Corner sofa: which side the corner goes on, and how much space it really takes
People choose a corner sofa because "it will seat more people". It is the most common reason — and it is almost always wrong. A 240 cm straight sofa plus an armchair seats exactly as many people as a 255+170 corner, takes up less room, and can be arranged however you like. A corner sofa is not bought for the number of seats. It is bought for two other things: somewhere to put your legs, and to fill the corner of the room that would otherwise go to waste. If that is why you want a corner, everything from here is simple. If it is not, a corner sofa may not be what you need.
The main question: which side the corner goes on
This is where people go wrong most often, and after delivery the mistake is usually impossible to fix. The side is determined facing the sofa. If the projecting section is on your left, it is a left-hand corner. On your right, a right-hand corner. It sounds elementary, but half of all people work it out as "how I will be sitting on it" — and end up with the opposite. Before you tell our sales team the side, check two things in the room:
- Where people walk. The projecting section must not block the way to the balcony, the window or another room. This is the main reason a corner later "gets in the way".
- Where the sockets and the radiator are. The corner section is solid and heavy; you cannot pull it out to reach a socket. And a radiator covered by a sofa heats the sofa, not the room.
And the good news: on a modular sofa, the side of the corner is not a life sentence. More on that below.
What the numbers 255+170 mean
The most requested corner sofa sizes are 255+170 and 270+170 cm. These are outer dimensions: the length of the main section plus the length of the projecting one. So a 255+170 sofa occupies a rectangle of roughly 255 by 170 centimetres. But the number on its own means nothing until you add the walkway. The working rule:
- Up to 90 cm — between the sofa and the wall or coffee table, so that you can walk normally rather than sidle past.
- 60 cm minimum — if the walkway is a technical one, used only occasionally.
Which means that for a 255+170 sofa you should allow around 345 by 260 cm of room. That is the figure worth marking out on the floor with tape before ordering — ten minutes of work that saves a large disappointment.
A modular corner: why it is almost always better
Almost all our sofas are modular, and for a corner that matters even more than for a straight one. A modular corner is not one monolith but a set of parts. Three practical consequences follow:
- The side of the corner can be changed. You moved, you rearranged, you changed your mind — the corner moves to the other side without a new sofa.
- The sofa gets into the flat. A one-piece corner simply does not fit through some doors and lifts. A modular one goes up in parts.
- The length can change later. Adding or removing a module is cheaper than buying another sofa.
A note on the projecting section: it can be a full module or a pouffe pushed up against a straight sofa. The pouffe is cheaper and more mobile — you can move it away and use it as a separate seat. A full module looks continuous and does not drift apart when somebody lies down on it. We make both, and the choice is not about budget but about habit: if somebody lies on the sofa every day, take the full module.
A corner sofa you sleep on
If the corner sofa also has to be a bed, do not look at the mechanism — look at what you will actually be lying on. Our 2Sleep system was built for daily sleeping: a metal frame with springy wooden slats, like a bed base, and over 24 cm of foam. Check which of our models are available as sofa beds and which of those come in a corner version — our sales team will confirm it for the configuration you choose. And measure the room with the sofa open: at night it becomes deeper, and what was a walkway during the day stops being one.
Who a corner sofa does not suit
- A walk-through room. If people cross the living room to reach the bedroom or the kitchen, the corner will almost certainly end up in the way.
- A room under 16 m². Here a straight sofa plus an armchair is the honest answer: they can be arranged, whereas a corner dictates the layout.
- A rented flat. A corner is tied to the geometry of that particular room. You move, and it may not fit. Though with a modular one the risk is smaller.
- If the sofa is for the table and for guests. At a table a corner is awkward: some people end up sideways.
Our corner sofas
- Solar Small — the most requested corner sizes, 255+170 and 270+170, with an 85 cm seat depth.
- Cocoon — the name says it: you sit in it curled up.
- Flex — modular, assembled around your room.
- Big Place — a large corner for a spacious room.
- Prostir and Pangea — if you want a corner with an 85 cm deep seat.
The full range is under Sofas. Each model's dimensions are on its page, and the 3D model can be downloaded to place the sofa in your room plan before ordering.
Fabric: a corner wears unevenly
Every corner sofa has a favourite spot — the place where the two sections meet. That is where people sit most, and that is where the fabric gives first. So choose something that cleans easily, and if you have animals at home, look at the hard-wearing fabrics. The fabric gallery is on the site, and the samples can be seen in our showroom in Cascais, at Joaquim Teotónio Segurado 68A.
Frequently asked questions
How do I tell a left corner from a right one?
Stand facing the sofa. If the projecting section is on your left, the corner is left-hand; if it is on your right, right-hand.
What are the most requested corner sofa sizes?
255+170 and 270+170 cm. These are outer dimensions: the length of the main section plus the projecting one.
How much space should be left around a corner sofa?
Up to 90 cm of walkway where people pass constantly, and at least 60 cm where they pass rarely. For a 255+170 sofa that means roughly 345 by 260 cm of room.
Can the side of the corner be changed after purchase?
On modular models, yes — the corner is rebuilt on the other side. On one-piece models, no.
Will a corner sofa fit into the flat?
A modular one will; it goes up in parts. A one-piece corner can be a problem in narrow doorways and lifts, so the measurements are worth checking in advance.
Does a corner sofa seat more people than a straight one?
Not necessarily. A 240 cm straight sofa with an armchair seats about the same. A corner is chosen so that you can lie down with your legs up, and to fill the corner of the room.
How long does a corner sofa take to make?
An individual order takes 25 to 44 working days.
