Stylish solutions for compact living: the best sofas for small spaces in 2024

Choosing the right sofa can be a tricky task, especially when you're working with a small space.

If you're living in a studio apartment, renting a compact flat or simply trying to kit out a living room that's on the smaller side, you might be finding that a standard-sized sofa looks all too overwhelming amongst your furniture, but more annoyingly, takes up a lot of that all important living space... This is where compact sofas come in!

How to choose the ideal small sofa for your space

When finding the perfect sofa for a small space, look for streamlined designs. Many sofas feature additional cushions and elaborate backrests, but there are plenty of streamlined sofas on the market with built-in backrests and slender features. You should also make sure to avoid chunky armrests that extend the length of the sofa.

To give the illusion of a larger space, opt for a sofa with legs. Lifting the sofa from the ground can open up the space, whereas solid, boxy sofas can create a squashed, more hemmed-in vibe.

Finally, think about the delivery of your sofa. Some brands now offer sofa in a box designs for easy delivery, whereas other sofas arrive fully assembled, so remember to check whether it'll fit through your doors. Interested? Read on to discover our favourite small sofas, and don't forget to check out our latest sofa in a box review...

The best sofas for small spaces

Lucie Asymmetric 2 Seater Sofa

Cosy boucle fabric is all the rage right now, and it’s no wonder – the teddy bear textured material is perfect for creating a look that’s super comfy, but still chic. Homebase's Lucie sofa is covered in a warm cream boucle fabric that’ll give your living room a laid-back Japandi style. We love the modern asymmetrical shape, sure to make this sofa a conversation point in your living room.

---

Loha Green Velvet Sofa

• Buy now from Oliver Bonas (£975.00)

Dimensions:

• W 130cm
• H 76cm
• D 68cm

What we love:

• Striking, unique design
• Ideal bedroom accessory
• Also available in green
• Lovely mix of textures
• Great for brightening a white wall

The gorgeous mix of velvet, rattan cane and wood make this compact sofa from Oliver Bonas a beautiful choice. Just as we'd expect from the popular retailer, this sofa boasts an on-trend look, and the vibrant coral colour is an easy way to brighten up your living space.

It's particularly slender - just 130cm in length - which means you'll be able to slot this design into the tightest of spaces. Place by the sunniest spot in your home, by a window perhaps, to really show off this gorgeous colour. Also available in a moss green colour.

Buy now from Oliver Bonas (£975.00)

---

Habitat Evie Fabric 2 Seater Sofa in a Box

Dimensions:

• W 143cm
• H 82cm
• D 83cm

What we love:

• Arrives in two compact boxes for peace-of-mind delivery
• Choice of three colours
• Easy self-assembly
• 10 year frame guarantee

Habitat is one of our go-to destinations for up-to-date decor on a budget, and they've come up trumps with the stylish Evie two-seater. The classic design features sock-style arms, a buttoned back and retro-tinged tapered legs, and is upholstered in hard-wearing polyester - take your pick between Charcoal (pictured), Natural and Navy.

It's not only space-saving once you've set it up, either. The Evie arrives in two compact boxes designed to navigate easily around doorways, stairways or awkward angles.

---

Eliza Velvet 2 Seater Compact Sofa

There are so many things we love about this compact sofa from Dunelm – not only is it incredibly chic and stylish, but it’s super practical too. Slimline, contemporary and designed to seat two people, the Eliza sofa is covered in an on-trend, soft touch velvet upholstery that’s also wipe clean, so it’ll easily withstand any minor spills or stains. The curved back design adds an extra level of comfort, while the subtle button detailing has a sophisticated edge that’ll suit period properties as well as modern new builds.

It’s also available deep bottle green as well as this gorgeous navy. Simply take your pick, add your favourite cushions, et voila!

---

Lukas 2 Seater Clic Clac Sofa Bed

• Buy now from Wayfair (£184.99 £147.99)

This Wayfair sofa-bed is super small, making it a great option if you’re living in a studio apartment or really short on space. The width of this sofa is 122cm - so while it’s not something you’d want to sleep on every night, it makes a great extra sleeping option if you have a guest needing to crash.

This compact sofa seats two people comfortably, and we especially love the velvety green finish – it’s perfect for injecting a bit of colour into your living room. The solid wood legs also add a nice, Mid Century modern inspired touch too. Try styling this sofa next to a fresh green houseplant to really make it pop - here are the best places to buy houseplants online!

Buy now from Wayfair (£184.99 £147.99)

---

Scandi Savannah Sofa

If you’re a fan of laid back Scandi style, you won’t want to miss this Homebase sofa.

Homebase’s Savannah model has been specially designed to have a subtle minimalist look, so although it boasts a punchy teal colour, it won’t look overwhelming or fussy – always a good thing when you’re decorating small spaces. We particularly love the rounded edges on this sofa – they give it a really cosy look which is sometimes difficult to find amongst compact sofas. It also has light wooden legs that give it even more of a stripped-back, Nordic feel – try styling it with some comfy woven cushions and a woollen throw to fully embrace the hygge vibes.

---

Keaton 2 Seater Loveseat

• Buy now from Wayfair (£509.99 £419.99)

This Wayfair loveseat is available in a plethora of different colours, including dark emerald green, luxurious gold and steel blue. Its frame is crafted from solid oak, and it also has tall, splayed solid oak legs which leave plenty of room underneath the sofa – a space perfect for hidden storage, and, not to mention, a space that’s super easy to vacuum.

Wayfair’s Keaton loveseat also has button-tufted accents on its back, as well as fully removable seat cushions – again, these make vacuuming your upholstery a breeze. This sofa also has a web suspension seat for added support, so while it’s certainly compact, you really don’t have to compromise on comfort.

Buy now from Wayfair (£509.99 £419.99)

---

Zinus Jackie Loveseat Sofa

Smart enough for a small office space, this grey loveseat offers a timeless, faff-free design that will work with a range of décor and colour schemes. The subtly flared arms add a sweet, decorative touch, and they're fairly slender which is ideal when you're working with a small space. The covers aren't removable, but you can easily clean up any mishaps with a damp cloth and mild detergent so you won't have to be too precious with this design.

The grey cover works as a bit of a blank canvas so you can have fun decorating this compact sofa with a mix of bright eclectic cushions and patterned throws.

---

Honeypot Harper 2 Seater Sofa

Dimensions:

• W 150cm
• H 90cm
• D 85cm

What we love:

• Matching footstool and armchair available
• Fast delivery
• Additional cushions
• Bold, eye-catching colour
• Stylish straight legs

Perfect for a contemporary space, this standout teal sofa from Amazon may be neat, but it's guaranteed to make an impact. The straight, boxy shape works well for tight spaces, and the long legs help give the illusion of more space, helping you to open up the area.

We adore the colour - teal always looks great in plush velvet, an easy way to inject some glamour into a living space.

The addition of round cushions help soften the harder lines, so you can snuggle up in comfort. If you've got the space, why not treat yourself to the matching footstool?

For more footstool inspiration, check out our favourite footstools and pouffes.

---

What is a compact sofa?

A compact sofa is exactly what it sounds like - it's a sofa that has been specially designed to fit in compact spaces.

Once difficult to come by, compact sofas are now available through a number of popular high street brands including Dunelm, Homebase and Wayfair, and the great news is that these brands offer sofa models of all different colours, textures and styles - just with scaled-down proportions.

This means that you don't have to worry about compromising on your own personal style just because you're working with a small space. In fact, you can get your hands on a number of small but statement designs for really affordable prices.

How big is a standard sofa?

According to homeware giant Wayfair, standard three-person sofas tend to be between 175cm and 220cm long – the most common width being 215cm.

The standard sofa depth (the measurement from the very front to the very back) is 89cm, but some sofas can reach up to 100cm in depth.

If you're looking to purchase a sofa for a small space, keep an eye out for two-seater sofas or 'loveseats' which have a width of 160cm or under. Two-seater sofas and loveseats are essentially the same thing, they just might be proportioned slightly differently.

How do I measure my space for a sofa?

To measure your space for a sofa, you'll need to measure three different things - width, height and depth.

We recommend using a measuring tape to work out how much room you have available, choosing a sofa, then mapping out the size of your potential sofa on the floor with masking tape. This will help you to visualise whether your sofa will fit in the space, and it's also useful for getting an idea of how your sofa will sit amongst the rest of your furniture. You can also put masking tape up the walls to visualise the height of the sofa - don't forget to account for the legs.

Looking to fill the corner of your room? Find a new bean bag for your space.

More small space decorating ideas...

• Compact living essentials for small spaces
• Best foldable desks for small offices
• Uni room decor ideas: how to give your halls accommodation a cheap but bougie makeover
• Nine ways to make a small room feel bigger
• Small bathroom ideas: eight style tips for a compact space
• Kitchen makeover: ‘My compact kitchen is full of country style’

Haven't found what you're looking for? Discover the best cheap corner sofas for every style and budget for more stylish seating options.