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Leather Corner Lounges: How to Choose the Right Shape, Chaise and Size

Leather Corner Lounges: How to Choose the Right Shape, Chaise and Size

A leather corner sofa gives the whole household somewhere to sit, and gives one lucky person room to stretch out. It also takes up more floor space than any other piece in the room, so the shape you choose decides how the room flows.

This guide explains the main layouts, how to work out which side your chaise should sit on, when recliners make sense, and how to measure up before you visit our leather lounges range in Sydney.

L-Shape, U-Shape or Chaise: Which Layout Suits You?

Layout

What it is

Best for

L shape leather lounge

Two runs of seating meeting at a square or rounded corner

Fitting into a room corner, or dividing an open-plan space

U shape lounge

Seating on three sides, often with a chaise at one end

Large living rooms and families who watch TV together

Leather lounge with chaise

A sofa with one extended open-ended seat for putting your feet up

Smaller rooms that still want a lie-down spot

An L shape leather lounge is the most flexible choice for most Sydney homes. A U shape gives the most seats, but it needs a wide room and clear walkways on both sides. A leather lounge with chaise is the most compact.

Left vs Right Chaise: How to Work Out Your Side

Getting the chaise on the wrong side is the most common corner lounge mistake. Furniture makers describe sides as you face the sofa, not as you sit on it:

  • LAF (left arm facing): the chaise or arm is on your left as you stand looking at the sofa.

  • RAF (right arm facing): the chaise or arm is on your right.

To choose, stand where you would enter the room and look at the wall the lounge will go on. Put the chaise on the side away from doorways and walkways, so nobody has to step around outstretched legs.

Recliner and Modular Options

Many leather corner lounge suites now combine a chaise with electric recliners. The main configurations are:

  • Chaise plus one recliner: a recliner at one end and an open chaise at the other, like Panorama, Colette and Westside.

  • Dual recliners: an electric recliner at each end for theatre-style seating, like Belgravia and Florence.

  • Recliner in the corner: the recliner sits in the corner section, like Abaci and Manhattan.

Power recliners need a power point nearby and space behind or in front to open fully, so check this before you choose a spot. Our leather recliner sofa guide covers recliners in more depth.

If you move house often or want to change the shape later, a modular lounge lets you add, remove or rearrange sections. Read more in our modular leather sofa guide.

How to Measure for a Corner Lounge

Measure each wall run separately, because a corner sofa is sized by its two lengths, not one width. Then check these points:

  1. Walkways: leave 75–90 cm in front of and beside the lounge for people to walk through.

  2. Coffee table gap: keep about 40–45 cm between the seat edge and your coffee table, close enough to reach a drink.

  3. Chaise length: make sure the chaise doesn't cross a doorway or block a heater, vent or power point.

  4. Recliner clearance: allow space for recliners to open fully without hitting a wall or the coffee table.

  5. Delivery path: measure doorways, hallways, stairs and lifts.

For more help planning the room, see choosing a leather sofa for your living room layout.

Leather Corner Lounges at Demir Leather

Our corner range covers every layout in this guide:

  • Aria: a U-shaped chaise design in full-grain Italian leather, with power recliners and motorised headrests.

  • Monaco: a softly rounded corner that sweeps into a spacious chaise, with an electric recliner at the other end.

  • Zenith: a corner lounge with an electric recliner and open chaise. You can also buy the 1, 2 and 3-seaters separately.

  • Astra and Giano: statement corner sofas with diamond-quilted detailing.

Each lounge comes in a choice of leather colours, so you can match it to your floors and walls. Prices and configurations are listed on each product page.

Try Them in Person

The only way to know if a chaise is long enough or a recliner is comfortable is to sit in it. Bring your room measurements and a photo of the space to our Auburn or Chatswood showroom, and our team will help you pick the right shape and side.

Contact us or visit a showroom to find your leather corner sofa.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the difference between a corner sofa and a chaise lounge? 

A corner sofa has seats along two walls joined by a corner seat. A chaise lounge has one extended, open-ended seat for stretching out, so it takes up less wall space.

2. How do I know if I need a left or right-hand chaise? 

Stand facing the spot where the lounge will go. If the chaise should be on your left, choose LAF (left arm facing). If it should be on your right, choose RAF.

3. Will a leather corner lounge fit in a small living room? 

Often, yes. A compact L shape or a sofa with chaise can suit a smaller room, as long as you keep a 75–90 cm walkway clear.

4. Can a corner lounge have recliners?

Yes. Many corner lounges include one or two electric recliners, either at the ends or in the corner seat.

5. How do corner lounges get through narrow doors? 

Most arrive in separate sections that join together in your room.