The 11 Best Couches for Small Spaces
Picking a couch is hard. And it can be even more difficult if you don’t have a ton of room for furniture.
Whether you live in an apartment or have a slightly smaller living area, it can feel overwhelming to try and find the perfect sofa. Not only do you need to worry about designs and styles, you also need to think about how the sofa will fit through your hallways and doors and into that perfect spot in your living room.
But rest assured, no matter how much space you have there is a sofa out there for you.
Many sofa-in-a-box brands now ship products directly to in easy-to-move boxes to help avoid the squeeze into your living space and most direct-to-consumer brands now ship smaller sofas that will fit around even the tightest corners.
In this article we’ll share the best couches for small spaces and some tips on finding the perfect sofa for your home.
Contents:
How Much Do Small Couches Cost?
Buying a sofa for a small space doesn't always mean spending less money. A high-quality couch is often a big purchase.
As BenchMade Modern founder Edgar Blazona says, often the difference between a $,1000 sofa and a $4,000 sofa is often the quality of materials.
"You get what you pay for. Better materials last longer. And that's really the difference between a $1,000 sofa and a $4,000 sofa.”
In this article, we've selected some of the best couches available for small spaces, with many of our selections recommended by interior designers and industry experts.
We've also tried to include a range of affordable sofas and slightly more expensive options — we feature couches that cost $640 all the way up to $2,000, though we've tried to keep most in the $1,000 range.
Couch Sizes for Small Living Spaces
Just because you have a smaller living space doesn’t mean you have to buy a super small sofa.
Sofas are the centerpiece of most living spaces so you want to find a sofa that is comfortable and looks great alongside fitting into the space you have.
So what’s the average sofa length (or width)?
Wayfair explains: “Though sofas can be anywhere between 70" and 96" long, standard three-person sofas tend to be between 70" and 87" long, and the most common length is 84".”
And when it comes to loveseats — a smaller sofa style designed for couples and smaller spaces — Wayfair says:
“Loveseats tend to be 48" – 72" long. There is no standard loveseat length, but it is common to find loveseats that are toward the middle of the spectrum at 52" – 66" long.”
The sofas we feature in this article range from 55.1" — 90.5".
How to Measure Your Space
When you’re trying to figure out the perfect sized couch for your home, try arranging your existing furniture as you’d like it and then measure the space left over for your sofa. You’ll want to allow a minimum of 30 inches in front of the sofa for walking around and also ensure that the sofa arms won’t encroach on doorways.
CB2 also recommends that you sketch out your sofa on a scale drawing or tape out the space the sofa will take on your floor:
“To help you decide if the piece fits the scale of the room, you might want to sketch it into a 1/4" graph paper drawing of the room along with other pieces that will be in the room. Or, tape newspaper together to create a true-to-size "footprint" of the piece, position it on the room floor.”
11 Couches for Small Spaces (As Recommended by Experts and Interior Designers)
1. Naomi 57" Recessed Arms Loveseat, $640
“When it comes to affordable, functional, and fashionable sofas, we tend to look at AllModern as they offer a wide range of sofas from colors, fabrics, sizes, and styles,” says Luciana Fragali, owner of interior and architectural design firm, Design Solutions.
“A favorite for small spaces is the loveseat -- with this sofa you can find many available features from reclining options to pull out beds and even built in end tables.”
The Naomi has a solid wood frame and a mid-century modern design style that will look great in living rooms of all sizes. And with a width of 57 inches, it’ll fit almost anywhere.
"When it comes to affordable, functional, and fashionable sofas, we tend to look at AllModern as they offer a wide range of sofas from colors, fabrics, sizes, and styles."
2. Loveseat by Allform, $1,145
At 63 inches in width, the Allform Loveseat is perfect for small living spaces.
Each Allform sofa is shipped in easy-to-move boxes directly to your home for free, so you won’t have to worry about whether or not the sofa will be easy to manoeuvre around your home and into your living room.
Made from performance fabrics that are all heavy duty scratch, pill, and stain resistant and hardwood frames that come with forever warranties, each Allform couch built to last.
Price: $1,145
Brand: Allform
Materials: Maple and Poplar Kiln-Dried Laminated Hardwood
Width: 63 inches
Color options: Light Gray, Sand, Dark Blue, Charcoal, Teal, Amber, Red, Whiskey (Leather), Dark Smoke (Leather)
3. Barrett Reversible Sectional, $1,999
“This sectional is designed with a smaller footprint which makes it a perfect choice for smaller spaces,” says interior designer and home improvement expert Jen Stark.
“The Chaise makes a room feel larger by allowing more wall to show. It is reversible giving the flexibility to change the look of a room. It is a sofa that can grow and stay with you for years having a contemporary design, durable spill-resistant fabric, and a hardwood kiln-dried frame. To maximize its use the chaise has a hidden storage box perfect to store throws during the summer months.”
The Chaise makes a room feel larger by allowing more wall to show. It is reversible giving the flexibility to change the look of a room
Price: $1,999
Brand: Crate & Barrel
Materials: Kiln dried hardwood
Width: 90 inches
Color options: 15+ options
4. Tillery, $1,197–$1,497
“As a Professional Organizer in New York City smaller spaces are my speciality,” says Laura Sandberg, CEO of Let Laura. “I love the Tillary Sofa from West Elm — we recommend this sofa for clients in New York City living in a small space.”
“If you need a low couch it perfectly meets that requirement. Sometimes a full back on a couch can feel heavy in a small room, this couch gives you the option to have modular backing allowing for an airier feel and creating the feeling of more space.”
As you graduate to larger spaces you can also buy additional sections and create a larger sofa that is super versatile & functional.
Price: $1,197–$1,497
Brand: West Elm
Materials: Solid oak and engineered hardwood frame with reinforced joinery
Width: 74.5 inches
Color options: 40+ options
5. Friheten by Ikea, $699
“The Ikea Friheten has been the perfect couch for my living area,” explains interior designer and licensed architect Colin Haentjens.
“The sliding sleeping section turns the couch into a full size bed, and the storage space under the L section hides our extra sleeping needs as well as our game collection. The color selection is a bit conservative, but that does allow you to match it with many surroundings. The couch seats four people easily, and is holding up well to my spoiled dogs.”
Price: $699
Brand: Ikea
Materials: Solid wood, Plywood, Particleboard
Width: 90.5 inches
Color options: Blue, Dark Gray, Black, Beige
6. Sven Birch Ivory Sofa by Article, $999
“I would highly recommend this small loveseat sofa,” explains Caitlyn Davidian, NCIDQ, RID, interior designer, who serves on the advisory board for Home Life Digest.
“I’ve used it in an open office commercial project and the clients loved it’s sophisticated look that didn’t break the bank. Also, the fabric is heathered so it will give you that neutral white look in your space, but it will be forgiving as far as stains and weathering goes.”
Made from Kiln dried solid wood and a sturdy corner blocked frame, the Sven Birch Ivory sofa is built to offer support and comfort. It can also be assembled in around 5 minutes.
The fabric is heathered so it will give you that neutral white look in your space, but it will be forgiving as far as stains and weathering goes.
Price: $999
Brand: Allmodern
Materials: Kiln dried solid wood
Dimensions: 72 inches
Color options: Aqua Tweet, Birch Ivory, Briar Gray
7. Plume Sofa by Industry West, $1,195
“It’s unique design and curved frame will instantly add character to your small space,” says Davidian. “It comes in many colors as well. Just add a small table, an oversized plant and perhaps a wallpaper feature wall behind it and create the perfect trendy nook for your small space.”
Coming in at 55.1" wide, this sofa will fit in almost any room and its chic Italian design will brighten up most spaces.
Price: $1,195
Brand: Industry West
Width: 55.1 inches
Color options: Red, Blue, Green, Gray
8. Andres Sofa by West Elm, $1,299–$1,899
“Such a classic sofa that will really go with just about any style,” advises Davidian.
“It’s not only made with great construction, but West Elm offers so many fabrics to choose from to suit your style. It might be a bit too deep for some small spaces so this would definitely be for those who have a small space with some wiggle room and money to spare.”
The Andres Sofa comes in a range of sizes, from 60" to 86", so no matter the size of your living room there will likely be an option that fits your space. You can also choose the depth that works best for your space: Petite (35"), Standard (40") or Extra Deep (46").
Price: $1,299–$1,899
Brand: West Elm
Materials: Solid eucalyptus and engineered hardwood frame with reinforced joinery
Width: 60 inches
Color options: 40+ options
9. Gaby by Interior Define, $1,495
“I love this company out of NY,” says interior designer Wendy Kleiner.
“Interior Define gives you progress reports while your sofa is being made and I love the customer service. The Gaby is super customizable — length, legs, cushion fill, fabric — you name it! Amazing and comfy.”
The Gaby is 72" wide, and features an architectural design that doesn't compromise comfort. You can also download Interior Define’s augmented reality app for iOS to visualize this piece in your home before you hit purchase.
The Gaby is super customizable — length, legs, cushion fill, fabric — you name it! Amazing and comfy.
Price: $1,495
Brand: Interior Define
Materials: Kiln-dried solid wood
Width: 64 inches
Color options: 50+ options
10. The Sofa by Floyd, $1,195
The Floyd Sofa was designed with an emphasis on quality and honest materials. The frame is made from all-natural, Top Grade birch plywood and the legs are powder-coated steel.
Built to last, the Floyd Sofa was tested using super heavy weights, pulled repeatedly on the backrest to simulate 10+ years of use and ensure the sofa will stand the test of time and the stresses of day-to-day life.
At 60" the Floyd is great for small spaces, and for those with a little more room you can add an optional chaise onto the sofa.
At 60" the Floyd is great for small spaces, and for those with a little more room you can add an optional chaise onto the sofa.
Price: From $1,195
Brand: Floyd
Materials: Rubberwood frame
Width: 60 inches
Color options: Lunar Gray, Saffron, Mist, Ocean Dive, Oat
11. The Networker by Whom Home, $2,197
Channel tufting turns on the charm, while corner block joints and hardwood construction make this piece as dependable as it is beautiful. “Its alder wood base comes in the finish of your choice, while its plush, down-alternative cushions evoke the ultimate in luxury,” says Whom Home founder Jonathan Bass.
The Networker is comes in at 72" wide and 36.5" in depth. It’s available in a range of 20+ colors and you can order free swatch kit to find the perfect color for your home.
Price: $2,197
Brand: Whom Home
Materials: Plywood, Poplar Wood and Alder Wood
Width: 72 inches
Color options: 25+ options
How to Choose the Right Sofa
“Selecting the right sofa can be tricky,” says Luciana Fragali. “I recommend that you make a list of what is important to you: how will you use the sofa? Do you have kids or pets? How many people will sit on your sofa? Does your floor scratch easily? Once you have answered these questions, you can then look at quality features.”
"I recommend that you make a list of what is important to you: how will you use the sofa? Do you have kids or pets? How many people will sit on your sofa? Does your floor scratch easily?"
And when it comes to quality features, there are two areas Fragali says you should focus on.
“First is the frame: we recommend a frame of furniture-grade plywood, engineered hardwood, or solid wood. When you are testing out a sofa, the frame should feel solid. Any swaying is a sign that the frame isn’t strong.”
“Second,” Fragali adds. “Check the suspension when testing out a sofa, and listen for squeaks or creaks. That’s a sign that the springs are improperly installed or possibly broken.”
If you’re buying a sofa online and can’t make these checks in person, look through all of the reviews you can find to see what people are saying about the frames and suspension of the sofas on your list.
Bonus: How to Get the Most From a Small Space
“For small rooms, I highly recommend extra lighting,” says Fragali. “Whether it is natural light from a window, or if you do not have that option, I would consider track lighting, floor lamps, table lamps, sconces, pendant lighting, or wall lighting. The right lighting can open any room and provide additional warmth.”
