If you’re after generous seating and enough space for lounging when watching TV then you can’t go wrong with a corner sofa which will provide you with both, and more. But as with any kind of sofa, not all corner styles are created equal – that’s why I found the best corner sofas for you to choose from.
As Ideal Home’s Room Decor Editor, it’s part of my job to sit-test as many different sofas available on the market as possible so that you don’t have to. And based on all the sofas I’ve tried, including many corner sofa styles, I narrow it down to the best sofas to recommend to you to make your shopping experience easier.
From the top-rated corner sofa from our best sofas buying guide to the best and most unique curved corner sofa, these are the 12 designs I’d recommend to anyone looking to add a corner sofa to their living space.
Reasons to buy a corner sofa
There are many benefits to getting a corner sofa for your living room. These are just the top ones.
1. Generous seating without cluttering
‘Corner sofas are one of the best ways to maximise seating without filling a room with multiple pieces of furniture,’ says John O’Leary, Swyft design director. ‘They naturally encourage conversation and create a more relaxed, social layout, making them ideal for modern living.’
Since corner sofas are bigger than most other sofa styles, they offer more seating space. But given the clever L shape, they take up less actual and visual space than if you were to go for two separate sofas instead.
2. Clever room dividing
If you’re looking for some clever open-plan living room ideas then investing in a corner sofa is one of the best places to start as it will perfectly zone the living space.
‘Corner sofas are particularly well suited to open-plan living spaces, where they can help define where the living area begins without the need for walls or partitions,’ says Julia Bilotta, creative stylist at Sofology. ‘By creating a natural boundary, they help make larger, open spaces feel more structured and inviting.’
3. Taking advantage of underutilised space
Corner sofas are also great because they utilise the space that often goes underutilised – the corner. And since a corner sofa slots into corners so well, it also makes for a great small living room sofa idea.
‘People often assume corner sofas are only suited to large living rooms, but they can work just as well in more compact spaces. Positioned correctly, they can actually make a room feel more efficient by using corners that might otherwise be underutilised,’ John at Swyft says.
How to choose a corner sofa
Aside from the general things to consider when choosing any type of sofa that you want to last - as a sofa should last for years to come - with corner sofas, one of the biggest things to consider is the scale.
As already mentioned, corner sofas are bigger than most but there are such things as ‘small corner sofas’, too. So just make sure you choose a style that fits your living space and doesn’t overwhelm it.
‘The best style of corner sofa depends on the layout of the room, the flow of the space and the position of key focal points such as a TV, fireplace or windows. In smaller rooms, a classic L-shaped design tucked into a corner can maximise floor space, while larger living areas may benefit from a sweeping curved sofa that creates a striking centrepiece,’ Julia at Sofology advises.
She adds, ‘In smaller living rooms, choosing a corner sofa with a lower back can help create a sense of openness, making the room feel larger while still providing plenty of space to stretch out.’
John at Swyft concludes, ‘The key is choosing a design with considered proportions so it enhances the room rather than dominates it. A well-designed corner sofa should make a space feel more inviting, not more crowded.’
