it is delivered in sections. Measure the diagonal of your narrowest doorway and compare it with the diagonal of one section.

Is a corner chaise sofa comfortable to sleep on?
The chaise gives a comfortable full length lie down for an evening. For regular overnight use, choose a model with a proper sofa bed mechanism.

What should I check before ordering upholstery online?
Order a swatch, check the rub rating and cleaning code, confirm whether covers are removable, and view the sample in your own room in both daylight and lamplight.