How to Design a Corner Sofa

Measure the floor space of the corner. Define the maximum wall and floor space to allow for seating space. Sketch the rest of the room's furniture and how foot traffic will flow. Leave room for a small coffee table or end table to hold miscellaneous items; and leave room for a large potted plant or area rug as well, if this will look appropriate.

Figure possible sofa shapes. Would a small sofa fit at an angle across the corner? Would two sofa sections fit along each corner wall, leaving room for a square end table in the corner itself? Select options for the height of the back of the sofa. Go over ideas for a curved back or sofa sections with neither piece having an attached back, for example.

Design around wall area. Buy a more ornate sofa with wood on the arms, for example, if the corner has no window openings in the wall space. Plan a bulkier sofa with a busy fabric print to make the sofa stand out if the room has lots of neutral colors in other places. Add colorful end tables in yellow, for example, to draw attention to the sofa area of the room.

Plan around window space. Add window treatments to tie in with the sofa, if there are corner windows. Use oak-finish plantation blinds to match oak wood pieces on the sofa or sofa sections. Sew colorful window treatments that match throw pillows on the sofa. Use pull-down shades with a linen look to match a sofa of similar material.

Dress up the space for focus. Add one or two potted plants, art work on the walls or mirrors on the wall over the sofa space. Create the corner soft to draw attention vs. blend in. Make it look as inviting as possible for sitting, so that it doesn't wind up as a place to store clutter or laundry. Plan the sofa space to use frequently for appropriate activities. Place your favorite books on a coffee table in front of it, for example, to make it look inviting.