The Best Sofas for Small Living Rooms (And What to Avoid)

Whenever I’m looking at design inspiration (which I haven’t stopped doing ever since I figured out how to use Pinterest), I notice that anytime a small living room looks cramped or unbalanced, one of the most obvious issues is usually the sofa size. A sofa that is too big, deep, bulky or low can have a huge impact on the appearance of a space, especially in smaller spaces where every furniture and design choice feels more visible.

Our recommendations for the best sofas for small living rooms have been chosen with all this in mind, to ensure you don't sacrifice on comfort, usability or style to get a sofa that works for your space.

Best Overall: Room & Board Metro Sofa

What I like about Room & Board’s Metro sofa and the reason it qualifies as our best overall pick is that it doesn’t feel like you’re compromising on anything. You get a sofa that’s stylish and high-quality with a strong presence despite its size. 

It does a lot of heavy lifting in a small living room and the seat depth is perfect for a smaller sized sofa, being that it’s supportive enough for you to comfortably sit upright but still soft enough that you can curl up into it without feeling like you’re laying on a bench. 

The Metro’s low profile legs keeps the silhouette from feeling too heavy and the design works with most decor styles, so it won’t disrupt the aesthetic of the furniture you already have.

Best Budget Pick for Lounging: IKEA Kivik Loveseat Sofa

There's a reason the KIVIK keeps coming up in conversations about small living room on a budget, and that’s because it’s designed for lounging in a way that most sofas at this price aren't – it’s deep enough to properly sink into, without it feeling uncomfortable whenever you want to sit up. 

Although I would usually recommend slimmer armrests in a smaller room, the Kivik makes it work because of its sleek design, and I love that its low, flat armrests are wide enough to double as a side table, a headrest, or a spot for the dog depending on your priorities.

The best thing about IKEA’s sofas is that you can wash the slipcovers and swap them out too with the option to choose from a variety of colours. For a small living room where the sofa takes up a lot of space visually, being able to change the look without buying new furniture is a huge bonus.

It’s worth knowing that IKEA’s KIVIK sofa has been around for a while, and has changed over the years, with the newer versions being noticeably firmer than their previous models. Some people who own a Kivik find that the back cushions can flatten with heavy use and recommend that you use a good lumbar pillow if you’re planning to spend a lot of time on it.

Best Mid-Range Pick for Lounging: Crate & Barrel Lounge Classic Apartment Sofa

This is a great alternative if IKEA’s KIVIK sofa isn’t your style and there’s a good reason why Crate & Barrel have named this model ‘The Lounge’. My sister has this sofa and whenever I visit, you’ll without a doubt find me cocooned in it for hours. It really is a sofa you sink into, which works for me because I’m a big lounger and being laid up is my thing, but if you prefer to sit upright with your feet on the floor most of the time, this sofa could quickly get annoying for you unless you throw in a lumbar pillow for extra support.

It has a low profile which works well in a small living room because it doesn’t dominate the space and you’ll notice that in comparison to the Kivik, it has slim armrests, making it look like it takes up less space than it actually does.

The clean design ensures you’re not committing to a sofa that’ll feel dated in a few years and it has a solid construction with a solid frame made of kiln-dried hardwood.

Best for Awkward or Tight Layouts: Crate & Barrel Lounge Deep 2-Piece Sectional Sofa

Trying to find a sectional that is suitable for small living rooms can be frustrating because so many of them have a sprawling L-shape that takes up too much space. This Crate & Barrel Small Space Sectional is the perfect solution – you can choose between a left-arm chaise or a right-arm chaise and at 88 inches wide, it quite easily tucks into corners. For L-shaped living rooms and rooms with awkward alcoves or layouts, this sofa is hard to beat. 

The chaise gives you a good amount of space for lounging, while the sofa side is great for upright seating and the whole thing functions as an anchor in your living room without taking up every inch of your floor plan. 

Best for Making a Small Room Feel Larger: Room & Board Jasper Sofa

Remember how I said that raised legs on a sofa make a small living room feel more open? If you quickly scan the images of our above picks and compare them to the Room & Board Jasper sofa, you’ll notice that it looks less bulky in comparison. It also has narrow arms and a smaller base which combined gives the sofa a lighter visual profile, even though the footprint is actually similar to most of the sofas on our list. 

The mid-century modern silhouette is compatible with different design styles making this a versatile choice and another advantage to it being higher apart from aesthetics is that it’s easier to get in and out of, which probably seems small but becomes noticeable in daily use. 

The cushions have a relaxed sink in feel and the Jasper also holds up well, with several owners confirming that theirs are still going strong after 15 years of daily use.

How to Choose Between These Options

If you’re still left feeling unsure about which sofa will work best for you then you’ll want to read How to Choose a Sofa That Fits Your Life, but a simple question you can also start by asking yourself is what are you least willing to compromise on?

If you spend most of your time on the sofa sitting up whether you work from your couch or spend time reading, then prioritize a sofa with a higher seat and a supportive back. If you’re someone that uses your sofa when you want to switch off and lounge, then you want to go for depth and softness over structure. You might also just want your room to feel open and uncluttered, in which case the silhouette of the sofa matters the most and the lighter the profile the better.