The short answer: the right sectional leaves at least 30 inches of walking space around it, fills about two-thirds of the main wall, and fits through your doorway. For most Surrey condos that means a sectional about 85–105 inches wide; for townhomes, 105–125 inches; for larger family rooms, 125 inches or more. Measure your room, tape the sectional's outline on the floor, and check the doorway before you buy.
A sectional is often the biggest piece of furniture in a home, and it's the one people most often get wrong. Too big, and the room feels cramped and hard to walk through. Too small, and it looks lost and doesn't seat the family. This guide walks you through the five steps we use with customers at our furniture store in Surrey, with real sizes from sectionals we carry, so you can choose with confidence.
Step 1: Measure your living room the right way
Start with a tape measure, a notepad and a photo of the room. Measure:
- Each wall length, from corner to corner, at floor level.
- Windows, vents and baseboard heaters, and how high they sit. Many Surrey homes have baseboard heaters under windows; a sectional should not block them.
- Doorways and openings into the room, including which way doors swing.
- Anything that must stay: a fireplace, TV wall, built-in shelving or a patio door.
Sketch the room on paper with these numbers. It takes ten minutes and saves most sizing mistakes.
Step 2: Leave space to walk and live
A sectional should never make the room hard to move through. Use these spacing guidelines:
- Main walkways: 30–36 inches of clear space.
- Between the sectional and the coffee table: 14–18 inches, close enough to reach a drink, far enough for legs.
- Between the sectional and the TV: roughly 1.5 to 2.5 times the TV's screen size. For a 65-inch TV, that's about 8 to 13 feet. Plan the TV stand or console at the same time.
- Behind a recliner or reclining section: check the product's wall clearance. Some of our reclining sofas need only 3 inches; others need more.
A quick test: mark the sectional's footprint on the floor with painter's tape and live with it for a day. If you keep stepping around the tape, the sectional is too big.
Step 3: Choose the right sectional shape
Shape matters as much as size. The three common layouts each suit a different room:
- Sofa chaise: a sofa with one extended seat. The most compact option, good for condos and narrow rooms.
- L-shaped sectional with chaise: a sofa plus a chaise or corner piece. The most popular shape; it fits into a corner and defines a seating area in open-plan rooms.
- Corner or U-shaped (3 to 5 pieces): seating on two long sides. Best for family rooms and basements where everyone watches TV together.
On L-shapes, decide which side the chaise goes on. Stand in the room facing the sectional: if the chaise sits on your left, it's a left-arm-facing (LAF) chaise; on your right, a right-arm-facing (RAF) chaise. Many of our sectionals let you choose left or right.
Here are real sizes from sectionals at our furniture store in Surrey, from smallest to largest (width × depth, in inches):
| Sectional | Shape | Size (W × D) | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hazela Sofa Chaise | Sofa chaise | 85" × 58" | Condos, apartments |
| Regent Park 3-Piece Sectional | Corner | 93" × 93" | Small corners |
| Lindyn 2-Piece Sectional with Chaise | L-shape | 102" × 70" | Condos, townhomes |
| Aviemore 2-Piece Sectional with Chaise | L-shape | 110" × 90" | Townhomes |
| Lonoke 2-Piece Sectional with Chaise | L-shape | 119" × 88" | Living rooms |
| Avaliyah 5-Piece Sectional | Corner | 124" × 125" | Family rooms |
| Ambee 3-Piece Sectional with Chaise | L-shape | 143" × 91" | Large living rooms |
| Midnight Madness 4-Piece Sectional with Chaise | Large L | 151" × 121" | Basements, big family rooms |
See all sizes in our sectional sofa collection, or browse the full living room furniture range.
Step 4: Match seat depth and height to how you sit
Two sectionals with the same width can feel completely different. Check:
- Seat depth: 20–22 inches suits upright sitting and shorter adults. 23–27 inches suits lounging and taller people. The Rawcliffe 3-Piece Sectional has a deep 27-inch seat, while chaise seats like the one on the Greaves Sofa Chaise run 45 inches deep for stretching out.
- Seat height: around 18–20 inches is standard. Higher seats are easier to get up from, which matters for older family members.
- Back height: a taller back cushion supports your head; a lower back keeps an open-plan room feeling open.
- Number of seats: allow about 25–30 inches of seat width per person. A 120-inch L-shape comfortably seats four or five.
The only way to know is to sit on it. Spend a few minutes on each option at a furniture store in Surrey where you can try them side by side, sitting the way you would at home.
Step 5: Make sure it fits through the door
This is the step people forget. Before you buy:
- Measure every doorway, hallway and stairwell on the delivery route, including the building entrance and elevator if you live in a condo.
- Check the minimum doorway width in the product specs. Many of our sectionals list a minimum doorway of 32 inches.
- Look for multi-piece designs. A 3-, 4- or 5-piece sectional arrives in separate sections, which makes tight stairwells and condo elevators much easier.
- Book the elevator with your strata in advance if you're in a condo or apartment. Our delivery information explains how free delivery across Greater Vancouver works.
What size sectional fits Surrey homes?
Homes across Surrey range from compact condos near King George Boulevard to townhomes in Clayton and Fleetwood and larger detached houses in Newton, Cloverdale and South Surrey. As a rough guide:
| Home type | Typical living room | Sectional size to look for |
|---|---|---|
| Condo or apartment | 11–13 ft wide | Sofa chaise or small L-shape, 85–105" wide |
| Townhome | 12–15 ft wide | L-shape with chaise, 100–120" wide |
| Detached home living room | 14–18 ft wide | L-shape or 3-piece, 115–145" wide |
| Basement or family room | 16 ft+ | 4–5 piece corner sectional, 120"+ each side |
These are starting points, not rules. Your measurements from Step 1 always come first. Open-plan layouts can take a larger sectional if you use it to separate the living area from the kitchen or dining space. If no sectional fits, a sofa and loveseat pair, a sofa bed or a sofa with an accent chair can give you similar seating in a more flexible layout.
Common sizing mistakes to avoid:
- Measuring the wall but not the walkway in front of it.
- Forgetting the chaise adds depth, not just width.
- Choosing by seat count alone, without checking the room.
- Skipping the doorway and stairwell check.
- Buying online without sitting on it first.
Frequently asked questions
What size sectional do I need for a small living room?
For a small living room or condo, look for a sofa chaise or compact L-shaped sectional between 85 and 105 inches wide and under 70 inches deep. Leave at least 30 inches of walkway in front of it.
How much space should be between a sectional and a coffee table?
Keep 14 to 18 inches between the front of the sectional and the coffee table. That's close enough to reach, with enough room for legs.
How do I know if I need a left or right chaise?
Stand in the room facing where the sectional will go. If the chaise will be on your left, choose a left-arm-facing (LAF) chaise; if on your right, a right-arm-facing (RAF) chaise.
How many people does a sectional seat?
Allow 25 to 30 inches of seat width per person. A 100-inch sectional seats about three to four people; a 120–145 inch sectional seats four to six.
Will a sectional fit in my condo elevator?
Most multi-piece sectionals arrive in separate sections, which fit standard elevators and doorways more easily. Measure the elevator and doorways, check the product's minimum doorway width, and book the elevator with your strata.
Which furniture store in Surrey has sectional sofas on display?
You can see and sit on a wide range of sectionals at Ballowal Furnishings, 13251 72 Ave, Surrey, BC. We offer free delivery across Greater Vancouver.
Find your sectional at our furniture store in Surrey
The easiest way to get the size right is to see it in person. At Ballowal Furnishings, you can sit on L-shaped sectionals, chaise sectionals and large 5-piece sets side by side, compare seat depths and ask our team to check your room measurements. New styles arrive often, so check our latest arrivals too.
Bring your room measurements and a photo, and we'll help you find a sectional that fits.
- Visit: 13251 72 Ave, Surrey, BC V3W 2N5
- Call: (778) 564-0202 or send us a message
- Browse online: Shop sectional sofas
- Delivery: free across Greater Vancouver