We independently select everything we recommend. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more ›
Finding furniture that's both stylish and built to last can feel like a jungle expedition. That's why Living Cozy is here to be your compass! Our mission? To connect you with furniture that matters furniture that reflects your values and brings comfort to your home.
Here's what you'll find:
So today, we’re going to explore the ins and outs of sectionals and sofas to ensure you have all the information you need to make the right choice for your room — whether you have a big, expansive living room, a small space — or something in between.
You don’t need an interior design pro to tell you exactly what a sofa is. But it’ll help you to make the right decision if we can lay it all out and set the definitions.
A sofa is a single piece of furniture. It has an upholstered seat with arms and a back, providing a comfortable seat for more than one person. Sofas often offer space for two or three people to sit down comfortably.
A sectional is a type of sofa made up of multiple pieces that, when combined, create one piece of furniture. Some have the option of coming with a chaise element to elongate one side, and others include a corner unit and components that create an L-shape or U-shape piece of furniture. Sectionals often allow three or more people to sit or lounge comfortably.
There are various types of sectional sofas, including:
A sectional sofa makes the most sense when additional seating space is needed for a young family where more than two people need to sit regularly. Or, you can use a sectional to take up visual space in a room where two sofas would look too small or need to fill the room more. Sectionals are also terrific when the traffic flow to a room needs to be strictly defined, and the sectional provides that definition.
The critical difference between a sofa and a sectional is that a sofa is a single piece of furniture. Whereas a sectional often has multiple pieces so the homeowner can create a layout that works for them and their space.
People often don’t realize that sofas that include a chaise or attached ottoman are considered sectionals. Most furniture manufacturers define a sectional as having more than one unit that creates a piece of furniture.
Whether you have a large space or small one, the layout of your room is an essential factor in deciding whether you need a sectional or a regular sofa. You want to avoid cramming a sectional into a space that doesn't naturally fit or might feel too big for the room or obstructed walkways or doors from fully opening.
Consider the layout you hope to achieve with all of your furniture in place before buying the first sofa you fall in love with.
When debating your seating options, it's important to consider who will use the seating in a living space, as this will inform the best route forward. The decision for how much seating your space needs generally rests on the number of people you need to seat regularly.
A sectional makes the most sense for families who like to spend evenings together or gather around for weekend movie nights.
However, a sofa is better suited for those who like to entertain regularly because groups of people who are unrelated to each other don't often sit directly next to each other. Despite being large, sectionals only give a few people space to sit. Sometimes a conversation can flow better when seats are arranged opposite each other.
When most people picture a sectional, they think of a large or rather bulky piece of furniture. These types of sectionals are best suited for larger living rooms, open-concept spaces, and spaces with tall ceilings because the visual weight of the sectional helps to balance the room's proportions.
That said, just because a living space is small, it doesn't mean you can only fit a loveseat or small sofa if you have your heart set on a super comfy sectional. A sectional can still be a good choice in a small room. While the perfect sectional couch for a small space is more difficult to source, some sectionals are lighter in scale. For example, a small space sectional may not be as deep and have taller legs and slimmer arms. These types of sectionals are more appropriate for smaller spaces because they will work with the proportions of a smaller room without overpowering it.
No one will force the issue when deciding if a sofa or sectional is right for your family. I always remind my clients they need to love their homes! If you're adamant that a sectional is right for you, then go for it! And if you're adamant that a sofa is the best option, that's ok too. Ultimately the right decision is the one that you're most comfortable with.
I don't recommend using a sectional if it will be the only piece of furniture in the room. Sectional sofas work best in part of a seating arrangement with accent chairs or a regular sofa. When it makes sense to choose a sectional
In this basement remodel, a smaller sectional with a chaise was used for lounging so the family could curl up by the fire while enjoying movies and watching television together.
When entertaining, this family had such a challenge accommodating their extended family. Their existing sectional created barriers to the space and all the seats weren’t being used. When I designed their new family room, the seating layout stayed similar, but I broke up the space using color and various seating pieces (a sofa and two chairs), and now the space is much more inviting, and their family gatherings are more comfortable. They can now accommodate more people more comfortably! In this basement remodel, a smaller sectional with a chaise was used for lounging so the family could curl up by the fire while enjoying movies and watching television together.
When creating a warm and welcoming space, it’s essential to look at how people are moving through the space and the flow of traffic. This open living room and dining room has two entrances and a large wall of windows — a sectional would completely cut off traffic flow or natural light. Instead of a sectional, I selected a comfortable down-filled custom sofa that grounds the room and provides a focal point for the space while being functional. Chairs across from the coffee table allow for intimate conversation when entertaining or spending time together as a family.
The sofa and chairs combo keeps the space open and airy, like a warm summer day in a way a sectional never could.
Meet the author
At Living Cozy we produce content with leading furniture and interior design experts. This guide was written by Heather Mastrangeli — a highly sought after, award winning interior designer and founder of Innovatus Design. Heather is NCIDQ Certified and has been in the interior design industry since 2004.
About Living Cozy
Expert writers and contributors
