Types of Sectionals (Buying Guide)

The sectional sofa is one of the most adaptable and useful pieces of furniture available on the market. Sectional sofas, which first appeared in Victorian times, are still quite popular and may be found in home and business settings.

There are many different designs, styles, and materials for sectional sofas. Sectional sofas also have several solutions available on the market to meet your unique tastes, needs, and preferences.

Unfortunately, buying a sectional sofa can seem daunting, and you need extensive research to make well-informed choices. Fortunately, this article will walk you through all you need to select the perfect ones for yourself. Let's get started.

What is a Sectional Sofa?

Sectional sofas get their name from the independent furniture pieces that come together to create sections that define their style. This seating arrangement can be configured in numerous ways to suit your preferences and style. A standard sectional sofa typically consists of two to seven sections, and in an ideal arrangement, they would all be connected by fixtures to prevent separation while you use them. An armless chair, a standard two- or three-seater sofa, a sleeper sofa, a chaise lounge, an ottoman, or storage are all examples of the various types of seating options you may find in each "section."

The greatest benefit of a sectional sofa is its versatility and adaptability in terms of design. A sectional, as opposed to a three-seater sofa, can be configured in various ways to fit a space. It can be made into an L or U-shaped seating area or standard single seats. Another advantage sectionals offer is the ability to adapt them to suit your unique needs and available space.

Consider the Shape of Your Sectionals

Sectional sofas come in various shapes, which is one factor to consider when buying one. The shape you get will largely depend on your preferences, the arrangement you wish to create, and the space in your home. Generally, you'll have to pick from these shapes:

L-Shaped Sectionals

An L-shaped sectional with a chaise is an improved version of the traditional L-shaped chaise sofa and should not be confused with a U-shaped sectional. These sofas have an "L" shape and are ideal for small living rooms as they maximize the seating area by not breaking it up. With L-Shaped sectionals, you wouldn't have to worry about clutters. Also, everyone in your home may unwind easily, whether sitting or reclining, because these sofas typically include a chaise as a regular feature. This option will work perfectly for you if you love U-shaped sectionals but don't have enough space. It's also a great choice if you need lots of seating space.

U-Shaped Sectionals

Compared to a typical L-shaped sofa, the U-shaped sectional has more space. As suggested by its name, it takes the shape of the letter "U" and makes it possible for you to lean back on either end of the sofa when you wish to relax. Since u-shaped sectional sofas are typically bulkier than other sectional sofa types, they are a wonderful option for homeowners with large entertainment spaces. Everyone can be comfortably seated on a U-shaped sectional.

U-shaped sectionals should be one of your top picks if you host family gatherings around the holidays or when the family is in town. Aside from serving as a bed for nieces and nephews, the chaise area's generous lounging area is great for catching up with loved ones.

Curved Sectionals

Also called semi-circular sofas, curved sectionals are great options for increasing your living room's seating area to avoid keeping a guest in an uncomfortable corner. With this arrangement, everyone can chat without difficulty, and nobody will have to worry about missing out on the group discussion. Curved sectional sofas offer a more elegant shape than L-shaped and U-shaped sofas. They also come in large and compact sizes to fit into your available space.

What Sectional Sofa Styles Should You Go With?

You should have a well-defined interior design strategy for your area with regard to color and theme before deciding on a sectional style. By doing this, you can get a sofa that perfectly complements your space.

Also, it's worth noting that the furniture in your living room can significantly impact the interior design of the space. It can improve or hurt the design. So, do all you can to purchase a sectional that complements the decor of the area, except you're purchasing for a media/family room. Furniture for media or family rooms should focus more on functionality and comfort. A reclining sectional would be the best option in this situation since it is incredibly comfy, even though it's not formal/typical living room furniture.

Let's get right into the various styles of sectional couches:

Traditional

Furniture made in a traditional style is typically more elaborate, opulent, and graceful than furniture made in a modern manner. Traditional style sectionals typically feature softer edges and a curved design and are daintier. Richer hues are used along with nicer accents and decorations. Traditional sectionals frequently employ velvety patterned fabric and rich wood tones when made of various materials. The segmented legs are frequently twisted or cabriole-styled, with a rich wood stain or gilding as finishing touches.

Transitional

Transitional furniture aims to convey a sophisticated appeal without adornment by combining the best elements of classic and modern furniture styles. Most sectionals in the transitional style are neutrally colored and feature metal or wooden legs.

Modern

These sectional sofas are sleek and stylish and frequently contain modish additions like metal legs and leather. Although they tend to be boxier than traditional sofas, they will blend in and enhance your décor if your home is decorated in a more trendy manner overall.

Some people love to draw a difference between modern and contemporary sectional sofas. This school of thought classifies modern style furniture as sleek and elegant with little ornamentation and synonymous with mid-century styles. Meanwhile, they describe furniture in contemporary designs as having a strong minimalist appeal, distinguished by its simple, clean lines, squared edges, and striking geometric form.

Modern/contemporary styles are minimalist-inspired regardless of how you classify them.

Farmhouse

Neutral hues, sturdy materials, and comfort are the fundamental components of furniture in the farmhouse design. Farmhouse-style sectionals often include upholstery in muted tones with a few splashes of color and are constructed with natural materials like wood. Farmhouse-style sectionals are made to stand the test of time and have a straightforward, aged appearance. They are an excellent option if you want to create a relaxed atmosphere in your room. Another advantage to farmhouse sectionals is that you can easily brighten them with colorful throw cushions and don't need to put too much effort into their maintenance.

Rustic

In general, rustic design furniture is quite straightforward, naturally beautiful, and appealingly aged. The use of organic materials like distressed and solid wood and textured fabrics like burlap or canvas is highlighted by rustic design sectional sofas. They are simple, unadorned, and incredibly functional with a very organic appearance.

Coastal

Furniture made in a coastal style is renowned for its calm and relaxing atmosphere. Rattan, braided wicker, and weathered wood are natural materials used in coastal-style sectional sofas.

Simple textiles like beige, ivory, blue, or green are frequently used for coastal sofas. Canvas is another common material utilized in this furniture style.

Different Sectional Sofa Designs To Choose From

Stationary

The most popular kind of sectional couches are immobile and have just one shape. These parts lock or link together to stay in place, unlike modular sofas that can be mixed and matched. The fact that you can't recline in a stationary sectional sofa is its only drawback.

Reclining

Family and media rooms are the perfect places for recliner designs. They are available in various designs, including discrete movie chairs and a more conventional sofa with separate reclining parts. A reclining sectional sofa offers premium comfort, whether watching a movie or doing homework. They tend to be a little larger than their stationary equivalents, so you need more room to spread out and settle down. This sofa is ideal for you whether you like to sleep upright or need to unwind after a long day.

Modular

Three to five parts make up modular sectional couches. A modular sectional's constituent pieces can all be utilized as standalone pieces of furniture, but when combined, they can be adjusted to create various looks and arrangements.

Modular sofas are highly useful since they maximize your seating options and allow for simple movement to meet your preferences and needs.

Sleeper

A sleeper sofa eliminates the need for an extra bed in homes that frequently don't have a separate bedroom for visitors to stay in while they are staying. Since they conceal a bed, these sofas are typically much heavier than other types. However, once you have them in your room, you won't need to worry about finding additional seating or a place to sleep.

Convertible

This sofa is very simple to disassemble into separate sections, and you can even store things in secret compartments. They are a terrific way to keep things in plain sight in your home and are available in various forms so you can select one that best suits your décor and aesthetics. These sofas are ideal for larger and smaller homes since you can arrange the parts however you choose to match your particular space or group them to create a more coherent unit if you need a big, sturdy piece to tie the room together.

Chaise Sectionals

The chaise lounge is also quite well-liked. In essence, it's similar to having a connected ottoman. Fortunately, you can still utilize an ottoman so that everyone can put their feet up on the sofa.

Home Theater Style

The home theater sectional is ideally suited for family and media rooms like the reclining version.

Other Important Factors To Consider When Buying Sectional Sofas

Here are other essential factors to have in mind when purchasing a sectional chair:

• Console

  If you wish to own a furniture piece that lets you relax with drinks, a sectional chair with a hidden sofa is a great choice.

• Hidden Storage

  Some sectional sofas have storage inside their chaise that lets you store items like blankets, magazines, pillows, etc.

• Chaise

  Sectional sofas with chaises ensure you can relax properly by stretching your legs.

• Slipcover

  Sectional sofas with slipcovers will keep your chairs clean even if something spilled on them.

• Nailhead Trim

  A nailhead trim sectional sofa has an exceptional finishing that adds class and elegance to your room.

• Ottoman

  This is for those who love to stretch but don't like the sectional sofa with a chaise.

Final Thoughts

Knowing the most popular varieties of sectionals offered by most major furniture merchants can better equip you to select the sectional that may be ideal for you. Remember that every subsection has particular benefits. Also, always be sure the sectional is sizable enough to fit through the doors, hallways, stairs, or the necessary entry point in your home before making a purchase.

Do you want to buy a sectional? Then save yourself the hassle of looking for the best by exploring the high-quality sectional sofas on our website. We provide a variety of sectionals in various colors and fabric types, and our interior designers are skilled in assisting you in selecting the ideal sectional for your taste.