Short answer: Measure the two walls the sectional will sit along, subtract at least 30 inches for every walkway you cannot block, and then pick the chaise side by standing where you walk into the room. If the long chaise should stretch out to your right as you look at the empty space, you want a right-arm-facing (RAF) piece. Arm direction is named from the point of view of someone standing in front of the sofa, not sitting on it.
Start with the room, not the sofa
A typical L-shaped sectional runs about 95 to 130 inches along each side and 36 to 40 inches deep. U-shaped pieces start around 160 inches and go up from there. That is a serious amount of floor, and the floor you have left over is what decides whether the room feels finished or feels blocked.
The walkway number is the one nobody wants to hear. Leave 30 to 36 inches of clear path anywhere people have to walk. Thirty inches is the minimum that works; 36 inches is comfortable. Under 30 inches, everyone turns sideways to get by, every day, forever. If the sectional you want only fits by eating the walkway, it does not fit.
The five numbers to write down
| Measure this | How | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Wall A and wall B | Wall to wall, at about knee height | These are your hard limits. Baseboards and floor vents steal inches. |
| Walkway you must keep | Door swing, path to the kitchen, path to the hall | 30 in minimum, 36 in comfortable. |
| Seat to TV | Straight line from cushion to screen | Roughly 1.5 times the screen diagonal is a sane viewing distance. |
| Coffee table gap | Front of cushion to table edge | 14 to 18 inches. Closer and you bark your shins; farther and you cannot reach your drink. |
| Recline clearance | Behind the back of any reclining seat | Power sections need roughly 12 to 15 inches behind them unless they are wall-hugger models. |
Left arm facing vs right arm facing
This is the single most common mistake in sectional shopping, and it is an expensive one because a chaise on the wrong end turns a sectional into an obstacle. The rule almost everyone in the industry uses: stand in front of the sofa, looking at it, and name the arm you see on that side. It is not from the seat.
| Term | What it means | Pick it when |
|---|---|---|
| LAF chaise (left arm facing) | The chaise and its arm are on your left as you face the piece | The long side needs to run along the left wall of the room as you walk in |
| RAF chaise (right arm facing) | The chaise and its arm are on your right as you face the piece | The long side needs to run along the right wall as you walk in |
| Modular / reversible | Pieces connect either way, chaise can move sides later | You rent, you move often, or you are not sure yet |
One honest warning: a few manufacturers label from the seated point of view instead, which is exactly backwards. If you are buying sight unseen, ask the seller to describe the shape, not the code.
Measure the path in, too
Sectionals come apart, so they are usually easier to deliver than a one-piece sofa, but the chaise is often the widest single piece. Measure your narrowest doorway and any turn at the top or bottom of stairs. Standard interior doors are 30 to 32 inches wide and exterior doors are usually 36. If your tightest point is under 30 inches, tell us when you buy.
What we have right now
Everything below is in our Charlotte warehouse today, one piece each, priced to move:
- Sectionals including modular sets where the chaise can go on either end
- Sofas if the room turns out to be too tight for an L
- Loveseats for apartments and bonus rooms
- Ottomans to add a chaise feel without adding a chaise
Common questions
Can I switch the chaise to the other side later?
Only if the sectional is modular or reversible. On a fixed-configuration sectional the chaise is built into that end and cannot be flipped. Ask before you buy, not after.
How much room do I need behind a power reclining sectional?
Plan on 12 to 15 inches of clearance behind the reclining seats. Wall-hugger designs need much less, sometimes 4 to 6 inches, because they slide forward as they open.
Is a chaise the same as a cuddler or a corner wedge?
No. A chaise is a long seat for your legs, usually 60 to 72 inches deep. A cuddler is a wide rounded end seat, and a wedge is the square corner that joins two runs. They change the footprint a lot.
What if my room is an odd shape?
Bring a rough sketch with your numbers on it. Odd rooms are where modular pieces win, because you can split the set into a sofa plus a separate chaise.
Come see it in person
Everything on the site is one piece, in our warehouse, in Charlotte. What you see is what you take home. We do not order it in.
Financing: we run Snap Finance, Koalafi, Acima and Kafene. No perfect credit needed. Most approvals take a few minutes on your phone.
Delivery: same-day delivery up to 150 miles. Buy it this afternoon, sleep on it tonight.
Tony Discount Furniture
6650 E WT Harris Blvd, Unit C, Charlotte, NC 28215
(704) 390-1713
Monday to Saturday 11am to 7pm, Sunday 2pm to 6pm
Se habla espanol.