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A clever space-saving piece for small and large rooms alike.

Corner sofas are a staple of urban living, and a deceptively useful piece of furniture for small and large spaces alike. And as our homes become increasingly multipurpose, with kitchens and living rooms or home offices often wrestling for space in a single room, corner sofas have adopted a clever hybrid role for both seating and zoning.

Whilst the footprint of a corner sofa is large, and indeed larger than a standard two or three-seater sofa, it will in fact save you space. Where a standard two-seater is usually arranged next to a side table or floor lamp, perhaps with a second sofa placed perpendicularly or with a matching armchair nearby, the natural gaps between pieces rob you of floor space. A corner sofa by contrast will provide more seating in a compact area, allowing you to maximise the space available to you.

An L-shaped corner sofa is the standard – this resembles two sofas meeting at a 90-degree angle, rather than a standard two-piece suite with an added chaise. These are brilliant for small families, and can fit neatly in the corner of even the tiniest of rooms.

U-shaped corner sofas are having a bit of a moment – post-covid, home layouts are increasingly geared towards entertaining and U-shaped sofas offer generous proportions to sit plenty of guests next to and across from one another.

The ultimate in multifunctional furniture. If you don’t have a spare bedroom, corner sofa beds are a super practical option. Even smaller corner sofas can usually offer a deceptively large pull-out bed.

Corner sofas come into their own in small living rooms where floor space is at a premium, but they don’t need to be reserved for compact spaces.

A corner sofa placed in the centre of a large living room is one of the best ways to zone your space, creating a natural walk way, as well as a central point for a coffee table. An XL rug can be used underneath your corner sofa to further delineate your seating area.

In smaller flats with a combined kitchen and living room, a corner sofa can act as both a physical and visual break to separate a space with two functions. A low console table is often placed against the back of the corner sofa in this instance to hold a table lamp and some accessories. In studio apartments you’ll occasionally see a small dining table placed against the back of a corner sofa.

There may be a temptation to arrange cushions and throws symmetrically on a corner sofa, but this can look a bit overly-done. A more relaxed approach – and one that you will see a lot in our list below – is to concentrate the majority of your cushions in the centre of your corner sofa where the two sides meet, and drape a throw over one arm. Because of their ample proportions, corner sofas do invite lounging, so piling on a lot of cushions and throws only adds to the effect.

If you use a rug, always make sure it sits under the feet of your sofa and any adjacent coffee or side tables – you want to avoid the floating rug look that creates a visually disjointed space.

Below, we've scoured some of our favourite sofa brands and retailers, from John Lewis & Partners to DFS, to find the best corner sofas to suit all tastes and budgets...

We love a classic velvet sofa, especially in a sophisticated emerald green. This Darcy sofa from the House Beautiful collection at DFS is generously proportioned, with a modern silhouette and a subtle flash of brass in the legs.

This John Lewis & Partners corner sofa has all the markers of a classic mid-century piece – the slim legs, low-set arms, and curved silhouette. The references make it a great fit for retro colours, like a saturated orange and deep forest green.

One of the best choices for busy family homes. This midnight blue corner sofa from Made.com has extra bolster cushions and a deep seat for comfort, as well as a handy loose cover that is easy to remove in the case of spills.

A corner sofa for design lovers – this fabulous Anthropologie piece looks like a collection of giant pebbles. It is entirely modular for better flexibility, and upholstered in a contemporary pink linen.

Another laid back model with relaxed design features. This Sofa.com corner sofa has a loose cover in a lightweight washed linen for a casual look that invites lounging. This would work perfectly in a modern country home.

A ready-made garden party. Designed to comfortably accommodate 7 people, this fabulous outdoor corner sofa comes with a matching table that can be adjusted from lounging to dining height.

Bold and moody in expression, if a little tricky to pull off, black corner sofas work best in softer rooms with organic details – the warm woods and limewashed walls here work wonderfully.

This corner sofa is designed for gatherings. With generous proportions, extra deep seats, and an additional ottoman for stretching out.

This chunky modular corner sofa by Swyft is the picture of versatility. Here in a classic pumice linen, and made with handy stain-resistant threads, it's perfect for busy households. Arrange to fit your space, and size up or down with an extra ottoman.

A curved corner sofa does well in large rooms, where the number of seats is more of a priority than saving space. This fabulous design from Rose and Grey has a traditional Chesterfield design and plump velvet seats for a sink-in comfortable result.

Corner sofas do well without arms – there is enough opportunity for lounging without them. An armless silhouette usually comes with a lower slung seat which looks relaxed and casual in a space. The exposed piping and slightly weathered leather upholstery on this DFS corner sofa adds to the effect.

A large outdoor corner sofa for big open spaces. This lounge set from Furniture Village includes an XL garden sofa with five seats, a matching armchair, and an aluminium coffee table nest.

This faux bamboo corner sofa can happily sit outside, or in a garden room or conservatory. It's a brilliant choice for entertaining.

A great one for minimal spaces. Whilst the footprint of this corner sofa is large enough to accommodate several people, the narrow frame and slim legs gives the illusion of something altogether lighter and more discreet.

The ultimate in multifunctional furniture. If you don’t have a spare bedroom, a corner sofa bed is a practical option. Even the smallest of corner sofas can usually offer a deceptively large pull-out bed.

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