Should You Get a 2 or 3 Seater Sofa?

For most of us, our living room is the centre of our home – it’s where we relax, wind down at the end of the day and entertain our friends and family. For others, it’s a place to enjoy a quiet meal or, for those partial to a post-lunch siesta, it’s a peaceful setting for an afternoon nap.

In most living rooms, the sofa is the feature piece and the first thing people notice when they enter, so it makes sense to choose one that matches the size and style of the room. Ideally, it will also suit your health and lifestyle needs – especially if it’s where you’ll be doing most of the relaxing and entertaining.

Benefits of a rise and recline settee

A rise and recline settee does everything a rise and recline chair can do – it has fully adjustable positioning and comes with manual or automatic mechanisms. Many models also have a dual motor option, which means that each seat can be operated independently of the other, and customised cushions allow each user to choose their own level of support.

A made-to-measure settee provides the same health benefits of a rise and recline chair, such as improved circulation, reduced risk of pressure sores and easing of pain associated with arthritis and other conditions. Several sofa and settee models are also available as sofa beds – perfect for those who have the occasional extra guest or need to sleep downstairs from time to time.

Questions to ask when choosing between a 2 or 3 seater settee

If you’re undecided about what size sofa is best for you, these questions may help narrow down your requirements:

• Firstly, how big is your living room? Will you need space for a coffee table, or side tables? Keep in mind that you may need to allow space for a walker or wheelchair to move between items of furniture, and that the sofa will need clearance space in front and behind it when it is reclined.
• Is there a particular spot in the room you want it to go? For example, will it need to face a television, run alongside a fireplace or perhaps underneath a window?
• Who will use it? Is it for you, you and your partner, your guests, or a combination? Will it form part of a matching set, or will it be the sole seating option in the room?
• What is your budget? The bigger the chair, the more expensive it will be.
• How much time do you want to spend cleaning it? The bigger the sofa, the longer it will take to clean, and keep in mind that leather will need regular treatment.
• What access does the room have? Will you be able to get a large sofa through the door? Will it need to be brought up stairs?
• What are your plans for the future? Will you want to downsize one day, and if so, will you want to take the sofa with you?

Benefits of a 2 seater sofa

A 2 seater sofa, sometimes known as a loveseat, does not have a standard size, but the general range is 54 inches wide (138cm), from armrest to armrest, give or take 5 inches. Two-seater sofas are a good choice for smaller homes, as due to their smaller size you have more flexibility in where they can go. They’re also better for placing in a corner or at an angle, and being lighter, are easier to move.

Two seater sofas can be a good choice for combining with other pieces, such as an armchair. For those with very limited space, a 2 seater settee with a wallhugging mechanism may be a good choice, as it can be placed much closer to the wall.

Benefits of a 3 seater sofa

A 3 seater sofa will truly be a statement piece, so be sure to consider how it will look and fit in your living room. Like the 2 seaters, 3 seaters don’t have a standard width, but the average is about two metres, and most Mobility Furniture Company 3 seater sofas come with three smaller cushions as standard, rather than two large ones.

Three-seater sofas are designed to fit three adults, but are often favoured by couples who want to sit together but prefer a bit of extra space – either to spread out, put their feet up or even to share with a pet. Plus larger sofas have more room for cushions, so if you’re into your interior décor, this may be a good option.

The Bottom Line

Once you’ve made a decision about what size sofa to invest in, it’s time to look at the options. At the Mobility Furniture Company, our Surrey, Cheshire, Hampshire, Norfolk, Suffolk and Lincoln ranges are all available as 2 seater or 3 seater sofas with optional dual-motor mechanisms. For those with more limited space, our cosy Kent range with its wall hugger mechanism may be the perfect choice.

Whatever you choose, you can rest assured that your new, bespoke rise-and-recline sofa comes with everything you expect from a quality item of furniture, including free delivery, removal of your old sofa and a five-year warranty (on mechanised items). After choosing your size, all that’s left to do is to have fun deciding on its colour, style and accessories!