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Home Decorating Furniture Design Dilemma

Sectional, sofa/chaise, or sofa with ottoman??

last year

Planning to buy a new sofa(s) to replace two very old ones - cannot decide which way to go!

The room is our living/family room as our 3 kids have moved out and we are ready for some new funtiture. Planning to recover the large easy chair. Room has high ceilings and is 24' x 12.5'.

Leaning towards Pottery Barn sofas... Thanks!!

Featured Answer

decoenthusiaste

last year

last modified: last year

A 3-seat sofa and two comfy upholstered armchairs are your best bet for comfort and flexibility. Second option would be a reversible chaise sofa and one chair. The chaise that flips from right to left will give you many more options for arranging the room. Cornering furniture eats floor space, and says you don't really have room for your stuff. I would eliminate the cornered armoire or place it where it can lie flat against the wall. Maybe it would be useful in one of the kids' empty bedrooms. That will open the possibility of some window treatments that will soften and cozy the space.

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Comments (6)

jck910
last year
The picture doesn't enlarge so hard to tell. Draw a simple floor plan with measurements and indicate where the doors and windows are located. Usually a sofa and 2 chairs work best
Lynn Chronis thanked jck910
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I ended up purchasing a custom-built sectional from Furniture Envy in San Francisco. I was able to choose all dimensions and ended up with a piece that looks very similar to the Reid sectional at Design Within Reach, but at a fraction of the price. Furniture Envy offers numerous fabrics to choose from, numerous frame styles that can be selected as-is, or modified. Customers can also use COM fabric, at an upcharge. My sectional (almost 10'w with a right side chaise) arrived in less than two months. The process was very smooth and I'm very happy with the product. I will note that a comparable piece from DWR or other higher-end manufacturers (Thayer Coggin, Mitchell Gold, etc) might have better construction, but my piece is very sturdy and given that I purchased it for a family room where there is lots of kid activity/traffic, this was the absolute right choice.
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@Patricia Colwell thanks! Our TV is in the corner in the bottom right of the bottom picture (you can see our daughter there). We’re doing a corner fireplace there as well. So would you suggest leaving the sofa where it is and doing two chairs where the loveseat is now? Like this pic?
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I usually expect reviews to speak for themselves. I am impressed when the vendor, in this case Pottery Barn, responds to a negative review. Below, the sectional you like from P>B> I am impressed with this vendor. You can speak with Roger or Chris. Give them a try. Send a photo of the sectional you are considering and start a convo with them. I will choose them for my next project. https://www.rogerandchris.com
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Neither of those choices IMO Sectionals are the most expensive way to buy the fewest comfortable seats and chaises really neglect a whole seat when entertaining. I agree a sofa with an ottoman is a much better choice and asofa and 2 chairs for actual seating in a space just better all the way around. I often do the chairs with ottomans if you have the space and then the ottomans can become extra seating for kids. If you reall y want help post a to scale plan of the space and some pictures.
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everdebz
last year
last modified: last year
For one of the current sofas, not used daily, consider buying a neutral cover. Mine was beige/linen color. Can wash, and then change the color down the line.
Lynn Chronis thanked everdebz
PRO
Everything Home
last year
It looks like it might be best to do one three seat sofa and two chairs instead of two sofas. Below are some of our designs which might help you figure out a good layout and furniture.
Eagle Creek Home Transformation · More Info

Coastal Charmer · More Info

Elegant Craftsman · More Info

Westfield Open Concept Refresh · More Info

This Is My Happy Place · More Info
Lynn Chronis thanked Everything Home
everdebz
last year
How did it go, so far?
Brianne Margolin
last year
Thanks for posting, I have the same question. We have 2 rooms with sofas that face a TV. I almost always pick the room with a sofa that has chaise on one end. It's the most comfy spot. The other room has a loveseat and 3-cushion sofa and ottoman. I like this arrangement when my parents/in-laws come over to chat, but rarely lounge to watch TV here. Guests like to sit next to an armrest. So, how you will use the room will help determine the best furniture for you.

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