Best Quality Sectional Sofas

A sectional sofa is a stylish and luxurious addition home--either indoors or outdoors. They were originally designed to be a substitute for a sofa with a separate footstool to support your feet (also called an “ottoman”). Instead, sectional sofas will allow you to lie down on the couch, while others sit comfortably with back support. They may include a section with a chaise longue (French for “long chair”), along with smaller chairs with a single armrest.

While a regular sofa doesn’t allow you much leeway in terms of layout, a sectional sofa allows you to arrange the parts in a way that best fits your needs, tastes, and imagination. For indoor use, they are best for salons with room to spare--they can also be arranged or customized to wrap around the corner of the room. You’ll also see outdoor sectional sofas, which will allow you and your friends or family to lounge around on a patio or around a pool.

We’ve composed this buyer’s guide to help you make the right decision when selecting a good sectional sofa. It'll help you:

• Choose the right type of sectional sofa,

• See useful tips about that particular type of sectional sofa,

• Read reviews of different quality sectional sofas, and what customers are saying,

• Select the right brand of the best sectional sofa, and

• Compare prices and find the best deals.

There are four major configurations of sectional sofas--although the pieces can be arranged in a number of styles. Much like with a set of Lego, the more pieces that you have in a sectional sofa means a greater number of design options:

• Chaise sectional: This is a sofa with a long section added to the left or right, for reclining. The extension will be without cushions to support your back. That allows you more space to lie down. An example is the Acme Lawrence Reversible Chaise Sectional.

Acme Lawrence Reversible Chaise Sectional

• L-sectional: This will have a sofa with back support that runs the full length of the couch, in both sides of the “L” shape. The GDF Studio 5-piece Samuel Fabric Sectional Sofa Set is an L-sectional.

GDF Studio 5-piece Samuel Fabric Sectional Sofa Set

• U-shaped sectional: This will allow arranging the pieces along three sides, in a U-shape. This is recommended for large gatherings. Depending on the dimensions, you can consider arranging the couches along the periphery of the room. They can have one or two chaise longue parts, as in the Knightsbridge Tufted Scroll Arm Chesterfield 4-seat Sofa, or have sections with back support on all three sides, as in the Delilah Mid Century Modern U-Shaped Sectional Sofa.

Delilah Mid Century Modern U-Shaped Sectional Sofa

Knightsbridge Tufted Scroll Arm Chesterfield 4-Seat Sofa and Chaise Lounges

• Round Sectional: These are sectional sofas whose parts can be arranged in a circle. An example is Suncrown Round Daybed Sectional Sofa.

Suncrown Outdoor Patio Round Daybed with Retractable Canopy

• Covers on the cushions: It’s preferable to select sectional sofas with cushion covers. It will be considerably easier to clean if you’re able to remove the covers and throw them in the washing machine. Also, some sectional couches utilize an artificial leather upholstery, which you can just wipe down.

• Assembly: Depending on the model, you may be required to assemble the pieces. Wisteria Lane’s Outdoor Sectional Patio Furniture requires around two hours for assembly, where you have to insert some 60 screws, washers, and bolts--but it’s not something that requires a professional. It’s recommended to use a power drill to ensure that all of the screws are tightened properly. The Suncrown 5-piece set is even easier: customers say that they got everything ready in 45-60 minutes!

• Planning the placement of the sections: It’s recommended that you use masking tape on the floor to mark off how much space each element will occupy. Allow for space to comfortably walk around or in between the different parts. You don’t want to buy something too big, and then live with the inconvenience of always having to negotiate around it!

• Numbers of people that can be seated comfortably: Before making a purchase, take into consideration how many people will need to sit on the sofa at once. The Suncrown 5-piece set will sit from 4-6 people at once.

• Check if a coffee table is included: Some sectional sofa sets will include a matching coffee table that is positioned in the center. This will give you more decorative options, as well as allow for serving snacks or drinks to the people seated on the sofa.

• Protection from the elements: If you want a sectional sofa for your patio, make sure that the materials are durable in outdoor conditions. For example, the GDF Studio 5-piece Samuel Fabric Sectional Sofa Set employs rubberwood legs. This is good for indoor use--but the wood will probably get ruined if exposed to rain and dampness. (Rubberwood is treated with protective chemicals when used for furniture. Exposure to rain will wash out these protective chemicals over time.) On the other hand, the Modern Contemporary Urban Design Outdoor Sectional Sofa Set is specially designed for withstanding rain and intense sun. It uses an aluminum frame, and its cushions are UV-resistant. It’s perfect for a patio, poolside, or backyard.

• Seat clips: Sectional sofas will come in pieces, allowing you the freedom of arranging the right armchair and left armchair in all sorts of geometries. But, once you have decided on something, you’d like to keep it that way. There are seat clips that join parts of the sectional sofa together so that they don’t come apart unexpectedly. The Suncrown outdoor sectional sofa has 6 seat clips that you attach to the underside of the sofa, to keep the parts from sliding away from each other. On the other hand, the Wisteria Lane Sectional Patio Sofa doesn’t come with any connectors--they’ll have to be purchased separately.

• Configurations: You’ll be amazed at how many possibilities you can get out of a 5-piece sectional sofa set. Here are just some of the options available with the Wisteria 5-piece Wicker Rattan Sofa Couch, which includes an Ottoman, an armless chair, two corner chairs, and a table:

Arrangement possibilities with the Wisteria Lane Sectional Sofa

• GDF Studio is an online marketer of indoor and outdoor furniture. They sell sofas and lounge chairs for the living room, dining room sets, and bedroom furniture. They make both indoor and outdoor sectional sofas.

• Wisteria Lane, founded in 2000 by Andrew and Shannon Newsom, is a manufacturer of furniture and home design products. They try to incorporate elements from cultures all over the world. They sell furniture for living rooms, bedrooms, dining rooms, offices, as well as decorative accessories.

• Suncrown sells sectional sofas for outdoor use as well as individual rocking chairs and rocking chair sets. Their offerings allow you to enjoy luxurious furniture even when reclining on your patio or near an outdoor pool.