Measure the two walls that form the corner, then how far the lounge can come into the room while still leaving a walkway of about 60–90 cm. Decide which side the chaise goes on as you sit on the sofa, and check every doorway and hallway on the way in against the carton sizes before you order.
- If your layout is settled: choose a fixed L-shape from our corner and L-shaped lounges, such as the Signature Corner Sofa with Chaise, with the chaise side picked at order.
- If you might move house or swap the chaise side later: pick a reversible chaise you can switch after delivery, like the compact Samson 3 Seater Fabric Sofa Bed with Reversible Chaise, 212 cm long and 134 cm deep.
- If you want to split or reshape the seating later: choose a true modular, built from separate sections, from our modular and sectional sofas.
In this guide
How to measure for an L-shaped lounge, step by step
An L-shaped lounge is usually the biggest piece of furniture in the house, and it takes up floor in two directions, not just along one wall. That is why a corner lounge that "fits the wall" can still crowd a room. Work in centimetres, because every size on our product pages is in centimetres, and sketch the room as you go.
- 1. Measure the two walls of the corner. Measure each wall separately from the corner, for example 320 cm on one and 240 cm on the other. These are the most the two arms of the L can be.
- 2. Measure how far into the room you can go. The chaise or short arm sticks out from the wall. Measure from the wall to where the walkway must start, then take off at least 60 cm, ideally closer to 90 cm, for the path past it.
- 3. Mark the obstructions. Note power points, light switches, air-conditioning vents, low window sills and doors that swing into the room.
- 4. Plan the coffee table gap. Leave roughly 35–50 cm between the front of the seat and a coffee table, so legs fit and the table is still in reach.
- 5. Tape the footprint on the floor. Use masking tape to mark the full L, live with it for a day, and walk around it.
- 6. Measure the way in. Measure every doorway, hallway, corner and stair on the route. Many corner lounges arrive flat-packed in more than one carton (the Signature and the Osaka each ship in three), so check the largest carton size on the product page against your narrowest point.
When you have your numbers, compare them with the overall length and the depth on the chaise side of each lounge in our L-shaped lounge range. If either one is over, the lounge is too big for the corner.
Pieces in this guide
Left-hand or right-hand chaise: which do you need?
This is the measuring mistake that costs the most, because on many lounges the side cannot be changed after delivery. Our product pages name the chaise side as you sit on the sofa: "left when sitting" means the chaise is on your left once you are seated. The diagrams show the view facing the sofa, so the chaise appears on the opposite side in the picture.
The easy check: stand with your back to the wall where the sofa will sit, as if you were sitting on it, and point to where the chaise should go. That is your side.
Lounges handle the side in two ways:
- Fixed, chosen at order. The Signature, the Osaka 3 Seater Couch with Chaise and the Elvis 3 Seater Pull-Out Sofa Bed are ordered with a left or right chaise. On the Signature and the Osaka the side is fixed once built, so measure first.
- Reversible, switch any time. The Spencer II, in grey fabric or as the Spencer II Black PU Leather Corner Sofa with Reversible Chaise, and the Samson let you set the chaise up on either side and switch it later. That is the safer choice if you rent or expect to move.
L-shaped lounge sizes compared
Here is how four L-shaped lounges compare on the two numbers that matter most when you measure: the overall length and how far the chaise side comes into the room. All figures are from the product pages, taken by hand, and can vary slightly between shipments.
| Feature | Samson | Osaka | Spencer II | Signature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seats | 3, converts to a bed | 3-seater with chaise | 5 | 5 |
| Overall length | 212 cm | 305 cm | 277 cm | 280 cm |
| Depth on the chaise side | 134 cm | 180 cm | 208 cm | 205 cm |
| Chaise side | Reversible | Fixed, chosen at order | Reversible | Fixed, chosen at order |
| Upholstery | Fabric | Chenille, Beige or Dark Grey | Grey woven fabric or black PU | Fabric, Dark Grey or Beige |
For bigger rooms there are larger shapes. The Bailey 5 Seater Corner Recliner Sofa is a curved corner in Rhino fabric, 295 × 265 cm, with two reclining end seats and a built-in console; allow room in front for the footrests and ask the showroom team for the reclined depth. The Easton Corner Sofa with Ottoman is a U-shape with a chaise at each end, 365 cm wide and 160 cm deep, with a separate 155 cm ottoman.
What is a modular sofa, and when does it beat a corner lounge?
A modular sofa, also called a modular lounge or sectional, is built from separate sections, or modules, that you can push together in different arrangements: an L today, a straight sofa plus a separate seat tomorrow. A corner lounge is a fixed shape. A reversible chaise, as on the Spencer II and the Samson, sits in between: one fixed sofa whose chaise can move to the other side.
| Feature | Corner lounge | Modular sofa |
|---|---|---|
| Shape | Fixed L, chaise side set or reversible | Sections you can rearrange |
| Measuring | Length and depth must both fit the corner | Plan each section's footprint |
| Best when | The room and layout will stay the same | You rent, move or change layouts |
| Room types | Defined, rectangular living rooms | Open-plan, awkward or changing spaces |
A modular wins when the room is likely to change, when the corner is awkward, or when you want the option of splitting seats for guests. A fixed corner lounge wins when the room is settled and you want one solid, anchored piece. Browse true modular designs in our modular and sectional sofas.
L-shaped lounge layout and styling ideas
Placing it
In a small living room, push the L into the corner so the floor in the middle stays open, and pair it with a smaller round coffee table that is easy to walk around. In an open-plan room, let the back of the L mark the edge of the living area, with the long side facing the TV and the chaise on the side away from the main walkway. Our guide to styling the TV wall covers the other side of the room.
The pieces around it
A rug that reaches under at least the front legs of the whole L pulls the shape together. An ottoman can do the coffee table's job: the Spencer II comes with a storage ottoman, and the Easton with a large rectangular one. Side tables and a lamp at the open end of the L give somewhere for a cup of tea and a reading light.
Cushions, throws and colour
For a cosy look, layer textured cushions and a soft throw in muted greens, creams or blues. For more personality, add patterned throws and a mix of colourful cushions. In a small room, lighter tones for the sofa and accessories keep the space feeling open; the Osaka in Beige suits that. Grey is the easy neutral, and works with timber, black and white alike.
Still deciding between shapes? Our full sofas, lounges and couches range sits alongside the corner lounges, so you can compare a straight sofa with an L before you commit.
Corner and modular lounge questions
Is an L-shaped lounge the same as a corner lounge?
In everyday use, yes. Both describe a lounge that turns a corner. Some are a sofa with a chaise forming the L, like the Signature or Osaka; others have seats right around the corner, like the curved Bailey.
What size L-shaped lounge suits a small living room?
Look for a compact chaise lounge. The Samson is 212 cm long and 134 cm deep, and the Elvis is 235 cm wide and 160 cm deep with the chaise. Both also pull out into a bed. Make sure you still keep a walkway of about 60–90 cm.
Can a modular sofa be rearranged?
Yes. That is the point of a modular sofa: the sections come apart and go back together in a different shape for a new room or layout. A lounge with a reversible chaise is less flexible, but its chaise can switch sides.
How much space should you leave around a corner lounge?
As a guide, leave about 60–90 cm for main walkways and roughly 35–50 cm between the seat and the coffee table. If the lounge floats in the room rather than sitting against a wall, leave a clear path behind it too.
Is a grey L-shaped lounge a good choice?
Grey is an easy neutral that suits most rooms and hides everyday marks better than pale fabrics. The Signature and Osaka both come in Dark Grey or Beige, and the Spencer II comes in grey woven fabric.
What are typical L-shaped lounge dimensions?
There is no standard size. In this guide they run from 212 cm long and 134 cm deep for the compact Samson to 305 cm long and 180 cm deep for the Osaka, while five-seat corners such as the Signature are about 280 cm long and 205 cm deep on the chaise side. Measure both walls of your corner and compare those two numbers.