To measure up for a sofa and armchair set, measure the room, every access point and the pieces themselves. Record the width, depth and height of the sofa and the armchair, then mark their combined footprint on the floor with masking tape. Leave around 75cm to 90cm for walkways, 40cm to 45cm between the seats and a coffee table, and check that each piece will fit through your front door, hallway and living room door, including any tight turns. If the footprint feels comfortable once taped out, the set will suit the room.
A sofa and armchair set gives a living room a coordinated, finished look, but it also takes more planning than a single sofa. You are fitting two or more pieces into the space and arranging them so they relate to each other. Our modern fabric sofa and armchair sets UK list full dimensions for each piece, which makes the process far simpler once you know what to measure.
Keep the kit simple: a metal tape measure at least 5m long, a notepad or phone, masking tape and, ideally, a second person to hold the other end. A rough sketch of the room, even on the back of an envelope, helps you keep track of measurements and spot problems early.
Start with the overall length and width of the room, measured at floor level. Then note the position and size of everything that affects placement.
Mark these on your sketch. Many UK living rooms, especially in older terraces and semis, have chimney breasts with alcoves either side, which strongly influence where seating can go.
Product listings usually give three main measurements for each piece. It is worth knowing exactly what each refers to.
The width is the measurement from the outside of one arm to the outside of the other. This is the space the piece takes along a wall.
The depth runs from the front edge of the seat to the back of the frame. Deep sofas with loose back cushions can project further into the room than you expect, so check this figure carefully.
The height is measured from the floor to the top of the back. It matters if the sofa will sit beneath a window or in front of a radiator.
Two further measurements are useful for comfort and fit: seat height, which affects how easy the piece is to get in and out of, and diagonal depth, which determines whether it will tilt through a doorway. If diagonal depth is not listed, you can estimate it by measuring from the top of the back to the front edge of the seat at an angle.
With the room and furniture measurements in hand, decide how the pieces will relate to each other. The most common layouts for a sofa and armchair set are these.
The sofa sits against one wall and the armchair stands at a right angle near one end. This works in most rectangular rooms and leaves a clear route through the space.
The sofa and armchair face each other across a coffee table. This suits conversation and works well either side of a fireplace.
The armchair is turned slightly towards the sofa and the focal point, such as the television or fireplace. This softens the room and helps in awkward corners.
Sets with two armchairs, or a three seater and two seater combination, follow the same principles. Our full range of modern sofas UK sale includes a variety of set sizes, so you can compare how each layout fits your floor plan.
Clearances are where many layouts go wrong. A room can technically hold a set of furniture but still feel cramped if there is no space to move. These guidelines work for most homes.
Radiators deserve a mention. Pushing a sofa tight against a radiator blocks heat and can dry out fabric or leather. Leave a small gap of around 10cm to 15cm where possible.
This is the most valuable step and the one most often skipped. Using masking tape, mark the exact footprint of the sofa and armchair on the floor, including their full depth. Then live with it for a day or two.
Walk through the room as you normally would. Open the doors. Pull out the curtains. Imagine sitting down and putting a cup on the side table. You will quickly notice if the armchair blocks the route to the window or if the sofa sits too close to the door. Adjusting tape is much easier than returning furniture.
A set that fits the room still needs to get there. Measure every point the furniture will pass through on its way in.
Compare these figures with the depth and height of each piece, since sofas are usually carried through doorways on their side or tilted. Narrow hallways and tight turns in period properties and flats can be the deciding factor. If access is tight, look for designs with removable feet, detachable arms or modular sections.
A matching set is the simplest choice, but you do not have to use identical pieces. A fabric sofa with a leather armchair, or a leather sofa with a fabric tub chair, can look considered and relaxed. If you like a sleeker, wipe clean finish, our leather sofa sets UK sale pair well with softer accent chairs.
Compact armchairs are useful when space is tight. A tub chair takes up less floor area than a full armchair while still offering comfortable seating. Our modern tub chairs UK work well alongside a sofa in smaller rooms or as a second chair in a larger set.
When mixing pieces, keep seat heights within a few centimetres of each other so the room feels balanced, and choose a shared element, such as leg finish or colour, to link them.
Measurements tell you whether furniture fits; proportion tells you whether it looks right. As a rough guide, a sofa looks well proportioned when it covers around half to two thirds of the wall behind it. An armchair should feel substantial enough to hold its own beside the sofa, but not so large that it competes with it.
Consider the height of the room, too. Low profile sets make a room with modest ceilings feel larger, while taller backs and more substantial arms suit high ceilinged period rooms.
If you are also considering a larger corner arrangement, our guide to measuring for a corner sofa set in a UK home covers the extra measurements that L shaped pieces need.
Measuring for a sofa and armchair set takes an hour or so, and it is the single best way to make sure the furniture looks and feels right once it arrives. With your room, layout and access route checked, you can choose with confidence. Browse our sofa sets and living room collections at Furniture in Fashion.
Around 45cm to 90cm usually works. It keeps conversation easy while leaving enough room to move between the pieces.
Compare the door width with the depth and height of the sofa, and check the diagonal depth if the sofa needs to be tilted. Remember to measure hallways and turns as well.
No. Matching sets look coordinated, but mixed pieces with similar seat heights and a shared colour or finish can look just as considered.
The L shaped arrangement, with the sofa against one wall and the armchair at a right angle, works in most rectangular living rooms.
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.