What is a left hand corner sofa? A left hand corner sofa has its chaise or corner return on the left when you stand in front of the sofa and face it. A right hand corner sofa has the chaise or return on the right. That's how we describe corner sofas at Furniture Lovers. The easiest way to choose is to stand facing the space where your sofa will go, identify which side needs the return, and compare it with the product photographs.
How do you identify the correct orientation?
Choosing between a left hand and right hand corner sofa sounds straightforward until you start shopping.
You might see a sofa described as left-hand facing (LHF), right-hand facing (RHF), left corner, right corner or even universal corner.
And when you look at the photographs, it's not always immediately clear which side is which.
Getting the orientation right matters. A sofa can be the perfect colour, size and style, but if the chaise extends across your doorway or blocks a walkway, it may not work in your living room.
In this guide, we'll explain exactly what left hand and right hand corner sofas mean, how to identify each type and how to choose the correct layout for your home.
Left hand or right hand? The quick answer
Left Hand (LHF)
The return extends to your left as you face the sofa.
Right Hand (RHF)
The return extends to your right as you face the sofa.
Viewpoint: Standing in front of the sofa, looking towards the backrest. These are simplified layout diagrams, not individual product drawings.
What Is a Left Hand Corner Sofa?
A left hand corner sofa is an L-shaped sofa with the chaise or corner return extending to your left when you're standing in front of it and looking towards the seating.
Imagine you're standing in the middle of your living room, looking directly at your sofa.
If the section that extends towards you is on the left, Furniture Lovers describes that sofa as left-hand facing.
This is also commonly shortened to LHF.
When is a left hand corner sofa a good choice?
A left hand corner sofa may suit your room when:
- The left side has enough floor space for the chaise or return.
- The return can sit along an adjoining wall without blocking a doorway.
- You want to create a lounging area on the left side of the room.
- Your television, fireplace or existing furniture works better with the corner on the left.
- The right side needs to remain clear for walking or other furniture.
For example, imagine your television is directly opposite the main sofa wall and there's a doorway on the right.
A left hand corner sofa may allow the chaise to extend into the available space on the left while keeping access to the doorway clear.
Of course, the correct choice still depends on the actual measurements of your room.
Explore our left hand corner sofas to compare different styles, dimensions and configurations.
What Is a Right Hand Corner Sofa?
A right hand corner sofa is an L-shaped sofa with its chaise or return positioned on your right as you stand facing it.
It's effectively the mirror image of a left hand corner sofa.
Imagine the same living room, but this time your available space is on the right side of the main sofa wall.
Choosing a right hand sofa allows the return to occupy that side rather than projecting into the space on the left.
When should you choose a right hand corner sofa?
A right hand corner sofa may be more suitable if:
- Your room has more available floor space on the right.
- The left side contains a door, radiator or walkway.
- You want the chaise positioned on the right when viewing the sofa.
- The right-hand layout creates a more practical seating area.
- The furniture arrangement makes the opposite orientation difficult.
A right hand corner sofa isn't better or worse than a left hand model.
The difference is simply its orientation.
Both can provide comfortable seating, lounging space and a useful way to organise a living room.
Browse our right hand corner sofas to find a layout that works for your home.
What Do LHF and RHF Mean?
When looking at sofas online, you may come across the abbreviations LHF and RHF.
These stand for:
- LHF: Left Hand Facing.
- RHF: Right Hand Facing.
They describe the orientation of the sofa, but it's important to establish which viewpoint the retailer uses.
At Furniture Lovers, we describe the chaise or return from the position of someone standing in front of the sofa and facing it.
| Sofa type | What it means at Furniture Lovers | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| LHF / Left Hand | Chaise or return on your left as you face the sofa | Rooms with space on the left |
| RHF / Right Hand | Chaise or return on your right as you face the sofa | Rooms with space on the right |
| Universal Corner | Chaise can be fitted on either side where the model allows | Flexible room layouts |
| U-Shape | Return on both sides of the main seating section | Larger seating areas |
Why do some sofa shops describe the same layout differently?
The difficulty is that retailers do not all use exactly the same naming system.
Some describe corner orientation by the chaise position, while others may describe the longer seating section or use different wording for arm-facing configurations.
This is particularly important when comparing a corner sofa with a chaise against a more traditional corner group with backrests on both sides.
For that reason, we'd always recommend checking the product photograph, the orientation diagram and the retailer's explanation before ordering.
Don't assume that LHF or RHF means exactly the same thing across every website.
How to Tell If a Corner Sofa Is Left or Right
The easiest way to identify a corner sofa's orientation is to use the same viewpoint every time.
Here's the method we recommend at Furniture Lovers.
Step 1: Stand in front of the sofa
Imagine standing directly in front of the sofa, facing its backrest and seating area.
This is normally similar to the way you view a sofa in a straight-on product photograph.
Step 2: Find the chaise or corner return
Look for the section that extends forwards or turns the sofa into an L-shape.
On a chaise sofa, this is typically the longer lounging section where you can stretch out your legs.
On a traditional corner sofa, it's the section that turns at a right angle to the main seating area.
Step 3: Check which side it sits on
If the chaise or return sits to your left, it's a left hand corner sofa under the Furniture Lovers convention.
If it sits to your right, it's a right hand corner sofa.
Step 4: Check the product diagram
Before placing an order, compare your understanding with the sofa's actual product photographs and any orientation diagrams provided.
Check the configuration selected in your basket as well.
This final step matters because different retailers may use different definitions.
The common mistake: looking from the seated position
One of the easiest ways to get confused is to imagine the direction while sitting on the sofa.
When you turn around and face the room, your left and right are the opposite of what someone standing in front of the sofa sees.
That's why we recommend using the standing-in-front method consistently.
Remember: At Furniture Lovers, imagine you're taking a photograph of the sofa from the front. The side of the chaise in that view determines its orientation.
Which Side Corner Sofa Do I Need?
The best corner sofa orientation depends on the layout of your room rather than personal preference alone. For more detail, you can plan seating in a smaller room.
Start by working out where you want the main part of the sofa to sit.
Then look at the space available on either side.
Consider where your doors are
If a door opens into the living room on the right-hand side, a right-hand chaise could obstruct access or force people to walk around the sofa.
A left-hand model might be more practical, provided there's enough space on that side.
The opposite applies if the main access route is on the left.
Think about your television and seating position
If your living room is arranged around a television or fireplace, consider where people will sit and how they'll face it.
The location of the chaise can affect whether the lounging position feels natural.
It can also influence where a coffee table or side table fits.
Check your radiators and windows
Radiators, low windows and other fixed features can affect where a corner sofa should go.
You don't want the sofa to block access to a frequently used window or sit too close to an unsuitable heat source.
Check any clearance recommendations for your room and furniture.
Think about the natural walkway
People need to move comfortably between the door, sofa, television and other parts of the room.
A chaise that projects into the main walking route may make even a fairly spacious room feel awkward.
When comparing sofa orientations, try to preserve the most direct path through the room.
What if both sides could work?
If your living room can accommodate either orientation, a universal corner sofa may be worth considering.
Universal models allow the chaise to be installed on either side where the manufacturer specifies that option.
That can be helpful if you haven't settled on the furniture arrangement or expect to change the room layout.
However, universal doesn't always mean the chaise can be repeatedly swapped after assembly, so check the individual product instructions.
For households that also need an occasional guest bed, explore our corner sofa beds. Selected universal corner sofa beds combine flexible orientation with sleeping functionality.
How to Position a Corner Sofa
Once you've chosen between left hand and right hand, the next step is deciding exactly where the sofa should sit. For more detail, you can measure doorways and tight turns.
A corner sofa can help make good use of a room, but its orientation and dimensions need to work together.
1. Position it against two walls
This is one of the most familiar ways to arrange an L-shaped corner sofa.
Place the main seating section against the longer wall and the return along the adjoining side.
This can create a defined seating area while leaving the middle of the room available for a coffee table.
However, don't assume every corner sofa has equal-length sides. Measure both directions.
2. Use it to divide an open-plan space
A corner sofa doesn't always need to sit directly against two walls.
In an open-plan living and dining room, one side of the sofa can help separate the lounge area from the rest of the space.
For this arrangement, consider how the back and sides of the sofa will look from other parts of the room.
Also check that the chaise doesn't block the route between the living and dining areas.
3. Leave room around the chaise
If your sofa has a projecting chaise, allow enough space for people to move around it.
A practical starting point is to aim for approximately 75–90cm of clear space along frequently used walkways where your room allows.
This is general room-planning guidance, not a guarantee that the clearance will suit every home or accessibility requirement.
Smaller gaps may be manageable around occasional-use furniture, but avoid blocking doors or essential routes.
4. Measure both sofa sides
A sofa may fit along the main wall but still be too deep along its return.
For example, imagine a corner sofa with a main side of 260cm and a return of 170cm.
You'll need enough space for both of those dimensions, plus room for movement and surrounding furniture.
Write down the available wall width and the maximum return depth before you begin comparing products.
5. Check delivery access
Even when the sofa fits the room, it still needs to pass through your front door and along the delivery route.
Measure:
- The front door and internal doorways.
- Hallway width and narrow corners.
- Stairs, landings and any tight turns.
- Lifts and communal entrances where applicable.
- The largest sofa section or delivery package.
If the sofa arrives in multiple boxes or sections, check their individual sizes rather than relying solely on the assembled dimensions.
6. Check the fit before ordering
One of the easiest ways to avoid buying an unsuitable sofa is to measure the room before choosing the colour.
At Furniture Lovers, our Check If It Will Fit tool helps you compare your available room measurements with different sofa sizes.
Remember that room fit and delivery access are two separate checks.
A quick corner sofa positioning checklist
- Have you decided where the main seating section will go?
- Is there enough space on the left or right for the return?
- Have you identified the correct LHF or RHF configuration?
- Will doors, windows and radiators remain accessible?
- Can people move through the room comfortably?
- Have you measured the full sofa footprint?
- Have you checked the delivery route?
- Have you confirmed the orientation on the product page?
FAQs
What is a left hand corner sofa?
At Furniture Lovers, a left hand corner sofa has its chaise or return on your left when you stand in front of the sofa and face it. This is often described as LHF, or left hand facing.
What is a right hand corner sofa?
A right hand corner sofa has the chaise or return on your right as you stand facing the sofa. It's the mirror image of a left hand corner sofa and may also be labelled RHF.
How do I tell if a corner sofa is left or right?
Stand in front of the sofa and face it. Look at which side the chaise or corner return occupies. Left means left hand facing and right means right hand facing under Furniture Lovers' naming convention. Always check the product diagram.
What does LHF mean on a sofa?
LHF means left hand facing. At Furniture Lovers, it describes a corner sofa with its chaise or return on your left when viewed from the front.
What does RHF mean on a sofa?
RHF means right hand facing. At Furniture Lovers, it describes a corner sofa with its chaise or return on your right when viewed from the front.
Is a left hand corner sofa better than a right hand one?
Neither is inherently better. The right choice depends on your room layout, available floor space, door positions and where you want the chaise to sit.
Can you change a left hand corner sofa to a right hand one?
Not usually with a fixed-orientation design. Some universal corner sofas allow the chaise to be installed on either side, but you should check the manufacturer's assembly instructions before assuming the layout can be changed.
What is the difference between a universal corner sofa and a fixed corner sofa?
A fixed corner sofa has a specified left-hand or right-hand arrangement. A universal corner sofa allows a choice of chaise position during assembly where the model supports it. The level of flexibility differs by product.
How should I position a corner sofa in a small living room?
Start with the room measurements and natural walkways. A corner sofa can make good use of adjoining walls, but the return must not block doors, radiators or access routes. Choose the orientation that leaves the room easiest to move around.
Can I get a left or right hand corner sofa bed?
Yes. Some corner sofa beds have a fixed orientation, while universal corner sofa beds allow the chaise to be assembled on either side. Compare the sleeping-area dimensions as well as the sofa's main width and return.
Find the Right Corner Sofa for Your Home
Choosing between a left hand and right hand corner sofa doesn't have to be complicated.
The most important thing is to remember the viewing position.
Stand in front of the sofa and face it. If the chaise is on the left, it's left hand facing. If it's on the right, it's right hand facing.
Once you know which side you need, compare the full dimensions and make sure the layout works with your doors, walkways and other furniture.
If you're still deciding, we'd recommend exploring both orientations and checking whether a universal corner sofa could work in your room.
Related sofa guides
Find a corner sofa that fits your space
Browse left-hand and right-hand corner sofas, compare dimensions and find the layout that works for your home.
Shop Left Hand Corner Sofas Shop Right Hand Corner Sofas
For more information about different layouts, read our sectional sofa buying guide or our guide to choosing the right sofa for your home.