Choosing a sectional starts with one simple step: measuring the room with care. If you are searching for how to measure room for a sectional sofa, the goal is not guesswork. It is a clear reading of your floor plan, your walking paths, and the shape of the sectional itself. A good fit depends on more than wall length. It depends on chaise depth, return arm length, ottomans, and the way people move through the room.
This guide walks you through how to measure sectional sofa space in a way that works for Dubai apartments, villas, and compact studios. It also helps you compare sectional sofa size, standard size of a sectional sofa, and the size of sectional sofa options with more confidence before you order.
What to Measure Before You Do Anything Else
Grab a tape measure. Write everything down. Do not trust your memory or an estimate.
Measure your room first:
- Length and width of the full room
- Length of each wall where the sofa back will sit
- Distance from those walls to fixed obstacles: AC vents, outlets, windows, columns
Then measure your entry path:
- Width of your front door
- Width of all hallways and turns from the entrance to the living room
- If you live in a high-rise, the width and depth of the service lift
Many Dubai apartments in towers have service lifts with a maximum internal width of 90 to 100 cm. Sectional pieces need to pass through these.
What Is the Tape Method and Why Should You Use It?
The tape method means this: before you order, lay painter's tape on your floor in the exact dimensions of the sectional you are considering.
Live with the tape for one or two days. Walk around it. Sit in the space where the sofa will go. Open nearby doors. Check whether a coffee table fits inside the taped section.
This takes 10 minutes. It prevents a 3-week custom build wait, followed by a return you cannot make.
The Sectional Size Rule of Thumb
Here is the sectional size rule of thumb used by most interior planners:
Your sectional width should cover no more than two-thirds of the wall it sits against.
Example: if your wall is 360 cm wide, your sectional should be no wider than 240 cm on that side. This leaves room for end tables, movement, and visual balance.
For the return section (the shorter arm of the L), measure from the side wall outward to at least 90 to 100 cm before any doorway, walkway, or passage. The chaise or return piece needs that clearance to avoid blocking movement through the room.
Left-Hand or Right-Hand Facing: Which Fits Your Room?
Left-hand facing (LHF) means the chaise sits on your left as you face the sofa. Right-hand facing (RHF) puts the chaise on your right.
Here's how to decide:
Stand in your living room and face the wall where the sectional goes. Look at what's on each side: door positions, walkways, windows.
If a door opens on the right side and a clear wall sits on the left, choose LHF so the chaise lands in the unobstructed space.
Draw this on paper. A simple top-down sketch of your room with the sectional outline confirms the right orientation before you order. Ordering LHF instead of RHF on a large sectional is an expensive mistake to fix.
Dubai Home Types: What to Expect
How you measure room for sectional sofa sizing in Dubai depends on the type of space you're working with.
Studios and Compact Apartments
Space is tight. An L-shape sectional works best pushed against two walls. Keep the depth of each section under 90 cm to preserve walking room. A two-piece configuration often works better than a three-piece.
1 and 2 Bedroom Apartments
Most Dubai apartments in this range have living areas between 25 and 40 square metres. The standard size of a sectional sofa for this space is 260 to 300 cm on the long side, 160 to 180 cm on the short side. Always verify with the tape method before ordering.
Villas
Larger living areas give you more flexibility, but open-plan layouts bring new challenges. The sectional needs to define the living zone without visually closing off the space. Use the tape method every time, regardless of room size.
Measure The Sectional Parts, Not Only The Full Width
A lot of buyers focus only on width. For a sectional, that is not enough. When learning how to measure sectional sofa dimensions, break the piece into its parts.
Measure The Chaise Depth
If the sectional includes a chaise, measure from the back edge to the farthest point of the chaise. This depth matters because it often pushes farther into the room than the main seating line. In a compact space, chaise depth decides whether the layout still leaves a clear walkway.
Measure The Return Arm
The return arm is the shorter side that turns the sectional into an L shape. Measure its length from the corner to the end of the arm. A long return arm needs more wall space and more clearance at the open side. This is one of the most overlooked parts of how to measure room for a sectional sofa.
Sectionals Built for Dubai Homes by Antarria
Once you know how to measure room for sectional sofa placement, finding the right piece becomes much more straightforward.
Antarria's sectional collection features modern designs sized for the way people live in Dubai. Each piece is available with your choice of fabric and finish, so the sofa fits your existing space and suits your personal style. Whether you're furnishing a compact apartment or a larger living area, the range offers practical size options built to last.
FAQs
1. Is your living area an open-plan or enclosed space?
An open-plan room needs more attention to traffic flow because the sectional shares space with dining or passage areas. An enclosed room gives you more control over boundaries, but you still need to protect walking space on all sides.
2. How do I figure out if a sectional would work better in my living room?
Start with the room shape and the way you use the space. A sectional works well when you need more seating in one anchored zone, and the layout still leaves a clear path around it.
3. How can I visualize the sectional before buying?
Use the tape method on the floor with the full footprint of the sofa, including chaise depth and return arm length. This gives you a real outline to walk around, which makes the final fit much easier to judge.
4. Will a left-hand or right-hand sectional fit better?
The better fit depends on the wall layout, entry points, and where you want the longer section to sit. Face the sofa from the front and match the longer side to the direction that leaves the room easiest to move through.
5. How much walking space do I need around a sectional?
A practical target is 75 to 90 cm for a main walking path. In smaller rooms, you may work with less, but the space should still feel easy to cross without brushing the furniture.
6. What is the tape method, and why should I use it?
The tape method means marking the sectional footprint on the floor before buying. It helps you see the real size, test the traffic path, and avoid mistakes that happen when measurements stay on paper only.
Address: Warehouse No. 3, 28B Street – Al Qouz Ind. Third – Al Quoz – Dubai – United Arab Emirates
Appointments: +971 56 388 7363 / +971 56 597 2020
Email: info@antarria.com
