Corner sofas became popular in the 1970s as Brits embraced a new era of open-plan living and a more relaxed attitude to how we use our front rooms. We still love to sprawl out on them today, with the best ones offering room for the whole family to lounge on in comfort. Measuring up first is key, not just the intended space but the doors and corridors your sofa needs to get through too. Most are made to order, so check delivery times and if assembly is required. The final price can change considerably depending on which upholstery you choose – something to bear in mind when shopping around.
1. Loaf Atticus Corner Sofa: From £2,595, Loaf
Loaf’s British-made Atticus sofa is big on comfort, with large soft cushions made for sinking into. Foam cushions wrapped in feathers give it a plush feel; inside there’s a sturdy beech frame with a guarantee of five years. The sofa comes in two parts, with detachable arms to fit through small doorways. The large version seats 3-4, and there’s an extra-large version for seating 5+. Choose from over 120 fabrics. It is handmade to order and takes 7-9 weeks.
2. Next Sonoma Modular Sofa: From £450 per piece, Next
This boxy sofa comes with a variety of options. Build it up from a number of units to suit your space (there’s a discount for buying four units of the same style) and choose from 70 different upholstery fabrics and three types of feet. The frame is hardwood with a sprung base, and seat cushions are foam with a soft topper. Delivery can take up to 12 weeks.
3. Heals Amalfi Sofa: £3,995, Heals
A luxury sofa inspired by Italian design, Amalfi has leather upholstery (in seven colour varieties) and matt chrome feet. The seat and back cushions are foam-filled, offering a little more support, and giving the sofa a sharp profile that suits modern spaces. This small sofa incorporates a chaise end and is best for a couple of people to stretch out on, rather than seating big groups. This one takes 15-17 weeks to be delivered, so be sure to plan for that.
4. Swoon Editions Tivoli Sofa: £1,199, Swoon Editions
Swoon Editions’ sofa has a hint of mid-century style – with tapered wood legs, thin arms and a deep-seat – but its character easily changes depending on how you upholster it. There are options in wool, leather, linen and sumptuous velvet. It has feather and foam cushions around a pine frame, making its comfort level medium to firm. The cushion covers are removable.
5. Sofa.com Bluebell Corner Sofa: From £2,380, Sofa.com
Corner sofas usually suit modern angular shapes rather than traditional styles, but the Bluebell sofa is a good example of the combination done elegantly. Turned legs and curved arms are complemented by a heritage selection of upholstery fabrics, including wool, leather and herringbone. The sofa comes in three sizes, and the wood frame has a lifetime guarantee.
6. John Lewis Barbican Sofa: £2,649, John Lewis
This popular range by John Lewis has a retro feel, with a curving base, angled legs and stitched-back detailing. The corner version connects a couple of two-seaters, giving a good area to sprawl out on, but there are larger versions with an added chaise end. The sofa has foam seats that are fibre-wrapped, and its frame has a 10-year guarantee. There is also a huge choice of fabrics.
7. Maya 4-Seater Lounger: £699, DFS
The compact Maya lounger shows that room for comfort can be made in small living spaces too. The two-seater sofa has a chaise end that’s perfect for stretching legs or accommodating an extra person. The foam cushions are firm, but DFS does throw in two free scatter cushions in a colour of your choice. The frame and frame springs are guaranteed for 15 years.
8. West Elm Rounded Retro Sectional: £1,997, West Elm
Made up of three sections, there’s a degree of flexibility to how you configure this curving sofa design. The corner section has a shallow arc that means the whole length of the sofa can be used for seating with comfortable legroom – not always an option in boxy corner sofas that turn at 90 degrees. The armless design and firm back make it better suited to sitting than lounging.
9. Habitat Chester sofa: £3,500, Habitat
One of Habitat’s bestsellers, Matthew Hilton’s timeless sofa design has a slim profile and looks particularly handsome upholstered in tan leather. The leather is lightly oiled for a softer feel. Elastic webbing under the seat gives comfortable support, and the cushions are a foam core topped with a mix of feathers and polyester fibre. The frame is solid spruce.
10. Ikea Soderhamn Modular Sofa: From £195, Ikea
Another sofa solution that’s made up in sections, this practical design from IKEA is kept affordable with microfibre upholstery that comes in a choice of four colours. The covers are removable and can be machine-washed, keeping your furniture looking fresh. The back cushions are loose though, which can be a pain to keep propping up.
11. Raft Manhattan Sofa: From £1949, Raft
IndyBest Editor, Sally, bought this British-made sofa on the recommendation of the previous owners when she moved into her flat. Four years on and a few of her friends also have their own Manhattan. This is a seriously comfortable, large sofa, with a wide chaise ideal for sprawling on in front of the telly. It comes in a 4 or 3.5-seater versions, but we’ve found you can fit quite a few more thanks to the generous proportions. Unlike many other corner-friendly designs, you can change the side the chaise goes on by moving the footstool to the other end and just flipping the cushion. There are over 70 fabrics to choose from and it comes with three large scatter cushions that you can get made up in a fabric of your choice.
Verdict
The Atticus sofa from Loaf does what corner sofas were made to do: go big on comfort and size to seat the whole family in style. You get a large area of seating for the price and there’s a huge range of fabrics to customise with. Swoon Editions’ Tivoli sofa also offers vast choice and is generously sized, but at a more affordable price.
IndyBest product reviews are unbiased, independent advice you can trust. On some occasions, we earn revenue if you click the links and buy the products, but we never allow this to bias our coverage. The reviews are compiled through a mix of expert opinion and real-world testing
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