Yes, a single seater leather sofa is a good choice for a small space if you need one or two seats, or want a second piece beside a sofa. It covers about one square metre of floor. It’s a poor choice as the only seating for a family, because each seat takes more floor than it does on a 2 or 3 seater.
How much floor does a single seater actually use?
A single seater leather sofa is roughly a metre wide and 94cm deep, so it covers about one square metre. That’s the smallest footprint in our range, but it isn’t the most efficient. Divide the floor each piece uses by the seats it gives you and the picture changes.
| Piece | Size | Floor covered | Seats | Floor per seat |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single seater | About 100 by 94cm | About 1.0 sq m | 1 | 1.0 sq m |
| 2 seater | 180 by 94cm | 1.7 sq m | 2 | 0.85 sq m |
| 3 seater | 221 by 94cm | 2.1 sq m | 3 | 0.7 sq m |
| Example corner sofa | 250 by 160cm, L shaped | 3.0 sq m | 4 | 0.75 sq m |
The corner sofa row is an example, not a product. Real sizes vary, so check any listing you’re considering.
If three people sit in the room most evenings, one 3 seater takes less floor than three armchairs and sits better. A single seater earns its place when you need one seat, or one more seat, without giving up a whole wall.
Every piece in our range is 94cm deep and about 76cm high, with a seat 58cm deep and 46cm off the floor. The armchair weighs 57kg, which is light enough for two people to shift between rooms. You can see the whole range in our single seater leather armchairs.
Where a single seater works best
It works well in a bedroom or landing corner for reading, in a studio flat where one comfortable seat is all you need, and beside a 2 seater that leaves no room for one more person. Leave 45cm in front for walking, so the chair needs a patch about 1.4m deep. Setting it at an angle across a corner uses space that would otherwise sit empty and keeps the walkway clear.
An ottoman makes the chair work harder. Our Dark Brown Chesterfield ottoman measures 97cm by 66cm and about 46cm high, level with the seat, so it can be a footrest, an extra seat for a guest or a low table with a tray on top.
Does a leather corner sofa save more space?
A leather corner sofa fits the most seats along the least wall, which is why it appeals in a small living room. The catch is the floor it commands. Take a corner leather sofa of 250cm by 160cm. The L covers about 3 sq m, but it blocks out the 4 sq m rectangle around it. In a room 3m wide, it leaves 50cm on that wall, which isn’t a walkway. A corner leather sofa suits a roughly square room where the corner is dead space. In a narrow room it swallows the floor.
We don’t make corner sofas. Every piece we make is a fixed frame, from single seater to 4 seater. They can still form an L, though: a 2 seater leather sofa along one wall and an armchair across the corner uses about 2.7 sq m, has no joins, and splits apart if you move.
Will leather feel too heavy in a small room?
A big dark shape can make a small room feel heavy, especially a north facing one with weak winter light. A mid tone reflects more of what light there is. Our Natural Tan Chesterfield is undyed top grain buffalo leather and keeps its detail in grey daylight. A dark brown or black chair makes a strong focal point if the room gets plenty of sun. A small leather sofa, such as the 2 seater at 180cm, is the next step up when one chair is no longer enough.
Which layout fits who uses the room?
Count the people who sit there on a normal evening, not at Christmas.
| Regular users | Layout that works | Floor used |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Single seater and ottoman | About 1.6 sq m |
| 2 | 2 seater | About 1.7 sq m |
| 3 | 3 seater, or 2 seater and armchair | 2.1 or 2.7 sq m |
| 4 | 3 seater and armchair | About 3.1 sq m |
Frequently asked questions
What is the best sofa style for a small space?
One with a modest depth and a clean outline, usually a 2 seater or a compact 3 seater. Size matters more than style. A 180cm 2 seater suits a usable wall run of about 2.4m to 3m, and a 3 seater suits 3m to 4m.
What is the disadvantage of a leather sofa?
It costs more than fabric, and it feels cool in winter and can stick in hot weather. It also shows scratches, more so on undyed leather, though on top grain buffalo they soften into the patina, and it needs conditioning once or twice a year. Bonded and faux leather are different, because they can peel.
Which type of sofa is best for a small living room?
A 2 seater, or a 3 seater if your wall run is 3m to 4m, often paired with a single armchair. Measure the wall and the doorway first. A corner sofa suits a square room better than a narrow one.
What is the best type of seating for a small living room?
A mix. One sofa sized to your wall, one armchair that can move, and an ottoman that works as a footrest, an extra seat or a table. Each piece does a different job, which beats one oversized sofa.
Is a leather corner sofa good for a small living room?
Only if the room is roughly square and the corner is otherwise unused. In a narrow room, a corner leather sofa can leave less than 50cm of walkway. A 2 seater and an armchair give a similar shape with more flexibility.
Is a single seater leather sofa comfortable for long sitting?
The 58cm seat depth and 46cm seat height suit upright sitting and reading. If you like to lounge with your legs up, add an ottoman.