How to Choose the Right Corner Lounge
Corner, Modular or Chaise Lounge?
The three shapes in this collection each solve a different problem. A corner sofa, sometimes called an L shaped couch, wraps around two sides of a room or floats in an open-plan space to mark out the living area. It seats the most people at once, which suits you if you regularly fill every seat for movies or visitors. The downside is that it's built for one kind of space, so it can be hard to fit into a differently shaped room later.
A sofa with a chaise has one extended seat for stretching your legs out. It takes up less floor space than a full corner and works well for couples, smaller households and narrower rooms. Only one person gets the long seat, though.
A modular lounge is made from separate sections that join together, so you choose the layout now and can change it later. That flexibility matters more than you might expect, because 15% of Australians moved house in the year before the 2021 Census. Separate sections are also easier to carry through tight doorways.
Measuring Your Room and the Way In
Start with the room, then measure the way in. Most corner lounges in our range measure roughly 2.7 to 3.7 metres along their longest side. WA's apartment design code allows living rooms in new apartments to be as narrow as 3.6 to 4 metres. In a compact space, the fit can be tight. Mark the lounge's full footprint on the floor with masking tape, including the chaise or return, and leave it there for a day or two. Check that you can still walk past comfortably, open doors, reach windows and fit a coffee table without crowding your knees.
Next, measure every doorway, hallway, stairwell and lift on the delivery path. Compare their clear openings with the lounge's depth and height, as well as its length. The national Livable Housing Design Standard calls for an 820 mm clear entrance opening, but compliance remains voluntary in WA. Don't assume your doors meet it. If access is tight, check whether the lounge comes apart into sections.
Which Side Should the Chaise Be On?
The orientation is easy to get wrong and frustrating to live with. Stand where you'll face the lounge and decide which side the chaise or longer return needs to be on. Keep in mind the TV, windows, doorways and main walkway. Then check how the product page describes its left and right options. Many of our chaise and corner designs come in either orientation. One design has a chaise that can be repositioned, which is worth considering if you rent or expect to move.
Fixed Seating or Reclining
Fixed-seat lounges suit you if you like to curl up, tuck your feet under or lie along the chaise. Recliner lounges add manual or electric footrests, and many add adjustable headrests, consoles with storage, cup holders and USB charging. They're made for long movie nights and suit you if you want proper leg support. With Australians who watch TV or stream averaging 2 hours 55 minutes a day, that support adds up.
Recliners have trade-offs too:
- They need clear floor space in front for the footrests.
- Electric models need a power point nearby.
If you have young children, return recliners to upright after use, as NSW Fair Trading warns of entrapment risks for young children.
Fabric, Leather or a Blend
A fabric lounge feels soft and comes in the widest choice of colours and textures. It can hold onto spills and pet hair.
100% leather wipes clean and tends not to trap hair or dust. It needs more routine care, especially in warm weather, when skin salts and oils can damage it. That matters if you're choosing a corner lounge in Perth, where the average January maximum is 31.2 °C, compared with 27.0 °C in Sydney.
Some lounges named "leather" rather than "100% leather" use cowhide leather where it matters, with leatherette elsewhere. It's a practical middle ground, but read the specifications and leather labels so you know exactly what you're getting. This matters most with vegan leather, which isn't leather at all.
Pets deserve their own thought, since 49% of Australian households have a dog and 34% have a cat. Compare how fabric, leather and vegan leather stand up to scratching, hair and cleaning before choosing on look alone. Whichever you choose, a throw over the favourite spot helps.
How Deep and Firm Should the Seats Be?
Seat depth affects how a lounge feels more than almost anything else. Deep seats are made for lounging with your legs tucked up or stretched along a chaise. If you're on the shorter side, though, your feet may not reach the floor when you sit upright. If you're taller, you'll often find that shallow seats leave your thighs unsupported. Sit-test with the people who'll use the lounge most, for a few minutes rather than a quick bounce, in the position you actually relax in.
Fillings change the feel too. Firmer foam and pocket-spring cushions tend to hold their shape and need less plumping. Feather-blend cushions feel softer and more relaxed but flatten with use, so plan to plump them regularly. If you'll work from the lounge during the day, or someone at home finds it hard to get up, a firmer seat with supportive arms is easier to live with.
Which Colour and Style Will Suit Your Room?
As the biggest piece in most living rooms, a corner lounge shapes the look of everything around it. If the lounge will float in the middle of the room, look at the back as closely as the front, because that's what you'll see from the dining table.
Neutrals such as grey, cream, taupe and oatmeal suit most rooms and are easy to restyle with cushions and throws. Pale shades make a large piece feel less heavy in a small living room. Corner lounge suites that come with a matching ottoman give you extra seating without moving up to a bigger corner.
How Do You Keep Your Lounge Looking Good?
A little routine care helps keep a lounge looking right for years:
- Fabric: Vacuum weekly with a soft brush, including under the cushions. Blot spills straight away rather than rubbing.
- Leather: Wipe weekly with a damp cloth, paying attention to headrests and arms where body oils build up. Clean and condition every three to six months.
- Sun: Whatever the covering, direct sun can fade it and dry it out. Perth Airport averages 11.6 hours of sunshine a day in January and December, so place the lounge out of direct sun or use window coverings.
- Even wear: Rotate cushions and seating positions.
Check the care label for your specific piece before you clean it.
Questions People Ask About Modular and Chaise Lounges
What is a modular sofa?
A modular sofa is a lounge made from separate sections, such as corner pieces, chaise ends and ottomans, that join together to form one piece. Because the sections are separate, you can arrange them as a straight sofa, an L shape or a U shape. You can often change the layout when you move or redecorate. If you're shopping for a modular sofa in Australia, check which sections the range offers.
What is a chaise lounge?
In Australia, a chaise lounge usually means a sofa with one extended seat at one end, long enough to put your feet up and stretch out. A sofa with a chaise gives you somewhere to recline without the full footprint of a corner lounge. It seats fewer people, though, and you'll need to choose whether the chaise sits on the left or the right.
How do you keep a modular sofa together?
Check whether your modular sofa comes with connecting brackets or clips, and use them if it does. On smooth floors, a large rug or non-slip pads under the feet can help hold everything in place. Pushing the lounge against a wall also stops it creeping out on one side. If gaps still open up, re-align the sections every so often and check that any connectors haven't loosened.
Take your time with the range and compare each shape and size against your own measurements to narrow down the pieces that suit how your household lives. If you'd like a second opinion on orientation, size or fabric, the Adore Home Living team is happy to talk it through and help you choose a lounge you'll be glad you bought.