A standard UK corner sofa with chaise measures roughly 250cm to 290cm along its longest side and 170cm to 200cm along the chaise return, with a seat depth of 90cm to 105cm and an overall height of 80cm to 90cm. Compact models start at around 220cm by 150cm, and larger family configurations extend to 320cm by 220cm or more. Those two figures, length and return, are what you need before anything else.<\/p>\n
Sizing confusion is common because corner sofas are measured differently from straight sofas. A three seat sofa has one width. A corner sofa has two, and the way manufacturers describe them varies. Understanding the convention removes most of the guesswork.<\/p>\n
Dimensions are usually given as width by depth by height, where width is the longer side of the L and depth is the length of the shorter return, not the seat depth. This catches people out regularly. A listing that reads 280cm by 190cm by 85cm describes a sofa that occupies a footprint 280cm along one wall and 190cm along the adjoining one, standing 85cm tall.<\/p>\n
Seat depth is listed separately and refers to the usable cushion measurement from the front edge to the back cushion. It is typically 55cm to 65cm on a standard seat and 90cm to 110cm on the chaise section. Seat height, the distance from floor to cushion top, usually falls between 42cm and 48cm.<\/p>\n
Compact models generally sit in the range of 220cm to 245cm on the long side with a return of 145cm to 165cm. They suit flats, snugs, and second reception rooms, and they seat three to four people comfortably.<\/p>\n
The saving usually comes from shallower seats and slimmer arms rather than from fewer seats. That matters if you want to lie down on the chaise, since a compact return of 150cm is shorter than most adults. If the chaise will be used for stretching out rather than sitting, 170cm should be treated as the practical minimum.<\/p>\n
For smaller rooms it is worth comparing compact corners against a two seat sofa plus a separate chair, as the two options occupy similar floor area with different flexibility. Our modern 2 seater fabric sofas UK sale<\/a> range gives a sense of that alternative.<\/p>\n The most commonly bought size in British homes runs 250cm to 290cm along the main run with a 170cm to 200cm chaise. This seats four to five people, allows one person to lie fully on the chaise, and fits a typical lounge measuring around 3.5m by 4.5m without dominating it.<\/p>\n Within this band, the chaise length is the variable that changes the feel most. A 170cm return keeps the sofa neat against the wall. A 200cm return pushes further into the room and creates a stronger sense of enclosure, which suits larger or open plan spaces.<\/p>\n Above 300cm on the long side you are into large family and open plan territory. These configurations often include an additional seat module or a wider corner unit, and they can seat six or more. Returns of 220cm and beyond are common.<\/p>\n Rooms need to be genuinely large for these to work. As a rough guide, the sofa should not occupy more than about two thirds of the length of the wall it sits against, and you still need a metre of clear space in front for circulation and a coffee table. Our full modern corner sofas UK sale<\/a> selection lists both sides of the L for every model so you can filter by footprint rather than description.<\/p>\n Allow 40cm to 50cm between the sofa front and the coffee table. Less than 40cm and people knock their shins. More than 50cm and you cannot comfortably reach a drink.<\/p>\n Behind the table, leave 70cm to 90cm as a walkway if the route passes through the room. If the room is a dead end and nobody needs to walk past, you can reduce this, though 60cm is about the point where the space starts to feel pinched.<\/p>\n Beside the sofa, allow at least 20cm of breathing room where possible rather than jamming it against a wall on both sides. This small gap makes cleaning easier and stops the upholstery rubbing against the plaster.<\/p>\n Footprint is only half the problem. Measure your front door width, hallway width, any turns, and the staircase if the sofa is going upstairs. The critical figure is usually the diagonal clearance at a turn rather than the straight width of a corridor.<\/p>\n Most corner sofas arrive in two or three sections, which helps considerably. Check whether the chaise is a separate unit, because on some fixed frame designs it is not. Feet are often removable, saving 10cm or more of height, and back cushions detach on most models to reduce the depth of the largest piece.<\/p>\n If access is tight, modular designs with individual seat units are the safest option. They break down into pieces roughly the size of an armchair, which will get through almost any British doorway.<\/p>\n A square room takes a symmetrical corner sofa well, with the L tucked into one corner and the remaining space used for a chair or storage. A long narrow room needs the main run along the length with the chaise at the far end. A square open plan space can take a floating corner sofa with the back used to separate zones.<\/p>\n Ceiling height plays a part too. In a room with low ceilings, a sofa with a back height under 85cm keeps proportions comfortable. In a room with high ceilings or a tall bay window, a higher back and taller arms stop the sofa looking lost.<\/p>\nStandard Family Sizes<\/h3>\n
Large and Extended Configurations<\/h3>\n
How Much Room to Leave Around It<\/h3>\n
Getting It Into the House<\/h3>\n
Matching Size to Room Shape<\/h3>\n