What's Best: Sectional Sofas, Couches, Loveseats, or Armchair Sets?

Are you a sectional person or a couch person? Sofa people, stop fence-sitting.

You can’t just say you like sofas best. Both sectionals and couches can be called sofas, which can get confusing. Even a loveseat is a sofa.

To make things easier, think of these pieces of furniture in terms of the seating they provide. The best sectional sofas can often seat the most people, compared to a couch that can comfortably seat up to three and a loveseat that — almost by definition — can seat up to two.

Which one should you make the centerpiece of your living room? The decision is usually between the two largest options: the sectional or the couch. The latter will often be supported by other pieces like a loveseat or an armchair — or, another couch.

Of course, how you decorate your home’s interiors is up to you. But should you need some help to decide, you can check out the pros and cons of both sectional-based and couch-based setups below.

What Are the Benefits and Disadvantages of a Sectional Sofa?

Sectionals are huge, but many designs are far from bulky or cumbersome — especially the ones that come in modular form. The best sectional sofa can fit perfectly into smaller spaces through a careful arrangement of its separate pieces. It can offer convenient storage options, too.

Because you can use most sectionals as one big sofa or break them up into convenient separates, they can be very affordable.

To get the same number of seats with a couch as the centerpiece — most sectionals can accommodate about six people — you’d need to spend on more furniture. Sectionals also offer a no-fuss solution to people that don’t have time to look for matching furniture.

Informality and Difficult Maneuverability

As cozy and inviting as a sectional sofa may be, it could be a little uncomfortable for guests that are very aware of their personal space.

Sectional sofas are less formal and more laid-back, so if you’re looking to entertain acquaintances rather than close family and friends, you might want to stick to hosting outdoor events on your deck or patio.

If your family changes locations a lot—due to military reassignments or other work-related issues—hauling around a sectional could be a headache. They’re usually larger and heavier than couches, meaning they’re harder to pack up, get through doors, and onto moving trucks.

What Are the Benefits and Disadvantages of a Couch, Loveseat & Armchair Set?

A couch with matching or complementary loveseats or armchairs — or even another couch — could be perfect for a home that’s always entertaining guests.

If you’re the type that likes to change up the layout of your living room from time to time, you might benefit from having a couch as a centerpiece, too. Lighter furniture is easier to move around and rearrange.

If you’d like to make a smaller room seem bigger, a sectional might not be the best idea—although it may prove to be cozier. A set of armchairs paired with a couch will seat about as many people as a single sectional and will take up less space.

With a living room set that centers on a couch, you and your guests will also likely have less trouble getting up, navigating the room, and then sitting back down.

Group Events and Unoccupied Space

However, a setup like this might be a little problematic for group events involving screens — like movie nights or watching the Super Bowl.

Typically, with a living room set of three or more pieces, you won’t have many of them facing the same way — which could lead to awkward shuffling and on-the-spot rearranging for some guests.

With a larger room, there’s also the tendency to keep on adding furniture if you don’t already have a huge centerpiece like a sectional.

A couch, loveseat, and armchair may feel a little bare in a big space, but you might overestimate your floor area when adding more and end up with a cluttered layout.

What’s the Best Furniture Arrangement for Your Home?

Apart from just trusting your gut and going with what looks best to you, there are objective ways of figuring out an ideal furniture setup for your home.

You might be a sectional person if you don’t entertain a lot and prefer a living room that’s cozy and lounge-worthy.

Are you the type to always want to have your feet up on your plush furniture? Do you like taking naps outside your bedroom? Are family movie or game nights mandatory? Sounds like the best sectional sofa would fit in perfectly with your lifestyle.

You might be a couch person if you invite over acquaintances or people from various social groups all the time.

Are you the type that likes to maintain a formal living room in the house? Do you prefer a layout that’s easy to rearrange or mix and match? Does your family move around a lot? Sounds like you’d benefit from a living room set with a couch and supporting loveseats and armchairs.

Resources— Architectural Digest, Home Stratosphere, Furniture.com

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