Should I choose a sectional or a sofa? Will I regret buying a sectional? All good questions and I can’t wait to answer them! But first I have to tell you that when Julie of Redhead Can Decorate invited me to join her and some other fabulous bloggers to share my sofa all styled up you can’t imagine my excitement. I’m humbled to be in company with such talented ladies. You will find their links at the end (and you won’t want to miss them.) You came to hear about sofas, so let’s get to it!!
If you are here for the first time, welcome and thank you for stopping by. If you have been with me for a while now you may remember when I participated in my first One Room Challenge in the Spring of 2016. You can see the big reveal of my Glamily Room HERE
I got my new sectional for that makeover. I have lived with it for 9 months now, which has given me plenty of time to either love it or hate it. Spoiler Alert: I love it!!!
One of House Beautiful’s projected trends for 2016 was the Glamily Room. A room that could be lived in and enjoyed without sacrificing style. I knew that was exactly what I needed to keep myself happy and my family comfortable. A stream lined modern sectional would do just that, I chose the Radley Sectional in Chrome and it’s on sale right now!!!!!
*This post is not sponsored and I am not receiving compensation in the form of payment or product. All opinions are my own. I have included some affiliate links and if you were to purchase something I would receive a small commission but your price would stay the same.
Let’s talk about why I was considering a sectional in the first place:
My home is on the smaller side at 1600 sq ft. We have only one living space and it is long and narrow and honestly quite awkward. My house lacks an entry way. So you walk straight into the living room. See what I mean? Long and narrow. The front door is to the left just outside of this frame. You can see our dining room just adjacent to this room HERE I had it set up for DATE NIGHT IN. Which I really recommend doing! It was a nice change.
This is what you see from the front door. The sectional allows me to have a lot of seating without the clutter of multiple pieces of furniture and it does make it seem bigger.
I also have two teenage boys that are getting bigger and bigger each day. I think I can see them growing. I had an average size sofa and a chair previously. We would sit down to watch a movie and we would have to be lined up in a row, NO LOUNGING. We would all dive for the chair because if you got stuck on the sofa you were fighting for your personal space. When I say fight, I mean that literally. Then movie night would end up in some kind of….”you’re grounded for the rest of your life” scenario. We needed more room!!!! In comes the sectional that saved movie night!
Reasons To Choose A Sectional:
- They come in designer approved styles now and are available in many different configurations
- They fill a long narrow room
- They provide maximum seating in a small space
- They can double as sleeping space if you choose one with deep seating
- You can get a chaise lounge on one end of the couch to make the poofy recliner loving member of the family happy (a.k.a. DAD)
- They hold a lot of throw pillows….that’s a real reason
- They make a space comfortable, casual, inviting and family friendly
Do I regret my choice?: No!! I do not regret choosing a sectional at all! For my house and my family it was the perfect choice!
I was worried that I would get sick of not being able to move my furniture around…I still love it almost a year later.
I was also worried that it would be too prominent in the room…That is an easy fix with accessories which brings us to……..
How I style my sectional:
I add multiple throw blankets in different patterns and textures which look good and are perfect for naps…which I do on the daily and I’m not ashamed.
Throw pillows are my best friend ….not so much my husband’s but he’ll get over it–eventually. Hopefully. Probably. Maybe?
I use pillows and blankets in the corners to visually break it up and add interest. I have fun with them and change them out with the seasons, which, provides the change that I crave. I purchased the buffalo check ones from Amazon for $6.99 each!! They are linked below.
Turns out that we actually use the pillows for our backs because the seats are deep. So we don’t just keep them around for their good looks, they’re useful!!!
*I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites
I also paired the sectional with a large leather ottoman, that I scored on Craigslist, so all those big feet have a cozy perch. At first I wasn’t sure if the tray would function well for holding drinks but it has worked out very well. I would suggest using a tray with a flat bottom for stability.
I am still searching for the perfect rug. Maybe at the one year mark I will find it!
After it’s all said and done I am happy to have a stylish room that I love, that is family friendly and makes movie night non-combative… a true Glamily Room.
To see the beautifully styled sofas and rooms from the fantabulous bloggers that I mentioned in the beginning just follow the links below…
Erin Spain
This Is Our Bliss
At Charlotte’s House
Making it in The Mountains
Redhead Can Decorate
I Should Be Mopping The Floor
The Heathered Nest
Suburban-B’s
Our Southern Home
Marti says
Love your room. We just purchased a leather sectional and I love it. Looking at how you styled yours is such a huge help. May I ask where you got the lamp over it.. I love it. Thank you.
[email protected] says
Thank you Marti. I don’t mind at all. The lamp is the rope swag kit from World Market paired with a NYMO lamp shade from IKEA.
Allie says
Hi! I was just wondering how your sectional has held up? I worry about department store couches after getting a beautiful one that only lasted about a year and a half before the cushions started to sag and break down. Thanks!
[email protected] says
Hi Allie. Ours is holding up really well. No complaints. It got good reviews as well.
Petra says
Hello! Do you recall the name/manufacturer of the smaller, glam chandelier in your room? It compliments the room. Gorgeous choice!
Melissa says
Hello! I’m loving the wall color – mind sharing the brand and name of the paint??? Gorgeous room!
[email protected] says
Thank you so much! It’s Black Heron by Valspar. I had it made in a Benjamin Moore paint in the matte finish. Hope that helps!
Melissa says
Yes it does! Thank you so much! The space you have created is truly stunning :0)
Petra says
Hello! I was so happy to see this sofa in your gorgeous living room! I helped my sister get this piece when she moved back home. Question – your crystal chandelier is absolutely perfect! What is the name of this fixture? Where did you find this gem? It looks so great against all of your decor and balances the straight lines of the couch. I would love to gift my sister with this chandelier now that I have seen just how elegant the perfect sized crystal chandelier can look!
Silvia White says
Absolutely love your room! I have been mulling over switching to a sectional for our living room. Our home is 100+ years old with original oak trim (everywhere) and oak floors. We have opted not to paint the oak. We have one living space that must serve for guests and as our TV/lounging room. It is the most challenging room I have ever had to deal with! 15 x 14 it has no walls without either windows or openings, and no wall space longer than 5′. Two large windows and 2 double wide door ways make furniture arranging a real challenge. The two walls with windows are perpendicular to each other. And hubby is not a couch sitter so I will need a comfortable chair for him. Do you think I can pull off a sectional, chair for hubby and a TV stand?? Thanks your your suggestions.
[email protected] says
Hi Silvia! Nice to meet you. Your home sounds amazing!! I would say a smaller L shape sectional would look great floating in the room. It doesn’t have to be against a wall. The TV can go on a wall between the windows and a chair to square off the sectional. Best thing is to start measuring and shopping to see what will work in your space. I would love to see a pic!!
Diana says
Is it bulky?is it durable for a high traffic family ? I love the light color but worried it will be dirty quick.
[email protected] says
We are a family of four. We eat snacks in the living room but we are careful. It doesn’t show the dirt as much as you would think. The fabric is very sturdy. It has deep seats. My tall guys fit comfortably on it.
Susan says
Where did you get this sectional?
[email protected] says
It is the Radley sectional from Macy’s in the color chrome.
Emily armstrong says
I absolutely love your family room! What color did you paint your walls?
[email protected] says
Thank you so much Emily!! It is called Black Heron by Valspar. It leans a little blue in certain lights. We love it.
vishal says
Much obliged to you for this blog in this blog all data is specified which I was hunting down
[email protected] says
You are welcome. Glad you like it.
Aubrey H says
Hello! I know my comment is a year too late but just found your blog as I was searching for Radley sectional reviews! I’m thinking about getting one and yours looks sooo beautiful! Two questions, do you feel the fabric is more beige or gray? Second, how have the back cushions help up? My biggest pet peeve with our current couch is that they always looks squished down. Thanks for your great post!
[email protected] says
Hi Aubrey!!! I’m so happy that you found my post and you’re not late at all!!! Sooo…The fabric is definitely more beige, almost like a flax or oatmeal color. The good thing about the back cushions is that they are reversible. So when they look a little smashed, I fluff them up and turn them around. We are at the 2 year mark and it still looks great. I even washed the back cushions on delicate and let them air dry after a cute little Shih Tzu had a few too many bites of human food. LOL. So they get a little squished but then I flip them. Hope that helps!!
Aubrey H says
Soooo helpful, thank you for quick response! And great to know the fabric can be washed!
[email protected] says
You’re welcome! Macy’s might disagree but I had no choice and it worked out fine. I would do it only if absolutely necessary. Hope you love it as much as we do!
Joany says
Hi, I hope u read this I no its 12/10/17! Lol. I need to no where u got ur cognac ottoman? U inspired me to redo my new lake house in ivory and cognac and blue walls !!!! OMG . Please tell me the dimensions too. Thank u .
[email protected] says
Hello Joany!! I love that you are going to try it. A lake house sounds amazing!!! I am so sorry but I bought the ottoman second hand and they didn’t know where it was from. The dimensions are 36in x 48in. It is the perfect size with this sectional. I hope you find one!!!
Ella says
It’s kismet. My timing in finding your blog & this post. We just revamped our living room seating ourselves. Granted, ours was thrifted & hand me down finds, not the lovely new version you selected. I digress though, a sectional for a growing family is the bomb! We had a very long couch & several chairs for our family of 7. Eldest is 20, the youngest is 3 & we are so content with our new living room arrangement. Everyone can hang our together & have some personal space finally when desired. Eventually our passed down sectional will be replaced with a high quality version. This really was the perfect solution though in our interim of figuring out what really works in the challenging room.
We also have a bowling alley space to work with. Ours turns into a short L into the small dining room & came equipped with a bay window on the longest wall & a fireplace on the short one. Ordinarily very lovely focal points. However, their odd placement added to a small foyer off the corner adjacent to the bay window & another entryway (into a hall) opposite the fireplace, has made this probably the most challenging room I’ve ever had the pleasure of figuring out. We now have a pair of roomy chairs sharing a floor lamp & end table in the bay window & a teepee with a quilt floor in the corner between the bay & the fireplace for the lils.
Our sectional doesn’t fully tuck into the corner neatly (traffic pattern obstacles). I have a couple sets of BH&G cube cubbies with bins behind the side near the hall & foyer entry points. It acts as really long sofa table & doubles as storage for reading materials, etc. We’ve opted to delay placing a coffee table/ottoman. The plush gray shag rug is still very much prime real estate for our 3 & 7 year olds, especially during playdates. However, one day I’ll get my lovely leather sectional with ottoman & round glass dining table. A girl has to dream after all.
[email protected] says
Hi Ella!! Thanks for sharing, I love to hear other people’s stories too!! I say you should definitely keep dreaming and in the meantime we will both just be grateful for what we do have! I love that attitude!
Valerie says
We got a brown leather sectional 3 years ago that we still love. It really makes the best of our somewhat long and narrow family room.
[email protected] says
Thank you for taking the time to comment Valerie. I agree that it works so well in a long narrow space. We’re so happy with ours.
Jacqui says
I just changed from an awkward sofa and chair setup to a sectional and it was the best decision I’ve made my house! Completely agree about it making a small awkward space feel cozy and comfortable. As far as the rug, agonized over what to get since I have a dog, a boyfriend who forgets to take off his shoes to come inside, and a cat that likes to scratch anything on the floor. Iwound up getting Flor carpet tiles in their Lilting style. It has a white background with beautiful colored and textured pattern throughout. And the only reason I even dared to go white is because they’re super easy to clean. So far so good. I’ve been able to clean away mud, coffee and orange juice with soap and water. And even if the cat scratches them, the scratches blend in really well with the textured looping. After 6months with them the rug still looks brand new! It’s amazing.
[email protected] says
Love meeting you! Thank you for commenting. I would have never thought of flor tiles!!! How smart. I will look into that. I need easy to clean too.
Tess says
My living room is JUST like yours with the front door next to a large window and the sloped ceiling… It’s the same room. So basically the way you have beautifully decorated is now going to serve as a lovely model as we are currently revamping our space! 🙂 So thank you for this post, the entire room looks amazing! We are actively looking for a sectional just like this so its so nice to see how lovely it will look in the space (and hoping I can just get the same, haha). I have a question about the lighting actually as with sloped ceilings it can be so hard. I really like how you’ve hung (draped?) the light with the rounded white shade just over the sectional – Do you use the light/for what purposes? Can you make any recommendations on how to approach lighting in the space? Thank you SO much!
[email protected] says
Tess you have no idea how happy this makes me. I love that this helped you envision your space. I am very happy with the setup now, I think that you will love it. As far as lighting. I have read that a triangle of lighting is the best way to illuminate a room. So…I have a floor lamp by the door, the hanging pendant, and then the chandelier and the lamps on the piano in the other corner. The lighting points make a triangle. The hanging shade works really well to light up the corner. I got the rope swag kit from World market and the large shade from IKEA. I hope you come back to tell me what you decided on!!
Natalie Stern says
We just bought the Astra sectional from Macy’s, in Oatmeal. It i identical to yours except with rolled arms. We got the sectional and storage ottoman. We love ours too.
[email protected] says
Ooh! I didn’t see that one. It sounds so pretty. We love having all of the seating! It’s so nice. Thank you for sharing!!
Shannon says
I am hoping Natalie sees this too event though I’m over a year later!! First off — I LOVE what you have done with the radley!!! I am so torn between the radley and the astra — the radley looks more like a velvety/velour sort of feel where the astra almost just looks like a poly/cotton what I think of as just a regular sofa fabric?? Can either of you help with what your fabric feels like?? OH and is the astra more grey or more taupe? THANK YOU BOTH SO MUCH! I am so inspired after many months of looking! 🙂
[email protected] says
Hello Shannon!!! I have never seen the Astra before so I can only speak in reference to the Radley. The fabric is a very typical upholstery fabric. It is not velvety at all. It is holding up really well, very resilient! I hope that helps. I hope you come back and tell me what you went with!!!
Shannon says
WOW! Truly the greatest blog site I have ever posted on! You both got back with me so fast and helped me soooo much!!! I’m struggling because they are both wonderful!!! AAGH! 🙂 Good problem to have!! Thank you both very much! 🙂
[email protected] says
That makes me so happy to hear. Getting feedback and comments means so much to me!! All the best.
Natalie says
The astra is just a typical upholstery fabric. It has worn great. Honestly it still looks like new, and we have 6 kids in the house. The color says it is oatmeal. Our walks are agreeable gray from Sherwin Williams and the sofa is very close to that color. Can not wait to hear what you choose.
Shannon says
THANK YOU SOOO MUCH!!! I soooo appreciate you responding! Now to make a decision — so hard! They are both obviously wonderful! 🙂 I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your feedback and help! 🙂 Have a great day!
[email protected] says
Thank you Natalie for replying!!! That was very sweet!
Sam @ Raggedy Bits says
We have been tossing with getting a sectional sofa for our second living room and boy has your post helped! Thank you for sharing 🙂
[email protected] says
That makes me so happy Sam! I hope you find something perfect!
kellienh says
I LOVE THIS POST! & thank you for linking it to Waste not Wednesday! You are my feature this week!!!
[email protected] says
Thank you Kellie!!! Can’t wait to see it! I love your link up.
Christy @ Our Southern Home says
I absolutely adore your sectional. We want one just like this for our TV room. It is honestly just what we’ve been looking for with a great price. It looks fabulous against the dramatic walls!
[email protected] says
Thank you Christy!! It really is a good price. The quality is excellent too. Loved your loveseat also. So cozy! Nice getting to know you through this.
Sheila says
Jessica,
Just wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed your post today. I visited for the first time today because your “beautiful sofa” was the one that I was the most drawn to. I love that your room is more on the masculine side and not overly fussy. I too have two growing teenage sons as well as a nine y.o. boy, so anything too girly would be immediately rejected. Also, I was very relieved to find that perhaps I’m not crazy after all! Apparently fighting over couch space and the “unsharable chair”, and a husband who loves his recliner but doesn’t understand throw pillows are not not exclusive to my house. 🙂 Whew! So glad I’m not the only crazy lady that grounds her kids “for the rest of their lives”. May the Lord bless you greatly for saving my sanity!
[email protected] says
Sheila your comment made my day!!! I’m so happy that you could relate! I’m also glad to not be alone in my insanity. Thanks for visiting, I’m thrilled to have you here and hope you come again.