4.7 
A corner sofa fits in a small living room as long as the longest side takes up no more than two-thirds of the wall and eighty centimetres of walkway remain clear. For a compact corner layout, allow about 220 by 160 centimetres. In a room narrower than three metres, a 2-seater sofa with a separate pouffe is usually more practical, because you can move it and you cannot move a corner sofa.
A corner sofa promises lots of seats in few square metres, and that is true. The pitfall is the depth: on the long side a corner sofa can easily be 160 centimetres deep, and that is exactly the measurement that clogs up a small room.
From what room size does a corner sofa work?
As a rule of thumb, you need a wall of at least three metres for the long side, and two and a half metres for the short leg. Below that, the sofa comes so close to the opposite wall that you can no longer walk past it comfortably.
What counts is free wall, not the room size. A door, radiator or passageway in the wall does not count.
Also measure where the door swings open. A corner sofa that blocks the walking line from the door makes the room smaller than it is, regardless of the square metres.
How much walking space should you leave?
Keep eighty centimetres between the sofa and the coffee table or the opposite wall. At sixty centimetres you can still get past, but you will be brushing against it every day.
Between the sofa and the coffee table, forty to forty-five centimetres is actually ideal. That is close enough to pick up your cup without getting up.
These two measurements clash in a small room, and that is usually the moment when a corner sofa drops out.
Which layout gains the most space?
Put the corner of the sofa in the corner of the room, not in the middle of a wall. That way you use the spot that would otherwise stay empty, and you keep the rest of the floor in one piece.
In addition, choose a model on legs rather than a closed plinth. Because you can see the floor underneath, the room looks noticeably more spacious, even though the sofa is the same size.
A low backrest helps for the same reason: the less closed surface at eye level, the less the sofa divides up the space.
When is it better not to choose a corner sofa?
In a room narrower than three metres, with several doors in the same wall, or when you still want to be able to change the layout.
In those cases a 2-seater sofa with a separate pouffe often works better. You have the same number of seats, but you can slide the pouffe aside when you need space.
A second alternative is a modular sofa. You can first set it up straight and later rearrange it into a corner if the layout changes.
How much does a compact sofa cost?
| Model | Character | Price from |
|---|---|---|
| Sofa Bart | Sleek and compact, minimalist | € 1.162,00 |
| Sofa Emma | Deep seat, generous cushions | € 1.370,00 |
| Sofa Sara | Rounded shapes, lounge layout | € 2.049,00 |
Of these three, the Bart is the most compact and therefore the logical first choice for a small room. The Sara, by contrast, needs space around it and does not come into its own in a cramped living room.
The full range can be found under corner sofas and sofas.
Key points
- Allow at least three metres of free wall for the long side.
- Keep eighty centimetres of walkway and forty centimetres to the coffee table.
- Put the corner in the corner of the room, not in the middle of a wall.
- Legs and a low back make a small room look more spacious.
- Below three metres, a 2-seater sofa with a pouffe is more practical.
Frequently asked questions
How deep is a corner sofa on average?
A corner sofa is usually ninety to one hundred centimetres deep on the seating side, and 150 to 170 centimetres on the longchair side. That second measurement is the decisive one in a small room, because it determines how much floor is left.
Can you put a corner sofa against two walls?
Putting a corner sofa against two walls is possible and is usually the best layout in a small room. Do make sure you leave enough space at a radiator under the window, because a sofa that covers the radiator costs heating capacity.
Is a light-coloured sofa better in a small room?
A light fabric colour makes a small room look visually more spacious than a dark one, because there is less contrast with the wall. In practical terms, though, light colours require more maintenance. A mid-tone in a textured fabric is often the best compromise.
What is the difference between a corner sofa and a sofa with a longchair?
With a corner sofa, two seat sections form a ninety-degree angle and you sit with back support on both sides. With a sofa with a longchair, only the seat continues, without a backrest at the end. A longchair therefore takes up less visual space.
Does a corner sofa fit in a room of four by four metres?
A corner sofa fits well in a room of four by four metres, provided the walls it will stand against are largely free. Allow for a layout of about 260 by 180 centimetres and keep eighty centimetres of walking space on the open sides.
In conclusion
First measure the free wall and the walkway, and only then look at models. A corner sofa that is ten centimetres too big cannot be fixed with a different fabric or colour.
If you are not sure whether a layout will fit, bring the dimensions of your room to one of our showrooms. We will draw up the layout with you before you order anything.
