Small sectional sofas (which are a thing, trust us) are just the right seating solution for those with cramped spaces who recognize that it’s not humanly possible to get cozy on a loveseat. “A sectional can give you that maxed-out seating and help the room feel like a cozy nook, not a cramped back office,” says designer Caroline Burke of Anna Burke Interiors.
Though sectionals in all their long configurations can feel counterintuitive for small spaces, designer Ashley Darryl says the opposite is often true. “Sometimes using several small pieces can make a room feel cluttered,” says of the sofa-chair-table cluster that’s become de rigueur in living rooms. Whether your goal is to fit the whole family for movie night or just successfully stretch out completely solo, the right-size sectional can transform a cramped room in unexpected ways.
“Typically, sectionals can double your seating,” notes AD100 interior designer Victoria Hagan, and author of Live Now. Burke agrees, adding that choosing a piece with a low back and arms can “help a small room not feel engulfed by a piece of furniture.”
To guide you on your seating journey, we pulled together what we consider the best sectional sofas for small spaces, focusing on modular designs that can grow and change as your space does, as well as versatility. You’ll find bouclé beauties and stylish leather configurations, many of which have been personally reviewed by the AD team. We’ve also tapped expert designers to help answer some common seating FAQs to ensure you make the right choice for you.
Featured in this article
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Best Leather Option
Specs
- Dimensions: 27.6"H x 84.3"W x 94.1"D (long side) and 39.4"D (short side)
- Seat Depth: 24.4"
- Materials: Top grain leather, veneer lumber, and plywood
- Care: Wipe clean with dry cloth
AD commerce director Rachel Fletcher has adored this modular sectional since 2022, reviewing it as “modern, minimalist, and tasteful,” pet-friendly, and a powerful design moment for your living room. This modular sectional includes a versatile chaise lounge so you can expand your sectional or split it up when you move.
Best Corner Sofa
Specs
- Dimensions: 28"H x 62"W x 60.5"D
- Seat Depth: 21"
- Materials: Bent plywood frame, medium-density foam, shredded fill, fiber wadding, basketweave or velvet upholstery
- Care: Water and bleach solution
Instead of opting for a giant L-shaped sectional that will take up the entire room, aim for something with a smaller footprint. Available in performance fabric and three leg finishes, this sectional couch is ideal for a tiny living space and a major upgrade from a smaller loveseat thanks to the chaise addition. While not an official fold-out sleeper sofa, the back cushions flop back to give you enough space should you be inclined to nap. Contributor David Kaufman, who tested it out for us, calls it “a great starter sofa for a first home or apartment that you won’t have to send to a landfill when you’re ready to move.”
Best Upholstered Sofa
Specs
- Dimensions: 60"D x 108"W x 35.5"H
- Seat Depth: 26"
- Materials: Wood, foam fill, chenille upholstery
- Care: Wipe clean with dry cloth
Reviews of this Amazon sectional tout the benefits of durable-feeling upholstery and easy assembly. Sure, 108 inches may seem large for small spaces, but that’s only if you format this sofa as a three-seater. A modular makeup ensures that you can move each piece around to best suit your living room. As an added bonus, this sofa comes ready with two sets of legs at varying heights, so you can decide how low to the ground you want to be.
Best Velvet Option
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Specs
- Dimensions: 28"H x 94.5"W x 63.5"D
- Seat Depth: 25"
- Materials: Frame: kiln-dried solid larch, plywood, brushed aluminum; Filling: high-density foam, polyester fiber; Fabric: 100% polyester
- Care: Blot stains with a dry cloth
The best-selling Abisko sectional from Article is made even more beautiful by colorful, performance velvet upholstery. Suitable for those with little ones and pets running around, the fabric is non-absorptive, meaning spills and crumbs won’t stay embedded in its weave. Two orientations—chaise and L-shaped—allow you to Tetris its silhouette into your space as you see fit.
For Sculptural Seating
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Specs
- Dimensions: 32.5''H x 100.75''W x 61.25''D
- Seat Depth: Not listed
- Materials: Wood, foam, synthetic fiber fill, polyester upholstery
- Care: Spot clean with dry, solvent-based cleaner
With a curved, high back that draws you in like a hug, and slim lumbar pillows for added back support, All Modern’s Anson sectional takes the best elements of sculptural furniture and makes them compatible with small space living. Available in three upholstery colors and the option of chaise sides, this sectional sofa is an ideal happy medium between sink-in cozy texture and statement-worthy design.
For Low-to-the-Ground Leather
Specs
- Dimensions: 26"H x 92"W x 94"D
- Seat Depth: 27"
- Materials: Frame: kiln-dried solid pine, MDF, rubberwood; Filling: high-density foam, polyester fiber, duck feathers; Leather: 100% top grain, full-aniline Italian pull-up leather
- Care: Wipe with a damp cloth
The reversible chaise makes this sectional super versatile—meaning there’s a good chance it’ll fit right into your next space too. Low profile in silhouette and minimalist in style, the smooth leather texture carries this design’s personality while keeping things sturdy for movie nights. And while it may not be a sofa bed, don’t let anyone dissuade you from a full night’s snooze.
More AD-Approved Picks
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Specs
- Dimensions: 61.5"D x 78.25"W x 40.75"H
- Seat Depth: 51.5"
- Materials: Steel frame, layered foam, fabric or leather upholstery
- Care: Spot clean
Small in stature but never short on personality, the Luva modular sectional has a squishy texture and a cartoonish shape. Available in a two and three seater configuration and countless upholstery options (like this Kindercore yellow), this versatile 78-inch sectional would feel right at home in a basement or a reading corner in need of some verve. It’s certainly a splurge, but for the iconic Herman Miller name, plus full assembly included in the price tag, it’s an investment that we imagine will hold up nicely over time.
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Specs
- Dimensions: 83.5"W x 59"D x 35"H
- Seat Depth: 29.5"
- Materials: Solid rubberwood frame, polyester-wrapped cushions, innerspring mattress,
- Care: Blot spills immediately with a clean, colorfast towel or sponge, vacuum cushions regularly
Hosting guests in a small space requires some compromise, but any consummate host knows that good hospitality doesn’t come in the form of a saggy air mattress. Instead, this sleek sofa folds out into a queen-sized bed, accommodating your guests comfortably without taking up too much additional space. All-white can be dicey for any highly trafficked piece of furniture, but the sofa also comes in a range of hardier fabrics like basketweave, tweed, and velvet in all sorts of rich colors. Buyers even have the option to add storage in the chaise.
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Specs
- Dimensions: Seat Height 19” x 63”W x 36"D
- Seat Depth: 36”D
- Materials: Varies
- Care: Varies depending on material
We often turn to Interior Define for quality color and material options (they offer more than 40), as well as pieces that are reversible and modular. The Sloan is suitable for most every interior situation. We love that it offers stain-resistant performance fabrics in bold colors and neutrals, making it a high-quality, long-lasting centerpiece in your living room design. The legs are also customizable, with 18 different options that range from mid-century tapered legs to modern mattes to more farmhouse-style turned wood options. The depth, chaise length, and cushion fill are also customizable, making this more or less capable of delivering on the Couch of Your Dreams™.
Specs
- Dimensions: 27.6"H x 84.3"W x 94.1"D (long side) and 39.4"D (short side)
- Seat Depth: 24.4"
- Materials: Top grain leather, veneer lumber, and plywood
- Care: Wipe clean with dry cloth
Okay, yes, six pieces seem like a lot for a small sectional sofa. But keep in mind that you can mix-and-match elements, turning some into cozy reading chairs and connecting others into larger lounge spaces. We love the taller back cushions on this blocky option which ensure that you aren’t slouching your way through your next movie marathon.
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Specs
- Dimensions: 100”W, 85”D, 25”H
- Seat Depth: 28.74 in
- Materials: Linen-blend, with cotton and viscose
- Care: Blot spills immediately with a clean, absorbent cloth. Spot clean with a water-free stain remover.
The slim arms and low profile on this this reversible three-piece sectional make the Unwind especially suitable for a limited living area as it doesn’t monopolize the space. Five neutral color variations all come in a linen blend, but olive’s grounding tones are speaking most to us. This sectional, like many of the others on this list, can be configured to be left-facing or right-facing depending on your living room setup, and we particularly like that in case you tend to switch up your design layout (we certainly do).
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Specs
- Dimensions: 57"D x 80"W x 32"H
- Seat Depth: 23"
- Materials: Steel-reinforced plywood frame, high-density, high-resiliency foam cushions, memory foam toppers, fabric or leather upholstery
- Care: Spot clean
The Pastille Sectional with an included chaise is an appropriate ode to the British candy, combining clean lines with cheerful colorways. Designed by Hlynur Atlason, this lounge sofa features a low seat (approximately 18 inches high), for not only cramped quarters, but low-ceilinged ones, too. And thanks to the lightness of the design, this sofa will also never look too heavy or oversized for your living room.
FAQs
Modular furniture—any sectional that comes in several parts so you can adjust your sofa to suit the configurations—is built with flexibility in mind, making it the ideal contender for a small living space. We have tested and loved Castlery modular sofas, but a search for modular sectional should give you plenty of other options. A room tight on space can benefit from couches with storage, like those from Albany Park. Now you’ll be able to minimize the clutter and extra blankets by stowing them underneath your seat.
Don’t fall for the tiniest sectional you can find, but rather invest in something well-made—it plays a big part in your living room, after all. While it may seem counterintuitive, Nashville interior designer Amanda Khouri says, “Filling a small room with small furniture can make it feel…well, smaller.”
Designer Alicia Murphy used a sectional in the living room of a teensy trailer she converted into a plush family getaway in Montauk, New York, for this very reason: “If you use a corner sectional rather than a sofa and chair, you most likely will add seating for two or three more people,” Murphy explains, noting that the alternative prevents you from having about 36 inches of dead space in the corner.”
Another way to make it work? Set an L-shaped sectional across from two club chairs to create a conversation zone, advises interior designer Suzanne Dawson.
When you’re working with a small space, quality counts. It’s much harder to get away with a mid-century modern knock-off when it’s one of four furniture pieces packed into the room. When shopping for a sectional, evaluate the materials and care instructions. Avoid anything with plywood, and polyester when you can. Seek out solid wood construction, such as walnut, oak, or teak; and premium fabrics, like linen, leather, or chenille. You’ll also want to keep the warranty and return policy in mind, in case you want to send back a piece that doesn’t work for you.
