How to Measure for a Corner Sofa — Room by Room Guide

How to measure for a corner sofa — Getting the measurements wrong when buying a corner sofa is the most expensive mistake in furniture buying. A corner sofa that’s 25 cm too long will block your walkway. One that’s 30 cm too small will look lost in the room. This step-by-step guide gives you the exact measurements you need before ordering.

Step 1 — Measure the Two Walls — How to measure for a corner sofa

A corner sofa sits against two walls. Measure both walls from the corner outward to the nearest obstruction — a door, a window frame, a radiator, a chimney breast, another piece of furniture. Write both measurements down.

These are your maximum dimensions. The sofa cannot exceed either of these measurements without blocking something important. In most cases, you’ll want the sofa to be 10–15 cm shorter than the wall measurement to leave a small visual gap.

Step 2 — Check Your Walkway Clearance

The front face of the sofa must leave at least 90 cm of clear walkway to the opposite wall or piece of furniture. This is the minimum comfortable clearance for one person to pass. For households with children, wheelchairs or high daily traffic, 100–110 cm is preferable.

Measure from the wall the sofa will sit against to the opposite wall or nearest furniture piece. Subtract your desired walkway clearance (90 cm minimum). The remaining number is the maximum sofa depth you can accommodate on that axis.

Step 3 — Calculate the Minimum Room Size

Use this formula for each axis: Room measurement minus 90 cm walkway clearance equals maximum sofa dimension on that axis.

Example: Room is 420 cm wide × 380 cm deep. Wall 1 (420 cm) minus 90 cm = 330 cm maximum sofa length. Wall 2 (380 cm) minus 90 cm = 290 cm maximum sofa depth. A sofa measuring 300×200 cm fits comfortably. A sofa measuring 350×210 cm does not fit — the 350 cm length exceeds the 330 cm maximum.

Minimum Room Sizes by Sofa Model

CAMDEN OPEN (200×142 cm): Minimum room 330×270 cm. Our smallest model — designed specifically for UK flats and smaller living rooms. CARO (230×142 cm): Minimum room 360×270 cm. Best seller — suits most standard UK living rooms. NOTTING (235×145 cm): Minimum room 365×275 cm. Similar to CARO with a different arm profile. RIVERSIDE (255×160 cm): Minimum room 385×290 cm. Mid-size family model. CROYDON Modular (240×200 cm): Minimum room 370×330 cm. Modular build for access-restricted properties. HARROW (305×200 cm): Minimum room 435×330 cm. Large family model — requires generous room dimensions.

Step 4 — Measure Your Doorways and Access Route

A corner sofa that fits the room but cannot be delivered into the room is the second most common measurement mistake. Measure every access point between the front door and the room where the sofa will sit.

What to measure: Front door width and height. Hallway width at its narrowest point. Any 90-degree turns in the hallway. Staircase width (if applicable). Living room doorway width and height.

Standard UK measurements for reference: Standard interior door: 762mm wide × 1981mm tall. Standard front door: 838mm wide × 1981mm tall. Most corner sofas are delivered in sections and assembled in the room — the CROYDON modular model is specifically designed for the narrowest UK access routes.

Step 5 — Determine LHF or RHF

Stand in the doorway of the room and face the corner where the sofa will sit. The longer section of the sofa — the chaise or secondary section — should point towards the wall with more space. If that wall is on your left, order LHF (Left Hand Facing). If it’s on your right, order RHF (Right Hand Facing).

If you’re unsure, photograph the corner from the doorway and draw the sofa dimensions onto the image. This makes the configuration immediately obvious.

The Tape Trick — Visualise Before You Buy

Before ordering, use masking tape on your floor to mark the exact footprint of the sofa. Mark both sections of the L-shape. Live with the tape for 24 hours. Walk around it, sit next to it, check the walkways from every angle. If the taped outline feels tight, the sofa will feel tight. If it feels right, it will feel right when the sofa arrives.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the smallest corner sofa available? Our CAMDEN OPEN at 200×142 cm is our most compact model. It fits rooms from 330×270 cm and includes the same DL sofa bed mechanism and storage as our larger models.

How much space do you need in front of a corner sofa? Minimum 90 cm of clear walkway between the front face of the sofa and the nearest opposite wall or furniture piece. 100–110 cm is more comfortable for family use.

Can a corner sofa be delivered to a flat with a narrow hallway? Yes — most models are delivered in sections and assembled in the room. The CROYDON modular model is specifically engineered for narrow hallways, tight staircases and restricted access routes.

How do I know if I need LHF or RHF? Stand in the doorway facing the corner. The chaise should point to the wall with more free space. Left wall = LHF. Right wall = RHF.

Should the sofa touch the walls? Ideally leave 3–5 cm between the sofa back and the wall. This prevents the fabric from rubbing against the wall and allows air circulation.

See the Which? sofa guide. Browse our corner sofa range from £999 with white glove delivery to your room.

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