Sectionals: To buy or not to buy? Possibly the most debatable and controversial (if I may say so) topic in the home decor & interior design world. While there are polarized opinions about them, I’ve found a common ground. I will first begin by discussing 5 reasons you should NOT buy them. But if you are from the other end of the spectrum and absolutely WANT TO BUY one I will give you 5 ways to make them work to achieve the balance between function & decor.

Let’s begin!

5 Reasons NOT To Buy Sectionals

1. Sectionals Fill Up The Space

Sectionals are huge! A selling point for most, what we don’t realize is it tends to fill up the space, leaving no room for accent furniture or other decor pieces. If that doesn’t bother you, go ahead and buy one of those gigantic sectionals but I’m guessing it does and you also care about how your space looks, since you clicked on this post!

2. Sectionals Leave No Pathways

Pathways are crucial in furniture layout to make the area functional & practical to use. Put a sectional in and you’ll observe it leaves almost no pathway around it. Yes, the place looks comfy but there are better ways to make a room look comfy without compromising on functionality & decor.

3. Sectionals Are Not Practical For Hosting

Unless you’re not into hosting and don’t care about how comfortable your guests feel, you’ll connect with this one! Sectionals are fun couches meant for TV viewing & lounging and don’t seem to offer much when it comes to hosting. They fail to create a conversational space and guests are forced to cozy up next to each other making it a little uncomfortable for everyone.

4. Sectionals Make The Space Feel Smaller

We’ve established that sectionals are huge and fill up the space. Consequently, they make the space feel smaller which I don’t believe anybody is aiming for! In fact, we all strive to make our homes and spaces feel bigger, right?

5. Sectionals Can Accommodate Only Coffee Tables

Goes without saying, sectionals offer no room to place your drinks and other items. Unlike a traditional layout which has space for drink tables, end tables, and side tables, sectionals have none. So the only table option you’re left with is a coffee table in the center (maybe end tables if your sectional allows). These accent tables provide surfaces to add decor elements around your space. So when you cannot have them in your living room, you miss out on amazing decor opportunities!

These were the 5 major reasons NOT to buy sectionals. If you’re nodding in agreement, head to your favorite merchant and buy a non-sectional! If you disagree, I understand! Keep reading, I will show you how you can make do with a sectional without compromising much on the decor 🙂

5 Ways To Make Sectionals Work

1. Put The Sectional Anywhere BUT In The Living Room

As we discussed before, sectionals are fun couches made for movie-watching and lounging. A formal living room is not designed for this purpose. It’s a conversation space meant for family gatherings and hosting. If you have the option of a basement, game room, informal living room, or media room, place your sectional there. These are dedicated spaces for fun and entertainment. If you don’t have the option of multiple areas, relax, you can still make it work!

2. Choose The Right Size Of Sectional

The scale of the furniture plays a huge role in determining whether your space will ultimately look bigger or smaller. Since we aim to make the place feel bigger choosing the right size of a sectional becomes crucial. My favorite way to ensure this is by putting painter’s tape on the floor and measuring it. This way you know exactly where your short-listed sectional will go and you can be confident when making the purchase.

TIP: Ensure there’s enough pathway around the taped-out area such that you can walk around it, put end tables and a coffee table, it’s not too close to the focal point of your living room (mostly a TV set), and is not filling up the space.

3. Pair Your Sectional With Accent Furniture and Add Accent Decor

When trying to balance between functional and decor, it becomes imperative to consider accent furniture and decor. Accent furniture like an accent chair (with or without an ottoman), pouffs and a drink table are the easiest way to do so when placing a sectional. Pair your sectional with a piece of accent furniture for aesthetics.

In terms of accent decor, put 2 sets of 3 throw pillows in the corners of the sectional and a throw blanket to spruce it up further. Maybe even put a nice woven basket at one of the ends of the sectional to hold all the throw blankets. It will serve as yet another piece of decor.

4. L or U-shaped Sectional

Which brings me to my next point. A U-shaped sectional will not leave any room to add an accent piece, no matter how big your space. It’s undoubtedly very comfy and loungy, if I may call it that. But L-shaped is the way to go. The L-shaped sectional will allow you to place an accent chair across it, creating a designer look and not to mention adding another seating option.

5. Coffee Table

To create a visual balance and interest a general decor rule is to have multiple shapes in a space. If all the pieces (furniture and decor) are of the same shape the room becomes flat and boring. So when choosing a coffee table to pair with your sectional go for a round coffee table. The circular shape will balance out the straight lines of the sectional, creating a visual balance.

There you have it! 5 ways to make a sectional work if you absolutely MUST buy them. What are your thoughts?

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