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Corner sofas and L-shaped sofas are excellent for lazing out, particularly if you can take up the spot in the corner and stretch your legs out.
Personally, I prefer fabric corner sofas as I find leather sofas a bit cold in winter and sticky in summer but I do appreciate that many people like the longevity and look of leather sofas.
As you'd expect, prices and quality vary considerably. At the cheap end of the market are corner sofas costing under £500. They tend to use cheaper materials, but many of them receive decent reviews. Top of the range corner sofas can cost more than a new car (well, a small car) and will come with features such as durable hardwood frames, long warranties, high quality springs and luxurious natural materials.
For our guide we've included a range of prices and have picked five of the best fabric corner sofas in the UK, based on value for money, specification, customer reviews and awards.
Personally, I prefer fabric corner sofas as I find leather sofas a bit cold in winter and sticky in summer but I do appreciate that many people like the longevity and look of leather sofas.
As you'd expect, prices and quality vary considerably. At the cheap end of the market are corner sofas costing under £500. They tend to use cheaper materials, but many of them receive decent reviews. Top of the range corner sofas can cost more than a new car (well, a small car) and will come with features such as durable hardwood frames, long warranties, high quality springs and luxurious natural materials.
For our guide we've included a range of prices and have picked five of the best fabric corner sofas in the UK, based on value for money, specification, customer reviews and awards.
1. John Lewis & Partners Barbican Corner Sofa - from £2549
The John Lewis Barbican sofa scored 4.6/5 from customers when we checked
John Lewis has a choice of more than 100 corner sofas and L-shaped sofas but we think their Barbican corner sofa offers good value for the specification. If you can afford it, the upgrade is the John Lewis & Partners Platform corner sofa, but you'll pay about another £1000 (ish) for that model.
Both the Barbican and the Platform come in dozens of fabrics and tick lots of boxes which show quality, although there are differences. Both come with frames which have a long warranty and they're both held together with glue, screws and staples rather than just staples which is what some cheap sofas use.
One notable difference is that the cheaper Barbican is made in Poland whilst the Platform is made in the UK. Generally, the poshest sofas sold in the UK are made in the UK but it's not a rule without exceptions (there's a posh sofa company called Halo which imports some sofas from China, for example).
Customer reviews for the Barbican were averaging 4.6/5 when I checked whilst the Platform didn't have reviews (presumably as it's a newer range). Some Barbican customers had issues with durability but most comments were very positive.
One final difference worth noting (if you haven't nodded off by now) is the material used in the cushions is different. The cushions in the Barbican are foam wrapped in 'fibre' (nothing to do with broadband or porridge). The Platform cushions are foam, feather and fibre.
For the uninitiated, sofas use foam, feather or fibre (or a mix of all three).
One way to think of it is that foam is the stuff used in a foam mattress which bounces back. Fibre is the stuff which they pack into a synthetic duvet and feather is the stuff used in a natural duvet. There's no definitive answer to the question of which combination of materials is best but foam and fibre is intended to hold its shape whilst being comfy. Feather is a natural material which bumps the price up.
Both the Barbican and the Platform come in dozens of fabrics and tick lots of boxes which show quality, although there are differences. Both come with frames which have a long warranty and they're both held together with glue, screws and staples rather than just staples which is what some cheap sofas use.
One notable difference is that the cheaper Barbican is made in Poland whilst the Platform is made in the UK. Generally, the poshest sofas sold in the UK are made in the UK but it's not a rule without exceptions (there's a posh sofa company called Halo which imports some sofas from China, for example).
Customer reviews for the Barbican were averaging 4.6/5 when I checked whilst the Platform didn't have reviews (presumably as it's a newer range). Some Barbican customers had issues with durability but most comments were very positive.
One final difference worth noting (if you haven't nodded off by now) is the material used in the cushions is different. The cushions in the Barbican are foam wrapped in 'fibre' (nothing to do with broadband or porridge). The Platform cushions are foam, feather and fibre.
For the uninitiated, sofas use foam, feather or fibre (or a mix of all three).
One way to think of it is that foam is the stuff used in a foam mattress which bounces back. Fibre is the stuff which they pack into a synthetic duvet and feather is the stuff used in a natural duvet. There's no definitive answer to the question of which combination of materials is best but foam and fibre is intended to hold its shape whilst being comfy. Feather is a natural material which bumps the price up.
Here's how the Barbican corner sofa looks in the store
2. Zoe Corner Sofa by Dunelm - £999
Dunelm has designer style corner sofas at good prices
Dunelm's corner sofas are worth a look if you want a designer style corner sofa which will look good on Instagram without remortgaging the house.
I like the Zoe Corner Sofa which comes in several different colours and a choice of fabric or faux leather. You can also choose from left hand and right hand versions.
So, "what's the quality like?" I hear you politely ask.
The first thing to say is that reviews are very positive. Some people comment that it is on the firm side, which is not very surprising as it has a foam and spring base. The back of the sofa is fibre, which is designed to shape to you rather than bouncing back.
The frame is made from pine and plywood which is certainly at the cheaper end of manufacturing methods. However, you may not be too worried about it lasting for decades as it is cheaper than most corner sofas with hard wood frames.
Having said that, the warranty length is 10 years which is more than I would expect for a corner sofa under £1000.
I like the Zoe Corner Sofa which comes in several different colours and a choice of fabric or faux leather. You can also choose from left hand and right hand versions.
So, "what's the quality like?" I hear you politely ask.
The first thing to say is that reviews are very positive. Some people comment that it is on the firm side, which is not very surprising as it has a foam and spring base. The back of the sofa is fibre, which is designed to shape to you rather than bouncing back.
The frame is made from pine and plywood which is certainly at the cheaper end of manufacturing methods. However, you may not be too worried about it lasting for decades as it is cheaper than most corner sofas with hard wood frames.
Having said that, the warranty length is 10 years which is more than I would expect for a corner sofa under £1000.
3. Habitat Joshua Fabric Corner Chaise Sofa at Argos - £540
Argos has several corner sofas with good reviews for around £500
Alright, alright, calm down at the back.
Yes, I'm well aware that a £500 sofa probably won't sweep the board at the UK Furniture Awards. And I'm also aware that a £500 sofa is unlikely to be passed down to your children as a family heirloom.
However...many of us don't have £5000 to splash out on some Italian leather masterpiece so it's worth looking at what you can get on a budget.
One option is this Habitat Joshua corner sofa at Argos, which scores 4.6/5 with reviewers and which comes in a couple of different colour options.
It doesn't specify if the frame is hardwood frame, so I would assume it is softer wood which is less durable. Most reviewers say it's comfortable but a little small (to be fair, the dimensions are given in the listing...).
Yes, I'm well aware that a £500 sofa probably won't sweep the board at the UK Furniture Awards. And I'm also aware that a £500 sofa is unlikely to be passed down to your children as a family heirloom.
However...many of us don't have £5000 to splash out on some Italian leather masterpiece so it's worth looking at what you can get on a budget.
One option is this Habitat Joshua corner sofa at Argos, which scores 4.6/5 with reviewers and which comes in a couple of different colour options.
It doesn't specify if the frame is hardwood frame, so I would assume it is softer wood which is less durable. Most reviewers say it's comfortable but a little small (to be fair, the dimensions are given in the listing...).
4. Dexter corner sofa by Buoyant Upholstery - £1467
The Dexter sofa has nothing to do with the TV series...
This Dexter corner sofa is made by a company called Buoyant Upholstery in Lancashire and it has an impressive specification for the price tag.
Look away now if you find technical details boring but...it has a 'hard wood and composite frame'. Hard wood is much better than soft woods for sofas. Composite just means two materials combined together. It's held together with doweling, screws, glue and staples.
Basically that should mean it won't collapse into a heap if the local rugby team comes round to watch the match on your new sofa.
It has something called serpentine springs to support the seat. Again, apologies for the technical waffle but the general consensus is that springs of some sort are a good solid base.
The cushions are mostly foam and are on the soft to medium side. The back cushions use fibre, which is the sort of thing in a thick duvet. It will need plumping from time to time to stop it sagging over the years.
There are about a dozen colours to choose from. Rather usefully, the covers come off all the cushions and the arm rest,which will avoid tears if it ends up covered in pen after a week.
Overall, a good spec for the money.
Look away now if you find technical details boring but...it has a 'hard wood and composite frame'. Hard wood is much better than soft woods for sofas. Composite just means two materials combined together. It's held together with doweling, screws, glue and staples.
Basically that should mean it won't collapse into a heap if the local rugby team comes round to watch the match on your new sofa.
It has something called serpentine springs to support the seat. Again, apologies for the technical waffle but the general consensus is that springs of some sort are a good solid base.
The cushions are mostly foam and are on the soft to medium side. The back cushions use fibre, which is the sort of thing in a thick duvet. It will need plumping from time to time to stop it sagging over the years.
There are about a dozen colours to choose from. Rather usefully, the covers come off all the cushions and the arm rest,which will avoid tears if it ends up covered in pen after a week.
Overall, a good spec for the money.
5. Haresfield Corner Sofa by Sofas & Stuff - from £5247
This sofa starts from about £5000 with higher prices for luxury materials
If your hedge fund has had a good year or a wealthy great aunt has left you a generous inheritance then I'd consider a corner sofa from UK company Sofas & Stuff.
Their speciality is personalisation, meaning you can choose any fabric you want for your sofa. They've got a big choice of posh natural materials like linen, velvet and wool or you can provide your own material and they'll make it into a sofa.
Customer reviews of Sofas & Stuff are currently at 4.6/5 and they come with a top notch specification which impresses a nerd like me.
For a start, the frame and springs come with a 15 year guarantee. Most top brands offer 10 or 15 year frame warranties, whilst cheap sofas usually come with one or two year warranties.
The cushions also use a combination of foam and feathers. Most sofas use a combination of foam and fibre (i.e. manmade materials) rather than using feathers, which is more expensive. Bear in mind that feathers can be problematic for people with allergies.
The frame of the sofa is a hard wood, so it should keep its shape and the feet are solid walnut.
If you don't like the style, but like the quality, they do make a number of other corner sofas.
Their speciality is personalisation, meaning you can choose any fabric you want for your sofa. They've got a big choice of posh natural materials like linen, velvet and wool or you can provide your own material and they'll make it into a sofa.
Customer reviews of Sofas & Stuff are currently at 4.6/5 and they come with a top notch specification which impresses a nerd like me.
For a start, the frame and springs come with a 15 year guarantee. Most top brands offer 10 or 15 year frame warranties, whilst cheap sofas usually come with one or two year warranties.
The cushions also use a combination of foam and feathers. Most sofas use a combination of foam and fibre (i.e. manmade materials) rather than using feathers, which is more expensive. Bear in mind that feathers can be problematic for people with allergies.
The frame of the sofa is a hard wood, so it should keep its shape and the feet are solid walnut.
If you don't like the style, but like the quality, they do make a number of other corner sofas.
