How to Choose the Perfect Corner Sofa for Your Living Room

A corner sofa is one of the most transformative pieces of furniture you can bring into your home. It creates a natural social space, maximises seating, and gives any living room a sense of intention and completeness. But with so many options on the market, choosing the right one can feel overwhelming. At Simple Living UK, we believe great sofas should be built for real life — not just showrooms. Here's everything you need to know before you buy.

Step 1: Measure Your Space First

Before falling in love with a sofa online, grab a tape measure. Corner sofas typically range from 200cm to 280cm along each arm. The most important measurements are:

• The full width and depth of the intended footprint
• The width of your doorways and hallway (for delivery)
• How much clearance you want to leave between the sofa and other furniture

As a guide, allow at least 45cm of walkway space around any seating area. Our sofas are designed at 250cm across each arm — a size we've found hits the sweet spot between generous seating and practical fit in UK homes.

Step 2: Choose the Right Configuration

Corner sofas come in two main configurations:

• Left-hand facing (LHF) — the chaise or extended arm is on the left when you're looking at it from the front
• Right-hand facing (RHF) — the extension sits on the right

Think about how you enter the room and where your TV or focal point is. You want the lounging section to naturally face where you spend most of your time.

Step 3: Pick a Fabric That Survives Real Life

The most beautiful sofa in the world won't last long if it can't handle everyday use. Consider your household honestly:

• Boucle — incredibly soft and on-trend, works best in lower-traffic homes or adult-only households. Our boucle corner chaise is a customer favourite for living rooms that balance style and comfort.
• Chenille — durable, family-friendly, and surprisingly luxurious in feel. A brilliant choice if you have children or pets.
• Corner sofa beds — if you regularly host guests, a sofa bed adds genuine practicality without sacrificing everyday comfort.

Step 4: Think About Long-Term Comfort

Seat depth, cushion firmness, and arm height all determine how comfortable a sofa truly is. Our sofas are designed with a generous seat depth — enough to curl up properly. Cushions use a foam-and-fibre hybrid fill that holds its shape without going flat after a year of use.

Step 5: Don't Forget Delivery

UK homes vary enormously. Before ordering, check whether your sofa comes flat-packed, in sections, or fully assembled. All Simple Living UK sofas arrive in manageable sections that can be navigated through standard UK doorways and hallways.

Ready to find your perfect sofa? Browse our full sofa range or enquire about a bespoke order tailored to your exact space and style.