A small apartment doesn’t offer much choice when it comes to furnishing it. Choosing the right furniture that is practical, fits your needs, and suits your space can be tricky but makes all the difference. When square footage is at a premium, it is vital to choose the right sofa. A well-designed living room is always centered around the couch: It invites conversation and cozy evening lounging.
The choice of a contemporary sofa for a small apartment comes down to three things you must consider. You need to consider the size of the piece in relation to the room, keep the walkways clear, and introduce multifunctionality wherever you can.
Contemporary sofas introduce clean lines, a body raised on exposed legs, and a neutral palette, befitting compact living rooms. The sofas with such a design, where the base is left open, allow light to reach underneath, making the silhouette appear lighter and airy.
To help you choose a contemporary sofa for your small apartment, this guide takes you over what to look for in size, type, construction, and upholstery. So, if you are on the hunt for a contemporary sofa, here is how to fit it into your small space living room.
Consider the Measurements
Before you head out to pick up a contemporary sofa, you must be acquainted with the room. Measuring the space may seem trivial, but forgo this step and you may end up with a too bulky or too small furniture piece. To measure the space, run a tape along the walls, taking into account the doorways, windows, and radiators.
Once you have the measurements, move them onto paper or onto an app. Ensure you have three feet of clearance space around the sofa for walking. To make things even easier for yourself, outline the footprint of the floor with painter’s tape or arrange chairs around the perimeter. This allows you to see the layout at full scale and how a new sofa will fit into it.
While the measurements of the furniture need to be according to the floor plan, they also need to fit your body. A comfortable seat depth ranges between 21 and 24 inches for ordinary people. Taller individuals, on the other hand, require a seat depth of 24 inches or more. To that end, the overall depth of a contemporary compact sofa for a small space can vary between 20 and 30 inches. Since there are no precise standards for this sort of thing, you need to find your comfort measurements.
Compact Sofa Types to Consider for Small Apartment
There are many types of compact sofas you can consider for your small space living room. The categories cater to different seat depths and seating capacity. For reference, a standard sofa measures roughly 72 inches wide and 24 inches deep. These are suited to mid-size to large living rooms and generally seat three people. Let’s take a look.
Loveseats and Apartment Sofas
A loveseat is designed to seat two people. It generally measures between 52 and 72 inches wide with a depth of about 30 to 38 inches. A loveseat works as a great seating option in a studio or as an extra perch by a window.
The apartment sofa, on the other hand, is a compact three-seater but has slimmer armrests and a shallower depth of about 32 to 35 inches. An apartment sofa is a trade-off between capacity and floor space. It ideally fits a small living room roughly 10 x 12 feet.
Compact, Reversible Sectionals
Sectionals are a smart way to optimize your floor space than multiple pieces. When you have a sectional along a corner, it takes less room than a sofa and two armchairs together. A reversible sectional is a great alternative for frequent movers. No matter the layout of a new apartment, the design adapts to it, shifting from one side to the other.
These are among the smart picks for small apartments. The compact sectionals generally are about 80 inches wide, with seats around 35 inches deep. They seat three to four people and are ideal for corner layouts or open plans.
Also Read: Is Your Sofa Looking Little Less Perky? It’s Time to Reupholster
Sleeper Sofas
A sleeper sofa is a great piece of furniture to own when space is at a premium. The multifunctionality of this single piece serves as seating and a guest bed. If you want to go for a sleeper sofa, you must be familiar with what mechanisms they use.
For example, there is a pull-out option where the mattress unfolds from a metal frame and is generally considered the most affordable. The pop-up platform option features the base rising to seat level for a firm surface. The fold-out sleeper sofa drops the back down to open the bed without removing the cushions. These mechanisms, paired with ease of use, matter when you have limited space.
Design and Upholstery Matter
The design and upholstery matter as much as the size of the sofa when it comes to furnishing a small apartment. In a cramped space, you do not want bulky furniture. Therefore, a sofa lifted on exposed legs and slimmer arms works best. The piece never feels heavy as the space underneath the seat stays visible. A low-profile sofa with a seat height around 15 to 17 inches does the trick.
As for the upholstery, opt for something simpler yet sophisticated, durable yet sleek. Choose performance fabrics that resist stains, abrasion, and fading, with minimal maintenance. Leather lasts longer and needs less upkeep. Fabrics such as linen, velvet, and bouclé feel softer and make the room more relaxed. Go for lighter neutral shades to reflect light around the room. Removable covers make cleaning simpler; however, they do not come with every model.
Arranging Contemporary Sofa in Small Living Room
There is no universal rule about furniture arrangement. You do what feels natural for your needs and your space. However, when it comes to a small living room, a sofa against the wall is a good bet. A floating arrangement offers fluidity with its geometric aesthetic, but that is not for everyone and every space.
In a studio apartment, you can place the sofa with its back across the room to actively act as a divider between living zone and sleeping area without using a wall or divider. To soften the space, introduce rounded arms, a round coffee table, and a circular rug. You can also strategically place a couple of mirrors to add depth and brightness. Pair the small living room sofa with multifunctional cohorts to make the most out of every inch.
How to use Quality and Customization
The quality of the furniture you put in your small apartment sets the tone of the entire space. Moreover, it helps you create a long-lasting heirloom that you can pass down through generations. If the furniture you are investing in is of cheap quality, it will start falling apart within a few months of use. Therefore, pick quality pieces with a high level of craft.
Handmade furniture that is made to order generally fits the bill. You can even have the piece customized to fit your space. Thoughtful construction, practical upholstery, honest build quality, and accurate dimensions will pay off in the long run. Remember to budget for the lead time and plan the order.
Final Word
A small apartment needs every bit of space it can muster, but that doesn’t mean you have to compromise on furniture. You can choose quality furniture that goes well with the existing layout and leaves room for complementary additions. Before you head out to pick a piece, ensure you consider the above-mentioned parameters.
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