Left vs. Right-Facing Chaise: What LAF & RAF Mean

Trying to figure out a left- vs. right-facing chaise is easier than it sounds: stand in front of the sofa and face it, then look for the chaise, the long lounging section. If the chaise is on your left, it’s left-facing; if it’s on your right, it’s right-facing. That viewpoint also helps make sense of LAF and RAF, so you can compare sectionals without accidentally ordering the mirror image of the layout you planned. With Koala sectional sofas, you also have the flexibility to move the chaise to the other side when your room or layout changes.

Key Takeaways

• A left-facing chaise is on your left when you stand in front of the sofa and face it. A right-facing chaise is on your right.

• LAF means “left arm facing,” while RAF means “right arm facing.” These labels describe the arm’s position when you face the sofa.

• Check the product diagram before ordering. Photos can be shot from different angles, and furniture terminology can vary between retailers.

• Your room layout should guide the choice. Think about the doorway, main walkway, TV or fireplace, and nearby furniture.

• Koala sectional sofas can switch the chaise from one side to the other. That means you can reconfigure the layout as your room or needs change.

What Left-Facing and Right-Facing Mean on a Sectional

Left-facing and right-facing describe where the chaise sits when you stand in front of the sofa and face it.

Stand directly in front of the sectional and look at it head-on. Find the chaise, the extended section designed for lounging.

If the chaise is on your left, it’s a left-facing sectional.

If the chaise is on your right, it’s a right-facing sectional.

This is easiest to remember with one simple rule: stand and look, don’t sit down.

A sectional with a chaise can make a room more comfortable and useful, but getting the orientation right matters when you’re working around doors, walkways, walls, and other furniture. See Koala’s sectional with a chaise options to compare different setups.

Why the terminology gets confusing

The phrase “left-facing” can sound like it should describe the sofa from the person sitting in it. That’s where the confusion starts.

Furniture retailers commonly use the front-facing viewpoint when describing left- and right-arm configurations. So, when you’re standing in front of the sofa, a left-facing configuration has the relevant arm or chaise on your left.

Once you sit down, the same chaise is beside your right side. That doesn’t mean the sofa suddenly became right-facing. The label stays tied to the original viewpoint.

When a product photo and product name seem to disagree, check the product diagram or configuration selector before ordering.

For Koala sectional sofas, there’s another advantage: the chaise can be moved to the opposite side, so your initial setup doesn’t have to be permanent.

How to Tell Which Way a Chaise Faces in 10 Seconds

Stand or imagine yourself standing directly in front of the sofa, facing it, then check which side the chaise is on.

In a showroom

Stand several feet in front of the sofa and look straight at it.

Find the chaise, the longer lounging section.

If it’s on your left, it’s left-facing.

If it’s on your right, it’s right-facing.

That’s all there is to it.

With a Koala sectional sofa, though, you have more flexibility after you’ve made that initial choice. Because the sofa is modular, you can rearrange the sections and move the chaise from one side to the other when you want to change the layout.

From a product photo

Use the same rule with an online photo. Imagine you’re standing where the camera is, facing the sofa, then check which side the chaise occupies.

A straight-on image is usually easiest to read. An angled lifestyle photo can make the chaise position less obvious, especially if you’re viewing the sofa from the side or corner.

When in doubt, check the product diagram rather than relying on the photo alone.

This is particularly useful when shopping for a chaise sectional sofa, where different configurations can look similar at first glance.

For Koala sectional sofas, also check the available configurations rather than assuming the lifestyle image is the only possible setup. The chaise can be moved to the opposite side, giving you more freedom to arrange the sofa around your space.

LAF, RAF and Other Sectional Labels Explained

LAF means “left arm facing,” while RAF means “right arm facing.”

These labels are another way of describing the sofa’s orientation from the front. Here’s how the common terms compare:

The practical takeaway is simple: LAF and “left-facing” point to the left-side configuration when you’re facing the sofa, while RAF and “right-facing” point to the right-side configuration.

LHF and RHF are worth checking carefully because terminology can differ between retailers. When two listings seem to use the terms differently, use the product diagram as your source of truth.

And with Koala sectional sofas, remember that the orientation you see in a listing doesn’t necessarily have to be permanent. The chaise can be moved to the opposite side when you reconfigure the sectional sofa.

Choosing an Orientation for Your Room Layout

The best chaise orientation is the one that works with your room’s traffic flow, focal point, and furniture placement.

Start with the main walkway. Think about how people move through the room from the doorway to the kitchen, hallway, TV area, or other frequently used spaces. A chaise that sits directly in the busiest path can make the room feel more cramped.

Next, consider the focal point. If your room is arranged around a TV or fireplace, choose the configuration that makes the seating feel natural for viewing and conversation.

A corner sectional or L-shaped couch can also help define an open-plan living area. In that setup, think about whether you want the chaise to face into the main living zone or help separate it from the rest of the room.

Then look at doors, windows, and surrounding furniture. Check door swings, coffee table placement, side tables, floor lamps, and the space you need to walk around the sofa.

The benefit of a modular setup

With a fixed chaise, getting the orientation right before you buy is especially important.

With a Koala sectional sofa, you have more freedom because the chaise can be moved from one side to the other. That can be useful if you rearrange your living room, move to a new home, or simply decide that the opposite layout works better.

A simple layout test

Before ordering, use painter’s tape to mark the approximate footprint of the sofa on your floor.

Try the left-facing arrangement, then mirror it for the right-facing arrangement.

Walk through the room normally. Open nearby doors. Check the TV sightline. Move around the coffee table. Think about how the room feels during the parts of the day when you use it most.

This gives you a practical way to choose the initial setup. And with a Koala modular sofa, you have the added reassurance that you can move the chaise to the opposite side later if your layout changes.

When Can You Switch the Chaise to the Other Side?

Koala sectional sofas can be reconfigured so the chaise moves from one side to the other, while a fixed-chaise sectional stays in its original orientation.

A fixed-chaise sectional has the chaise built into its specific configuration. If you buy a fixed left-facing sectional, you generally can’t turn it into a right-facing one by simply rearranging the pieces.

A Koala sectional sofa works differently. The individual modules can be rearranged, which allows the chaise to switch sides as you change your setup.

That means you don’t have to think of left-facing or right-facing as a permanent decision when choosing a Koala sectional sofa. You can set the chaise up on the side that works best today, then move it to the other side later.

Koala’s modular range is designed around that flexibility, making it easier to adapt the sofa to different rooms and layouts over time.

Koala also offers a sofa with a reversible chaise, giving you another option when side-to-side flexibility is high on your wish list.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you know if you need a left or right-facing sectional?

Choose the orientation that works best with your doorway, main walkway, and focal point.

Mark both options on the floor with painter’s tape and walk through the space to see which layout feels more natural. With a Koala sectional sofa, you also have the flexibility to move the chaise to the other side later if your room changes.

Does left-facing mean the chaise is on the left when you sit down?

No. Left-facing is determined by looking at the sofa from the front while standing, not from the seated position.

When you stand facing the sofa, a left-facing chaise is on your left. Once you sit down, that same chaise will be beside your right side. With a Koala sectional sofa, the chaise can also be moved to the opposite side if you want to change the setup.

What is the difference between LAF and RAF on a sectional?

LAF means “left arm facing,” while RAF means “right arm facing.”

Both describe the sofa from the front, so LAF places the relevant arm on your left, and RAF places it on your right. When comparing listings, check the retailer’s diagram, and remember that Koala sectional sofas can be reconfigured with the chaise on either side.

Can you return a sectional if you order the wrong orientation?

That depends on the retailer’s return policy, so check the terms for the specific sofa before buying.

Koala offers a 120-day trial, giving you time to decide whether your sofa works in your space. And with a Koala sectional sofa, you have the added benefit of being able to move the chaise to the other side if you want to change the layout. Wondering whether the extra length of a chaise is worth it can also help you decide which style and configuration make sense for your room.

Explore Koala’s sectional sofas with chaise and corner sectionals to find a configuration that works for your space.