A corner lounge, often known as an L-shaped sofa or corner sofa, can redefine the way your living space looks and feels.
Enhancing comfort, encouraging connection and bringing clarity and flow to a layout, a corner lounge offers both purpose and elegance. Whether anchoring an open-plan interior or creating a quiet retreat in a compact space, a corner sofa is adaptable and might just be the perfect fit for your home.
From choosing the ideal configuration to styling with intention, this guide explores how to integrate a corner sofa into your home with confidence.
Why choose a corner lounge?
A corner lounge, or corner sofa, is an ideal choice for both compact urban apartments and spacious family homes.
The versatile design enhances seating capacity, offering a considered space-saving solution that feels contemporary and elegant. It also defines functional zones within open-plan interiors, allowing for easy movement throughout a space.
Corner sofas remain a thoughtful favourite with interior designers as they combine form, function and flexibility, with adaptable modules, customisable orientations, and their ability to free up wall space.
Whether positioned against the wall or styled as a centrepiece, a corner lounge invites you and your guests to stretch out and unwind, elevating both the comfort and visual appeal of your space.
How to choose the right corner sofa
Choosing the right corner sofa begins with a clear understanding of your space. The key is to balance proportion, visual harmony, and function.
Start by measuring your room.
Not just the dimensions from wall to wall, but also how people move through the space. Measure the natural walkways, and where the windows and doorways are. Consider how much space should sit between the sofa and surrounding furniture.
Next, determine the ideal orientation for your chaise.
Whether left or right-facing, your chaise should align with your floor plan and the natural walkways of the room. Many King Living sofas offer the flexibility to switch the chaise from left to right, adapting easily as your space or lifestyle changes. In open-plan rooms or studio apartments, the right orientation is an important factor in defining zones and guiding movement.
Finally, consider choosing a sectional or modular design for your corner sofa.
Many King Living sofas are modular, allowing you to reconfigure your layout with ease. Whether you're accommodating a growing family, adapting to a new floorplan or simply refreshing your space, modularity brings the freedom to make effortless changes to your living space over time.
Positioning a corner sofa
Despite the name, a corner sofa doesn’t have to go in the corner of your room. Its L-shaped or modular form offers more versatility than the name suggests, and there are many ways to position a corner sofa in a living space.
From a tucked-away configuration designed for the perfect cosy reading corner to a statement centrepiece in an entertainment space, a modular corner sofa ensures you're never locked into one living room layout.
Here are eight ideas on how to position a corner sofa to inspire your living room layout:
1. The centrepiece sofa
Position the sofa away from the walls and in the centre of your living space to act as a room divider in open-plan homes. This creates clear zoning between living, dining and kitchen areas, or between living and bedroom areas in a studio apartment. It also transforms the sofa into a sculptural focal point, making a design statement that anchors the space, inviting connection, comfort, and allowing movement behind and around the sofa.
2. The traditional corner
The traditional placement in the corner of a room is ideal for compact spaces with defined boundaries. It makes efficient use of space and keeps the room feeling open. Always position slightly away from the wall to allow for airflow and easy access when cleaning, maintaining an uncluttered look.
3. Beneath a window
Positioning the chaise end of your corner sofa beneath a window keeps sightlines open and natural light unobstructed. This placement invites a sense of calm, offering uninterrupted views of outdoor greenery while softly connecting the interior with the landscape beyond. This corner sofa position is perfect for homes with a nature-inspired design and feel.
4. Framing a rug or coffee table
Let the sofa wrap around a statement rug or low-profile coffee table to ground the room and encourage conversation, creating a more intimate and comfortable atmosphere.
5. Spotlighting a focal point
Any focal point, such as a TV, fireplace, or piece of wall art, should have the longer side of the corner sofa positioned facing it. The shorter side, or chaise of your corner sofa, should sit adjacent, ideally along a side wall or open edge. With the chaise positioned adjacent, there is a clear line of sight for the focal point, and the living room layout looks grounded and framed.
Leave enough space in front of the TV or media unit, ideally at least 2–3 metres, and consider wall-mounting the screen to enhance vertical space.
If you’re integrating an armchair or occasional seating into this layout, place the chair diagonally across from your sofa, to maintain balance and connection within the room.
6. Console behind the sofa
In larger living spaces, placing a console table or sideboard behind the longer side of the sofa can enhance visual interest by layering, also offering additional surface space for personal styling and decor.
7. Balanced with armchairs
Strategically placed armchairs in a living room add symmetry, offer additional seating, and improve the overall flow of the room. This works best when placed opposite or diagonal to the chaise of your sofa.
It’s also beneficial to consider pairing your sofa with a matching or mismatching ottoman or occasional chair based on your preference for interior styling. Whilst having functional benefits, this also completes the look of the room.
8. Turning two sofas into a corner sofa
Transforming two sofas into a corner configuration is also a simple way to elevate your living space. Start by positioning them at a right angle to create an L-shape. If they’re modular, add a corner module to unify the layout.
This look offers the same spatial benefits as a corner lounge while allowing for more flexibility in positioning and style. Try pairing a 2-seater sofa on a right angle with a 3-seater sofa, for the same effect as a corner sofa with chaise.
For two separate sofas styled together, consider balancing with a square coffee table or ottoman to bridge the gap. A shared rug and coordinated cushions will also bring harmony to the setting, giving the appearance of one seamless design.
How to style a corner sofa
Your home is a canvas for personal expression, and most often, the heart is your living room. Through thoughtful styling, that expression becomes more than visual, and shapes how a space feels. An intentionally styled corner sofa can invite calm, connection, and a sense of balance throughout the room.
Styling for flow
In Feng Shui styling, a favoured choice in contemporary interior design, a corner sofa can ground the room while promoting harmonious energy and flow. The key is orientation and openness.
Position the sofa so it offers a clear view of the room’s entrance, ideally with a solid wall behind it to create a sense of stability. Avoid blocking pathways and keep space around and beneath a corner sofa clear. Elevated base designs support this airflow and allow energy, or chi, to circulate freely.
Chaise orientation also matters. Choose the direction that feels most natural to your daily movement through the space. The goal is to create ease, comfort and connection, both visually and energetically.
Similarly, Japandi interiors embrace a sense of calm through thoughtful layout and considered material choices. This design approach favours natural textures, low-profile furniture, and a neutral palette layered with tonal variation. Bringing in elements like timber, wool, linen and greenery softens the overall look and enhances the sense of quiet, refined simplicity.
Adding texture
Layering texture is key to styling a corner sofa. As the L-shape creates multiple angles, it’s often viewed from more than one side. This means every surface needs to look intentional, with every cushion and throw thoughtfully styled to add tactile comfort and warmth:
Start with contrasting materials. For example, if your corner sofa is finished in leather, soften it with a bouclé or linen throw. For fabric sofas, introduce velvet, felted wool or cotton knits for tactile variation. If you’re unsure which fabric to choose, our guide to ordering samples from the King Living Collection is here to help you find the best finishes for you.
Use cushions in a mix of shapes and finishes. Embrace the L-shape of your sofa by balancing symmetry or contrast: layer rectangular cushions in tonal velvets along the chaise and soften the corner with round cushions in suede to break up any hard angles. One or two with subtle patterns like pinstripe can also add contrast to the asymmetrical effect. For inspiration on choosing the best style of cushion for your corner sofa, explore the King Living collection of customisable cushions here.
A corner sofa covers more floor space than a standard design, so tonal layering with an earthy palette helps soften its visual impact. Warm neutrals like soft beige, rust, and sage green bring depth, warmth, and calm without overpowering the space, pairing especially well with natural textures. Think: wool rugs, timber coffee tables, stone or metal accessories, alongside sculptural houseplants or ceramic accents.
Styling a rug with a corner sofa
When styling a rug with a corner sofa, proportion and placement are key to defining the seating zone and creating a balanced, cohesive interior
The King Living Rug Collection offers versatile sizing options to complement any layout with custom sizing available for select designs. Aim for a rug large enough so the front legs of each module, including the chaise, sit comfortably on the rug. This anchors the seating area and visually defines the zone. Discover our Rug Collection size comparison guide to help inform your decision with confidence.
For fabric corner sofas, a textured rug made from natural fibres like the King Living Nomad Rug and Bilpin Rug, are made of 100% New Zealand wool, and work best for warmth and contrast.
If your corner sofa features a leather finish, opt for softer rugs like the Bicheno Rug, made from 100% Art Silk, or the Scarborough Rug with a blend of wool, art silk and linen, for a cooler, sleek aesthetic.
In terms of pattern, keep it understated: tone-on-tone geometrics, subtle stripes or handwoven variations can bring interest without overwhelming the modular form.
Bringing the space together
A well-styled corner sofa doesn’t sit in isolation. It works in harmony with the materials and tones that surround it, creating a living space that feels thoughtfully resolved and visually balanced. Whether your living room features timber, stone or glass furniture, considering how your corner sofa’s fabric or leather finishes complement those elements is key to achieving a cohesive, balanced interior.
Timber, in particular, offers a wide spectrum of tones that can be beautifully layered with fabrics and leather. All King Living sofas are made to order and customisable in a wide range of premium finishes. Let’s explore how to style them to bring your living space together:
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For side tables, coffee tables and accent furniture with lighter timber finishes such as Natural Oak, consider corner sofas in soft, neutral fabrics. Think ivory, warm beige or pale grey. These shades offer a fresh, clean aesthetic and a sense of harmony that suits relaxed living environments or spacious open-plan interiors.
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With deeper, warmer timbers like American Walnut, sofa fabrics or leathers in earthy tones: taupe, stone, olive or charcoal, enhance the richness of the wood. This pairing brings an inviting warmth to the space, perfect for homes that transition seamlessly between everyday comfort and elevated entertaining.
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Darker finishes, such as Smoked Oak or Onyx, open up two sophisticated styling directions. Choosing sofa finishes in darker shades: slate, espresso or deep grey, creates a sense of depth and drama, ideal for a more intimate or formal setting.
Alternatively, pairing these darker timbers with lighter, neutral finishes on your corner sofa can lift the entire palette. The space remains refined, yet airy, offering an effortless balance that works across a range of interior styles.
Finishing styling touches: tailoring your corner sofa
King Living sofas are fully customisable, offering personalisation in every aspect of your styling and providing the finishing touches to a thoughtfully curated living space.
Our textile library of luxury finishes for your corner sofa feature over 200 options, from textural bouclés to sophisticated aniline leathers. Here, you can select premium materials tailored to your taste, with the option of customising the finish on individual modules. To learn more about modularity and how to create your perfect design with finishes, read our guide on personalising custom made sofas.
Select designs in our collection also offer seat cushion options, tailoring your comfort from soft to firm, and pairing your corner sofa with accessories: LED reading lamps, wireless charging tables, or speaker brackets. Whether it’s a book in hand, a glass of wine nearby or your favourite playlist playing, every detail is designed to support how you live.
If you already own a King Living Sofa, you may want the option of customising it again. To discover how to refresh or revive your existing sofa more sustainably, explore our expert re-covering services on offer with King-Care®.
Whether you're stretching out at the end of the day or setting the scene for connection, the right corner sofa design doesn’t just sit beautifully in your space; it becomes part of how you live in it. Quietly anchoring the rhythm of everyday life and movement, your corner lounge will carve our moments of pause and create room to gather.
For more inspiration on styling your sofa:
Explore other King Living sofa shapes:
DATE PUBLISHED
25 June 2025
WRITTEN BY
Delphie Jones
