How to Determine Left or Right-facing Sectional? No-Worries Guide to Nailing It

Alright, let's clear this up once and for all. You're scrolling online, you’ve found a sofa you love, but then it hits you with the big question: "Left-Hand-Facing or Right-Hand-Facing?" Panic sets in. Don't stress, we've got you covered. It’s way simpler than it sounds.

Picture a classic L-shaped chaise sectional sofa. That long bit at one end, the one that’s basically begging you to put your feet up for an afternoon Netflix binge? That’s called the “chaise end.” It’s the key to solving this whole puzzle.

Contents

• How to Use the Stand-in-Front Trick

• Map Out Your Living Space and Traffic Flow

• Will Everyone Fit?

• Keep It Looking Great  

• Measure Twice, Buy Once

• Why Koala’s Modular Sofas Make It Easy

• Nail Your Sectional Sofa Choice Every Time

Key Takeaways

Not sure whether you need a left- or right-facing sectional? Use the simple stand-in-front trick (chaise on your left = left-facing), and you'll never mess it up. 

Before you hit “add to cart”, map your room, leave at least 32-39 inches for walkways, and take measurements of every doorway to ensure the ideal position of your sectional sofa.

If the whole exercise feels like a headache, Koala’s flip-friendly modular sofas let you swap sides, add seats, or shrink things down in minutes. No tools, no tears. 

How to Use the Stand-in-Front Trick

Here’s the only trick you’ll ever need. Stand directly in front of the sofa, looking at it head-on. Now, which side is the chaise sticking out on?

• If the chaise is on your left side, you’re looking at a left-hand-facing sectional (also called a left arm facing configuration).

• If the chaise is on your right, congratulations, it’s a right-hand-facing sectional (or right arm facing orientation).

Easy, right? You’ll never get it wrong again. Just a few minutes standing in front of your sectional will solve the mystery. Of course, the game is changing. Interchangeable modules are becoming the new normal in living room design. 

Instead of getting locked into one orientation at checkout, clever sofas (like Koala’s modular beauties) are essentially reversible sectionals that let you flip the chaise from left to right whenever you feel like a change of scenery. No commitment issues here.

Map Out Your Living Space and Traffic Flow

Before you even think about colors and fabrics, you need to play interior architect for a minute. Getting the room layout and placement right is the difference between a space that feels 'just right' and one that feels like a game of human Tetris.

Nail the Focal Point

Every living space has a star of the show, the focal point. It might be the TV for movie nights, a big sunny window with a great view, or a crackling fireplace for those chilly winter evenings sitting around with the family. Sometimes, it's that amazing piece of art you scored at the flea market. 

The position of your sectional should complement this focal point. Decide what you want your sectional sofa to face, and the rest of the room layout will naturally fall into place around it.

Give Traffic Room to Breathe

There’s nothing worse than having to suck in and shuffle sideways to get past the sectional sofa when someone's sitting there. It’s a vibe-killer. Interior designers and architects recommend leaving at least 32-39 inches for main walkways. This ensures a comfortable, easy traffic flow through the room.

Keep clear paths to the balcony doors, the hallway, and most importantly, the kitchen. A sofa that’s too close to the sliding door will be the bane of your existence on barbecue days. Trust us on this one.

Check Existing Furniture

Your new chaise sectional sofa needs to play nicely with its new roommates. Don’t accidentally trap your coffee table in a corner or position a statement piece where it blocks access. Measure the space around your table. Also, measure and check the dimensions of your sideboards, media units, or even the twin bed frame in the guest room next door.

In an open-plan living space, proportion is everything. Different room layouts require different approaches to achieve visual harmony. Nail this part, and the whole space will feel intentional and professionally designed, rather than just a collection of furniture pieces you've thrown wherever they fit.

Will Everyone Fit?

Time for an honest chat with yourself. What’s your lifestyle really like? Are you a low-key couple who enjoys quiet evenings at home, or is your place the designated hangout spot for the whole crew? 

Consider your options and seating needs. Be realistic about how many people you need to seat on average each week, then add a buffer for unexpected guests.

Pets and little ones have a magical ability to take up the most space, especially on a comfy chaise. If you’ve got furry friends or little ones, consider durable, wipe-clean fabrics and a low-profile frame. And if you're planning some epic Netflix marathons or lazy Sunday afternoon naps, make sure the chaise is long enough for a full-body stretch without your feet dangling off the end.

Keep It Looking Great   

Once the sectional sofa is in position, a few styling tricks can elevate the entire space from ‘nice’ to ‘wow.’

Balance & Symmetry

A sectional with a chaise is asymmetrical by nature. To create a sense of harmony, you need to counterbalance it. Place a tall lamp, a statement plant in a decorative planter, or a large piece of artwork on the wall opposite the chaise. The position matters for visual balance.

An even better trick? Position a large mirror in the corner to bounce light across the room, making the space feel bigger and brighter. 

Small-Space Styling

Living in a tiny apartment? No problem, you can still have a sectional sofa that looks amazing. The key is to create an illusion of space. Opt for furniture pieces on slender wooden legs, as this "leggy" style feels much lighter and less imposing than a boxy base that sits flat on the ground.

Stick to lighter-colored fabrics to keep the room feeling airy, and play with vertical storage like floating shelves to draw the eye upward. Explore all smart options for maximizing small spaces.

For studios or spare rooms where every square inch counts, check out a fold-out sofa bed. Your living room can pull double duty for guests without hogging precious space.

Measure Twice, Buy Once

This is the most important step. Seriously. An ordering mistake is a headache you don’t need. Take the necessary measurements, then run through this checklist before you add anything to your cart:

• Overall length and the specific depth of the chaise section.

• The total height of the sofa, including the cushions if they’re taller than the frame.

• All doorway widths, elevator openings, and any tight turns in your stairwell.

• Your planned walkways: double-check you’re leaving that magic 32–39 inches.

Use masking tape or painter’s tape on the floor to mock up the sofa's footprint within your room layout. This gives you a real-world feel for how much space it will take up. It's a five-minute task that can save you a lot of hassle on delivery day.

Why Koala’s Modular Sofas Make It Easy

Feeling a bit overwhelmed? We get it. That’s why we designed our modular sofas to take all the guesswork and hard work out of the equation.

Flip, Add, or Shrink in Minutes

Our modular sofas share a secret weapon: tool-free connectors. Each module simply clicks together. This means you can change your left arm-facing chaise to a right arm-facing one if you move or just feel like a refresh.

You can add an extra seat when the family grows, or ditch a seat if you downsize. No Allen keys, no instruction-related arguments, and no contributions to the swear jar.

Comfort Without Compromise

Flexibility is great, but a sofa has to be comfy. We build ours to last, with solid frames made from FSC® certified timber. The cushions are a dreamy blend of foam and feather for that perfect sink-in-yet-supportive feeling. 

Our award-winning mattress features our Kloudcell™ comfort layer and Zero Disturbance® tech, backed by over 50,000 five-star reviews. Best of all, every Koala sofa comes with our famous 120-day trial. If it isn’t true love after four months, we'll take care of it, no hassle.

Style That Grows With You

A Koala sectional sofa is an investment in your future. When considering different types of modular sofas, think long-term. Moving from a shared apartment to your very first home? Just add more modules instead of splurging on a brand-new sofa. Need an extra ottoman for the nursery? Easy. It’s the furniture that adapts to your life, not the other way around. 

 

Nail Your Sectional Sofa Choice Every Time

So there you have it. Left-arm, right-arm, it doesn’t really matter once you know the simple stand-in-front trick. The real secret to success is planning. Map your room, leave plenty of breathing space for foot traffic, check every doorway and corner, and then pick a design configuration that genuinely suits your lifestyle.

Of course, if you'd rather avoid all the guesswork and have a sectional sofa that can adjust as your needs change, Koala’s flip-friendly sofas are designed to do the orientation juggling for you.

With no-tool assembly, you can reconfigure your setup in minutes and experiment with different layouts. Flip the chaise, add a seat, or downsize without breaking a sweat. Every sofa is built with FSC® certified timber for sustainability you can feel good about, and backed by our 120-day trial so you can test it in your actual living space. 

Flexibility you can count on. No stress, no regrets. 

Check out Koala's collection of sectionals and find your perfect fit today.