Think You Don’t Have Room for a Big Sofa?
Rethinking its position and finding a sleek style are just two ways to help a sizable couch fit neatly into your home
Jo Simmons
February 18, 2017
Houzz UK Contributor. I have been an interiors journalist since 1995, writing several books on design and numerous features for glossy homes mags over the years. For Houzz, I cover decorating ideas and trends and interview designers and professionals for their insights. My favourite pieces to write, though, are Houzz Tours, as I love exploring and learning about real homes. Call me curious — or nosy!
Houzz UK Contributor. I have been an interiors journalist since 1995, writing several... More
A big sofa invites you to stretch out and relax, but do you have the space for one? If you always assumed that your home simply couldn’t accommodate a comfy corner design or a long three-seater, think again. Sometimes redesigning the space will yield a possible location for a super-comfy couch. Other times it’s just a question of finding a design that delivers on comfort but sits lightly in the space. These stylish rooms offer smart tricks and inspiration for fitting the sofa of your choice into the space available.
Fill the space. Small, individual pieces in a little room can make it feel cramped and cluttered. Bigger pieces that generously fill the footprint are often a better bet, delivering comfort and defying the small dimensions.
Here, a large corner sofa and a big ottoman unapologetically dominate this compact living room, sending the message that this is a space in which to stretch out and relax.
Here, a large corner sofa and a big ottoman unapologetically dominate this compact living room, sending the message that this is a space in which to stretch out and relax.
Tuck it away. Lose the arms, and suddenly you can squeeze a good-size sofa into your available space. This clever design fits neatly into this nook.
To up the comfort, even though it’s not a three-seater, it’s a deliberately deep design, delivering lots of lounging space but fitting neatly into a compact area.
To up the comfort, even though it’s not a three-seater, it’s a deliberately deep design, delivering lots of lounging space but fitting neatly into a compact area.
Combine two tasks. Forget the traditional uses assigned to each room of a house, and give a single space several functions, aided by clever multitasking furniture. Bring your need for a bed and your desire for a big sofa together in one informal daybed arrangement (or, as shown here, two).
There’s somewhere to lounge and a place to sleep, which, in a small-scale or studio apartment, is a great solution.
There’s somewhere to lounge and a place to sleep, which, in a small-scale or studio apartment, is a great solution.
Show the legs. Sometimes it’s the style, not the size, that’s the issue when it comes to fitting in a big sofa. A chunky three-seater will dominate a space, while a long midcentury design, mounted on skinny wooden legs, will feel far lighter. It should also be easier to lift in through narrow doorways.
So maybe you can fit a large sofa into your home — you just need one with a wooden frame and an elegant silhouette that sits daintily in the room and allows the floor beneath to be visible.
So maybe you can fit a large sofa into your home — you just need one with a wooden frame and an elegant silhouette that sits daintily in the room and allows the floor beneath to be visible.
Consolidate the storage. Still think you don’t have space for a big sofa? Maybe your other furniture is to blame. Individual pieces of storage take up space and can make a small room feel cluttered. Instead, concentrating all the storage on one wall of shelves and cabinets keeps the rest of the room clear for a decent-size sofa.
This image also illustrates how cozy a stuffed small room can feel. This is a compact living space, but rather than furnish it with skinny pieces or strive for a minimal look, the owners have embraced the more-is-more approach. There’s a big sofa and an armchair and a coffee table. It’s full, but who cares when the room looks this homey and inviting?
This image also illustrates how cozy a stuffed small room can feel. This is a compact living space, but rather than furnish it with skinny pieces or strive for a minimal look, the owners have embraced the more-is-more approach. There’s a big sofa and an armchair and a coffee table. It’s full, but who cares when the room looks this homey and inviting?
Avoid the wall. When space is tight, it’s tempting to shove a sofa against a wall to free up as much floor space as possible in front. Instead, consider moving it into the room, as shown here, and see if this gives options for a larger piece.
In addition, if windows or doors punctuate the only wall long enough to accommodate a big sofa, then this solution will allow you to access those features but still include a generous seating area (especially if you consider installing sliding doors, as seen here).
In addition, if windows or doors punctuate the only wall long enough to accommodate a big sofa, then this solution will allow you to access those features but still include a generous seating area (especially if you consider installing sliding doors, as seen here).
Supplement with a window seat. Choose a modest-size sofa but supplement it with a window seat. Squeezing a neat seat into the unused spot in this bay window creates more lounging space, delivering lots of sofa in two formats.
Use the corner. Unless you live in a teapot, you probably have corners in your home. Use them! Grab yourself a corner-hugging sofa, and tuck it in. It’s both an efficient use of space and a genius way to work in a really generous, crash-out-on couch.
Build in benches. Take inspiration from the tight dimensions of a boat or a yacht, and install built-in benches for sofas. A simple bench can be created to fit into any space and will happily accommodate a room’s awkward angles.
You can also incorporate storage below, accessed via a lift-up seat. Plenty of cushions against the wall take the place of a bulky sofa back.
You can also incorporate storage below, accessed via a lift-up seat. Plenty of cushions against the wall take the place of a bulky sofa back.
Extend a two-seater. Perhaps you do have space only for a two-seater sofa. Don’t despair! Shop around for two-seaters with benefits, which offer more than the standard design would. This compact model extends outward, giving a generous feel.
Consider having an ottoman made in matching or complementary fabric and fitting that into the L-shape. With a tray on top, it can become a coffee table, for use on a comfy night in for two, but it will also work well as a perch when you’re in less of a lounging mood. Move it to the armless end of the sofa, and it will also extend the seating area.
Consider having an ottoman made in matching or complementary fabric and fitting that into the L-shape. With a tray on top, it can become a coffee table, for use on a comfy night in for two, but it will also work well as a perch when you’re in less of a lounging mood. Move it to the armless end of the sofa, and it will also extend the seating area.
Find innovative furniture. The sofa in this tiny studio flat is wonderfully generous because an ingenious pull-down bed leaves the floor space free for seating.
Bed and sofa don’t compete for space here. Instead, the bed can be pulled down at night, fitting neatly over the big sofa. In design parlance, that’s known as the best of both worlds!
Your turn: Do you have any tips on fitting a big sofa into your home? Share them in the Comments below.
More: Things You Need to Know About Buying a Sofa
Your turn: Do you have any tips on fitting a big sofa into your home? Share them in the Comments below.
More: Things You Need to Know About Buying a Sofa
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Great article. Many people don't realise that if you have a small space, adopting the "less is more" approach is the way to go - rather than putting in a lot of smaller scale items go for the biggest piece of furniture your room can accommodate. Not only does it make the room feel more generous and inviting you are investing in the longevity of your furniture if you are actually going to use it!! Corner sofas and ottomans are fantastic space saving solutions as shown in the first picture. My only advice, measure your entry point carefully to make sure you can get them in, nothing worse than being 10cm too wide in a narrow stairwell - we learnt the hard way!!
Love love!