Case Study: 3 Living Rooms Designed with Sectionals vs Sofas
Sectional vs sofa: That is always the question, isn’t it? It totally makes sense, as this is one of the first pieces of living room furniture you’ll need in your home, whether you’re moving or just upgrading your current space.
It can be hard to know if a sofa or sectional is the right choice for you. Sometimes the dimensions of a living room dictate which you choose (aka there just isn’t enough space for a sectional). But if you have room for either a sofa or sectional, how do you choose between the two?? You certainly don’t want to buy one of each and see which one looks better. And making the gamble on one or the other is risky, since returning a sofa is a real hassle.
To get this design dilemma right, we’re trying on a few options in Modsy 3D! Explore how 3 different living rooms look with a sectional vs a sofa. We’ll break down why each option works and what it’s best for.
Keep scrolling to compare how a sectional vs sofa can work in a small living room, a medium living room with a fireplace, and a large open living space.
1. A Sofa or Sectional in a Small Living Room
Our first room is a rectangular living space that’s tight on square footage and needs to also fit a dining area. The two designs here show how it’s possible to make the most of a small living room with either a sectional or a sofa.
The Sofa Layout
If you live in a small home or tiny apartment, chances are you have one main living area that needs to also double as your dining space.
In this layout design, a compact sofa for two can function as a deliberate space divider, separating the zones for lounging and dining. It creates the feeling of distinct spaces within a room, which is especially great if you work from home at your dining table and want more mental boundaries between your main living space.
A Sofa in a Small Space is Perfect if You…
Want a multifunctional room that has a clear separation between your living and dining spaces.
Are a fan of casual but intimate parties and get-togethers.
Live by yourself and don’t need a lot of seats but do enjoy having friends over for small weeknight dinners.
The Sectional Layout
This sofa with chaise is one of the most popular types of sectionals for a small space because of its compact design. While a sectional can only fit against the longest wall in this space, this actually creates an open floor plan with better flow between the living and dining areas.
You won’t have space for additional seating, like an armchair, but you also don’t need it since you’ll have the comfy chaise of your sectional to stretch out on. (Want to open up the two spaces even more? Get a sectional configuration where the chaise is on the left side!)
A Sectional in a Small Space is Perfect If You…
Love a comfortable living space but also need it to be versatile enough to entertain friends.
Always have friends over for movies, dinners, game nights, and get-togethers.
Are a couple who enjoys their at-home time and catching up on lots of TV.
2. A Sofa Chaise or Corner Sectional in a Living Room With a Fireplace
Our second space is an average-sized living room that fits lots of furniture. The challenge is making it all work around a fireplace design that takes up one wall.
The Sofa Chaise Layout
For those of you with a house or family home, it’s possible that your living space has a fireplace as the focus of your design.
For a balanced layout, place a sofa with an optional chaise configuration opposite the fireplace, then mount a TV above the mantel. A large sofa like this, with an accompanying ottoman that pulls up to form a pseudo-chaise, will also give you (or the whole family) a more comfy seat to lounge on. This setup gives you a lot of room to add an accent chair and poufs for extra seating space—perfect for big hangouts and gatherings.
A Sofa Chaise in a Medium Space is Perfect If You…
Live with children or have a big family in need of a comfy gathering space.
Enjoy spending lots of time watching movies and shows in a relaxed setting.
Want a living space that feels like a space unto itself and that feels like a separate zone for tuning out from the rest of your home.
The L-Sectional Sofa Layout
With an L-shaped sectional, you can tuck it into the corner to create a cozy conversation area where the TV and fireplace are less of the focus. Keep in mind, though, there’s a little less flexibility with this layout since the sectional can only fit in one spot—even if it does help to open up the living space more.
An L-Sectional in a Medium Space is Perfect If You…
Like having friends over for low-key takeout and wine or hosting game nights.
Prefer an open setting where your living space feels connected to the larger overall space rather than a living area unto itself.
Want a layout that’s family-friendly with more room to play and less space for things to be knocked over.
3. Two Sofas or an L-Shape Sectional in a Large, Open Living Room
In our final design, we came up with an open living room that has everything: built-in shelving, French doors and windows, and even a marble fireplace. Our two layouts show how sometimes a larger room with formal architectural details can be just as challenging as one where your furniture options are more obvious.
The Two Sofas Layout
To play up a formal look in a large open living space, lean into a layout that’s symmetrical. The best way is to arrange two matching sofas facing each other with the fireplace in between them. (Curious what sofa style is right for your space? Check out our guide to sofa styles.)
This design also gives focus to the sofas without taking away from the fireplace’s architecture. It’s a layout that’s perfectly set up for conversation and long, cozy nights by the fire.
Two Sofas in a Large Space are Perfect If You…
Want a formal sitting room feel for your main seating area.
Love to host guests—whether it’s enjoying cocktails at night by the fire or coordinating book club gatherings where everyone can be comfortably seated for serious discussions.
Live in a home where the kids are all relatively grown up and you want a space that’s a little more elevated.
The L-Shaped Sectional Layout
This layout with a large L-shaped sectional sofa feels more casual and family-friendly than the previous design. It’s less about a formal gathering and more about relaxed hangouts.
This layout lets you look out clearly at everything in the room, from the view out the windows to the bookshelves along the wall, and the central fireplace. It’s a function-first approach that’s also easy to switch up. Ultimately, it’s all about keeping things casual.
A Sectional in a Large Space is Perfect If You…
Love the open feel of a great living design but with a modern look.
Want to build out your space over time but still want it to feel substantial and decorated in the meantime. The sectional helps make the room feel well furnished here given its sheer size.
Are one to have frequent family parties and invite friends over for movie nights and big loungey gatherings where people can stand, kickback, or even grab a spot on the floor.
Want to try on a sofa vs sectional in your home?
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