Custom sectionals are a prime choice for relaxing Family Rooms and elegant Great Rooms, alike. They are roomy, and inviting, and give structure to the design of a space. However the versatile and sometimes even modular design of sectional furniture can make choosing and ordering the ideal configuration for your context difficult. In today’s post, we’re giving you a quick run-down of the primary pieces you’re likely to come across when customizing your own new sectional sofa. Still, have questions after? Contact us anytime to discuss the best options for your home. Without further ado, let’s start sorting out these sectional elements…

RAF vs LAF

Some sectional furniture pieces are designed to be an “end piece”, where one side has an arm, and the other side has no arm, in order to accommodate connection to another unit. The side the arm sits on determines whether it is referred to as “Right Arm Facing” (RAF) or “Left Arm Facing” (LAF).

A Right Arm Facing (or Right Hand Facing) sectional furniture piece has a single arm on what is the right side of the unit when you are standing facing it. The left side has no arm, but is designed to connect directly with another piece of the sectional. Conversely, a Left Arm Facing (or Left Hand Facing) sectional furniture piece has a single arm on what is the left side of the unit when you are facing it. The right side has no arm, but is designed to connect directly with another piece.

A variety of sectional furniture pieces, including Sofas, Sectional Sofas, Loveseats, Chaises, and Cuddlers can all come in both RAF and LAF configurations. Let’s unpack those pieces…

Sofa/Loveseat/CHair

An RAF or LAF Sofa is a sectional piece with three seats and a single arm. An RAF/LAF Loveseat is designed in exactly the same way, but with only two seats (a shorter piece overall), while an Armless Chair is only a single seat.

Corner Seat

A Corner Seat is a sectional furniture piece that has a back on two sides and is typically only a single seat. The Corner can be used to connect an LAF Sofa and an RAF Loveseat, for example, totalling 6 seats. This seat is more of a place to curl up or stretch out your feet from one of the other pieces, as there isn’t naturally much leg room, but it can be a beautiful way of tying the other elements together into a cohesive unit.

Corner Wedge

A Corner Wedge is a sectional furniture piece that is typically the width of one to one-and-a-half seats, and has a rounded back. The Corner Wedge can be used to connect two other sectional pieces, while making the corner a little more comfortable, and adjusting the overall look of the sectional to be a rounded one, rather than an angled one (which is entirely a matter of taste).

Sectional Sofa/Sofa Split

A Sectional Sofa (referred to by some manufacturers as a Sofa Split), is very similar to an RAF or LAF Sofa (and typically comes in both configurations), but has a full-height back on the side opposite the arm side. This basically integrates a Corner Seat into a RAF or LAF Sofa. The connection point with the next sectional piece, then, is on the front side of the Sectional Sofa, on the corner end.

Cuddler/Nest

A Cuddler (referred to by some manufacturers as a Nest) is an adorable, contemporary way to finish off custom sectionals. This piece is an angled, extra-wide, 5-sided seat with a back on two sides, creating a “nook” on the end of your sectional. It’s a perfect cozy spot to curl up with a book, or cuddle up to read or watch a movie with a loved one. It also adds another interesting visual element to your sectional, to vary it from the more rigid traditional configurations.

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