Sectional vs. 2 Sofas

Misschi Wallace

last year

last modified: last year

Which provides the best decorating options - sectional vs. sofa?

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marmiegard_z7b

last year

Agree- I don’t understand why sectionals are flying off the shelves. My theory is that they “ look good “ in photo shoots and even IRL rooms as a static look, because people aren’t experienced or comfortable both with buying separate pieces of furniture - that’s more choices, decisions ( and I get that) and with “ arranging” , perhaps even feeling that chairs and tables are messy- looking compared to the streamlined and usually modern ( or maybe actually “contemporary”) look of a sectional. But the sofa & chairs or multiple chairs to me is quite homey and so much more flexible both for arranging, moving to a new home, and for replacing one or more components as life or style changes.

So many house floor plans also don’t lend themselves to sectionals except for a single option facing a fireplace & hence the TV over fireplace, and even then sectional too far away or creating blockade or passage way that may not be in optimal location, or hard to find the right size.
Plus even with C tables only 2 people get comfy table access- the infamous huge coffee table or ottoman isn’t ideal for drinks, especially if anyone wants to put feet there!

I have seen really functional sectionals in rooms actually designed for them, such as a cozy media room, and family with kids where all happy to pile on, and best if sized for 2 side tables So it’s not a never thing.

Plus, I guess nobody uses lamps? I get that even reading is now often on a device, backlit. But the floating sectionals make mood- lighting lamps harder since it’s another step to do an in- floor outlet, unless the lamp or sconce locations are factored in.

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Comments (14)

PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
last year
IMO 2 sofas always better than a sectional but for real ability to rearrange or move a sofa and 2 chairs is my go to. IMO sectionals asre the most expensive way to buy the least number of comfy seats. Arm rests = comfort so 2 people max on a sectional have an arm rest. The rest of the seats are just like sitting in the middle seat on a sofa the one no one wants.
littlebug zone 5 Missouri
last year
Well that’s a no brainer. Sofas of course. My living/family room is 26’ x 35’. I have 2 full size sofas, and lots of chairs too.

I wouldn’t have a sectional if you gave it to me.
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Just to update, we finally ordered a sectional from Century. It is L shaped with a loveseat on one wall and a sofa length on the other. The good thing is that it is 43" deep so it should be very comfortable to lay on. We chose a chenille type fabric in a greenish tone. We started the room's decor off by picking 2 oriental rugs and pulling colors from that. The sofa comes with 7 throw pillows, so I chose 2 different fabrics for 4 of those. We'll see if it works or not when it comes in! On another note, once we started to choose decor, we realized the color on the walls was pukey and we had to get the painters back to change from blue to brown. I'm so glad we did that. It really warms up a basement room with no windows. The lighting is what made color selection so tricky. Also in there, we got a leather recliner from Hancock & Moore. And the really neat looking Wisteria Barn door coffee table. Funny thing is that when it arrived, it really did smell like a...barn door! Fortunately that smell has disapated.
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Agree with Patricia. A gallery will overwhelm this space. Save your special picture to place where you will see it more and appreciate it, and find something fun for that wall, that is large scale. Not sure what your taste is, it's hard to tell with this photo. We can give suggestions if you give us a sense of your style preferences...modern, farmhouse, traditional, etc. I'd be more likely to center the couch to the wall, add some pretty drapes, and place the TV on a bureau with drawers, so guests can have a spot to put personal belongings away. Then you can add some very small end tables so they'll have a spot to rest a drink, or charge their phone, bedside. This is my guest room, with pullout queen bed. also VERY small, and doubles as a home office, so I've creatively used a file cabinet as one end table, and a small stool is re-purposed as an end table on the other side. I have a small, wall mounted television in the upper right corner of the room, just out of frame. If you give us a sense of your style, we can recommend specific pieces, etc. Right now you have a bright and pretty blank slate and neutral couch to work with!
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A large rug would help in gold, red, and brown that would echo your art work. Give the sofa some breathing room by moving it about a foot from the far wall. Think about a long, low console positioned under your eventual TV. Don't get too big a TV because the room is so small. Get nesting tables you can use as side tables or coffee table. To complement the art work that you love, get another art work in those colors about the same size or smaller or with a similar subect. Add gold just shades for the window .
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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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Kendrah
last year
Two sofas for sure. The poor use of space with a section makes my skin crawl. I find it so irritating. If you end up missing the lounge feeling turn sideways and lay down or purchase an ottoman.
pricklypearcactus
last year
If you can fit two sofas of full length, I think they offer more flexibility. You can move them into several different arrangements (across from eachother, L shapes). Personally I like to be able to have two adults lay down on sofas for watching movies so I would want both sofas to be long enough for that purpose. In rooms that can't fit two full sofas, sometimes a sectional will allow two adults to lay down, which I prefer over a sofa and a loveseat. But the sectional inherently limits how you can position the furniture because the components usually only fit one way and generally shouldn't be separated.
PRO
Evolution Group
last year
2 sofas is the better option!
mojavemaria
last year
We love our sectional for both looks and comfort but they don't get a lot of love on this site! We have sat quite a few people on it but the lack of a lot of armrests doesn't bother us.
moosemac
last year
I always had two sofas or a sofa and love seat until last year when we purchased a sectional. Our living room is limiting as to furniture placement i.e. the sectional took the same space as the two items. Functionality wise, we love the sectional. By going to a sectional with built in recliners on each end, we were able to add two upholstered barrel chairs to the room for additional seating.

The challenge in finding a sectional was I did not want an overstuffed, puffy behemoth. I searched and finally found what I was looking for.
WestCoast Hopeful
last year
Absolutely love our sectional and two chairs. When we have guests people easily sit on sectional and chairs and we have additional chairs for when more company comes. We have a nice big coffee table that all parts of the sectional have access to so very easy to grabbing your drink or food. We have a sectional that has a long end piece. Seat six easily on sectional. Love it
PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
last year
IMO guests will sit anywhere that does not mean they are comfy just like the guy that gets stuck in the middle of the sofa , better than sitting on the floor,
WestCoast Hopeful
last year
And day to day for our family the sectional is superior. We simply love it. There’s a ton of hate for them on this forum and I don’t really care. Many have them and love them. I’m one of them!
PRO
Celery. Visualization, Rendering images
last year
last modified: last year
It depends on your room. For some ones sectional is better choice, for others is better having a sofas. Sofas have more flexibility for design. But for some small rooms sectional is a better way.
eld6161
last year
While I agree about two as the better choice for the most part, I also can see why people would like a sectional.

If you have a home with two or more gathering spaces, you might want to change up look.

Years we had a sectional in a small apartment. It worked out very well.
decoenthusiaste
last year
last modified: last year
My preferences:

One 3-seat sofa and two comfy upholstered armchairs (can be swivels)

One 2 or 3-seat sofa and four swivels in a "U"

Two sofas and two armchairs in a "U"

One chaise sofa and one armchair

A sectional

Sectional vs. 2 Sofas

marmiegard_z7b

Comments (14)

Patricia Colwell Consulting

littlebug zone 5 Missouri

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