After our beds, the sofa is the most important piece of furniture in the house.
It’s where we do our reading, box set viewing and hanging out with any friends who pop over for a cuppa. It’s where we lounge, snack and nap.
Needless to say, finding the right one for your space and your needs is vital for creating a happy home.
There are plenty of choices available on the market, from sofa beds to L-shaped corner units and designs with added hidden storage to keep clutter out of sight. If you’ve got the space and you love hosting, a u-shaped sofa is the seating solution for you.
What is a u-shaped sofa?
The description is neatly surmised in the title itself: a -shaped sofa is a standard sofa with a chaise on either side allowing two of you to stretch out comfortably in front of the box or extra seating for parties or game night. They’re ideal for large households and big families, giving everyone a perch to sit on.
Which room is best for a u-shaped sofa?
Broadly speaking, a larger living room is best suited to a u-shaped sofa as the smallest will be a three seater. It can be used to split a bigger space like a kitchen/living room, creating a cosy nook in which to flop down after a hard day.
What to know before you buy u-shaped sofa
We’ve scouted the best options to help shopping for a u-shaped sofa easier. Before you buy any sofa - indeed any piece of furniture - make sure you measure twice to be completely sure of the proportions. A good trick is to mark out the dimensions with masking tape on the floor to give a sense of your new purchase before you commit to buying.
See our pick of the best u-shaped sofas below
Swoon Munich Grand 4 Seater LHF Corner End Sofa, Dark Leg, Fern Velvet
Overall dimensions: H81 x W250 x D155cm
Strictly speaking, this isn’t a bona fide u-shaped sofa, but teamed with a matching footstool (£569) you can easily style it as one. A detachable footstool also means you can add it to the end of the chaise to lengthen the L-shape if you like, offering a pleasing level of versatility.
The Munich sofa design has plenty of wiggle room with a seat depth of 63cm allowing you to curl up, stretch out or lazily lay down as you like. However delivery can take as long as 11 weeks, something to note if you need the piece in a hurry.
Buy now £2349.00, John Lewis
IKEA LANDSKRONA Corner sofa, 6-seat, with chaise
Overall dimensions: 241 x 359 x 78cm
Best suited to large open-plan living rooms, IKEA’s LANDSKRONA design will prove to be the centrepiece of your living room. The golden brown part-leather sofa also comes in black, and forms an asymmetrical u-shape once you’ve assembled it from the flatpack. The design forges together a five-seater corner sofa with a chaise longue, giving it a more open feel.
There’s bags of support thanks to foam and polyester filling and the armrests are removeable, so you can change the look of the sofa if you need to, adding to its lifespan.
Buy now £2599.00, IKEA
Sofa Club Primrose U-Shape Corner Sofa - Natural Habitat
Overall dimensions: 335 x 97 x 201cm
A sumptuously comfortable sofa in luxe chenille fabric, this Primrose design features a twist on the u-shaped design. The end pieces are made up of moveable footstools so you can rearrange them as the mood and occasion takes you.
We particularly like the highback cushions on the main part of the sofa as well as the pocket springs under the seat, both offering cosy levels of support whether you’re catching up with the Sunday papers or diving into your next boxset obsession.
Buy now £1999.00, Sofa Club
U Shape Sofa Bed With Storage
Overall dimensions: 1.3D x 2.96W x 0.85H metres
This five-seater sofa not only steals the show thanks to its petrol blue hue, but has an extra trick up its sleeve - it can turn into a generously-sized sofa bed too. Simply remove the back panel and shift the main seat forwards to create a surface that’s perfect for sleeping overnight guests - or watching the latest blockbusters in the utmost comfort. What’s more, the main seating portion even hides a storage section, so you can keep extra bedding and blankets close to hand.
Also available in grey, mustard and cream colours.
Buy now £699.99, Amazon
IKEA KIVIK U-shaped sofa, 6 seat, Kelinge grey-turquoise
Overall dimensions: 257 x 328 x 83cm
If you’ve been on the hunt for a new sofa for your busy home, this corduroy-covered design makes a persuasive case. IKEA’s inviting design is ideal for large families or those who love to entertain, with robust yet comfortable cushions that will stand up to wear and tear over the years.
The supersize sofa boasts wide armrests (big enough to hold a bowl or two of popcorn) and offer a decent place to rest your head too for weekends spent mostly horizontal. Best of all, the cover is machine washable, making the piece easy to keep smelling clean and fresh. Comes with a 10 year guarantee.
Buy now £1899.00, IKEA
Ivy Bronx Sharece Reversible Corner Sofa
Overall dimensions: 339 x 87 x 200cm
With two chaise lounges sandwiching the main component of the sofa, there’s a place for every member of the family to sit. If you’re looking for a sofa to provoke conversation or you want a guaranteed TV-viewing angle, Ivy Bronx’s Kimo sofa ticks all the boxes. It boasts removeable back cushions so can serve as a bed for overnight guests and a seat depth of 58cm, allowing you to burrow in for movie night.
Buy now £1499.99, Wayfair
Darlings of Chelsea Kingston Large U-Shaped Sofa in matt velvet vintage green
Overall dimensions: 499 x 165 x 80cm
Stretch out in comfort on Darling of Chelsea’s Kingston sofa - there’s plenty of space on this supersized design. The modular sofa features a two-seater arm on one corner and a chaise on the other, with an additional footstool (sold separately) for extra legroom if required.
Best of all, whatever your tastes or fabric style, the company will have an option that fits: think stain resistant chenille, easy clean velvet, on-trend boucle and even recycled wool - plus many more in all the shades under the sun.
Buy now £9713.00, Darlings of Chelsea
Furniture Village Emilia Large U-Shaped Corner Sofa
Overall dimensions: 95 x 190 x 335cm
End quarrels over who gets the coveted chaise spot once and for all with Furniture Village’s semi-circle sofa; it features leg-stretching room on both ends. Available in a series of grey and brown shades, the cushions offer a comfortable yet supportive base, made to kick back and relax. To prolong the look of your new sofa, the back cushions are reversible so you can simply turn them over if one side starts to look a little faded.
The sofa is handmade in the UK and has a delivery time of up to six weeks.
Buy now £1695.00, Furniture Village
Rowen Homes Olivia Mink Premium U-Shaped Sofa
Overall dimensions: 330 x 95 x 244cm
There’s no choice but to sink into the squishy, inviting comfort of Rowen Homes’ u-shaped sofa. The piece is made for socialising as well as general lounging with soft flame-retardant upholstery covering fibre seat cushions that bounce back after every sitting - no unsightly sagging here. It’s been made in the UK with fabric that has passed a rub test (100,000) with flying colours and the hardwood frame comes with a 10 year guarantee.
Buy now £3999.00, Rowen Homes
Simply Eleganza Volvo U Shape Large Sofa Scatterback Velour Velvet Fabric - Red
Overall dimensions: 175 x 315 x 60cm
Give your home the seating it deserves with this huge semi-circular sofa available from The Range. The spacious design offers a place for every member of the family and is well made with a hardwood frame and expert upholstery that comes in a range of colours.
Buy now £1199.99, The Range
