Ensure That Your Sofa Fits into Your Home
So, you've found the sofa of your dreams—amazing. But before you commit to your forever couch, there's one crucial step to tackle: making sure that beautiful new piece can actually get into your home. Sofa delivery day can be a mix of excitement and stress, especially if the delivery team gets stuck at the door because the sofa won't fit inside. But with a bit of prep, you can avoid these issues and ensure that your new furniture is smoothly delivered to its final destination. In this guide, we'll cover how to measure your space and check those tricky paths—like doors, hallways, and stairways—so your new sofa glides right into place.
Measure Your Space
First up, make sure your sofa will feel right at home in your space. That means measuring your room and visualizing where it’ll sit.
Room Measurements: Start by measuring the length and width of your room, especially the area where the sofa will be placed. It helps to lay down painter’s tape to outline the sofa’s footprint; this gives you a clear idea of how much space it will take up.
Allowing for Walkways and Other Furniture: You’ll want about two feet of space around the sofa for walkways. And if you’re planning to have a coffee table in front, leave 12 to 18 inches between it and the sofa. This spacing keeps the room open, and most importantly—comfortable.
Consider Room Details: Look out for wall fixtures, moldings, electrical outlets, and windows that might interfere with your sofa placement. Taking these into account prevents surprises on delivery day, ensuring your sofa fits seamlessly into its new spot.
Think About How You’ll Use Your Sofa: Planning to lounge in front of the TV? Or host intimate gatherings with friends? The way you intend to use your sofa will impact how you position it in your space, whether that’s facing your media unit or arranged as part of a conversation set. Thinking about this beforehand will ensure you place it just right.
Confirm Sofa Dimensions
Now that you have your room dimensions, let’s dive into sofa measurements. Knowing the sofa’s exact dimensions helps you visualize and plan accordingly. The key sofa dimensions are:
Width: Measure from the outside edge of one arm to the outside edge of the other. This is key for fitting the sofa through doorways and tight spaces. More on that below.
Depth: Measure from the back edge to the front, including any chaises or ottomans. Sofas often have two depth measurements: the overall depth and the seat depth, which tells you the size of the sitting area. Make sure you reference the overall depth when planning.
Height: Measure from the floor to the highest point at the top of the sofa. This helps with fitting the sofa under windows, moldings, and other features in the room.
If you’re looking at modular sofas, like our Movie Night™ or Get Together™, check both the overall dimensions and individual module measurements. Modular sofas come in separate pieces, making it easier to move them through tight spaces. Don’t worry—our delivery team will assemble modular sofas once they’re safely inside and take any boxes and packing material with them when they go.
Measure the Path for Delivery
Once you’re confident about your room and sofa dimensions, map out the delivery path. This is the route your sofa will take from the delivery truck to your chosen room.
Plan the Route: Start from the entrance the delivery team will use, then track the path through your home to your living room (or wherever the sofa will live). Measure any doorways, hallways, stairways, or elevators along the way.
Consider Alternate Entrances: Think outside the box if you’re in a tricky spot. Could your sofa come in through the garage, a sliding door, or a service entrance? Apartment dwellers might consider a loading bay or service elevator.
Go Modular for Tight Spaces: If your delivery route looks challenging—whether it’s narrow hallways, tight corners, or compact elevators—modular sofas can be a fantastic option. Unlike traditional sofas that come as a single piece, modular sofas are designed in separate, movable sections that make navigating tight spaces much easier. Each piece can be brought in individually and then assembled in the room of your choice, so you won’t need to worry about squeezing a large frame through small spaces. Plus, modular sofas offer the added benefit of flexibility—letting you rearrange them to suit your space over time.
Doors and Hallways
For many homes, the main hurdle is getting the sofa through doors and hallways. Here’s how to ensure a smooth entry:
Measure Door Frames: Measure the inside height and width of each doorway along the route. Open each door fully and measure from the edge of the open door to the inner door frame.
Clearance Around Corners: Hallways and corners can be tight spots. Measure the width and any corners to make sure you have enough clearance to turn the sofa. Don’t forget to factor in things like door handles or light fixtures that might make the space narrower.
Ceiling Height and Obstructions: Some spaces have ceiling beams, hanging lights, or other obstacles. Make sure to measure the ceiling height in narrow areas to account for these.
Stairways
Stairs present their own challenges, especially in narrow or winding cases. Here’s what to check for safe passage:
Stair Width: Measure the width at the narrowest point, especially if there’s a railing or any protruding object. Some staircases allow for a lift-over, where the sofa goes up vertically, but you’ll need enough space to do so.
Landing and Ceiling Heights: At the top and bottom of the stairs, check ceiling height and landing space. If there’s a turn at the top, measure carefully to ensure there’s enough room to maneuver the sofa around the corner.
Fixed Objects: Check for fixed objects like light fixtures, radiators, or sprinkler heads that may be in the way. If you have a banister, measure the height from the banister to the ceiling.
Elevators
Elevators can be surprisingly tight spaces, especially in older buildings. Here’s what you need to know:
Elevator Door Dimensions: Measure the open door height and width. Confirm the elevator’s interior depth and height, too, so you’ll know if the sofa can fit horizontally or vertically, keeping in mind that the movers will need to be in there with it.
Clearance Length: If the elevator has narrow entry or exit points, make sure there’s enough clearance on all sides to maneuver the sofa in and out comfortably.
Prepare for Delivery
With all measurements in hand, let’s make sure delivery day goes off without a hitch. Here are some final prep steps:
Notify Delivery Team of Special Requirements: If you live on a narrow road, have a gated entry, or need the delivery team to use a specific entrance, let them know ahead of time. A smooth arrival saves everyone time and hassle.
Clear the Delivery Path: On delivery day, make sure the path is clear. Move any furniture, artwork, or decorations that might be in the way. Roll up rugs, and consider relocating pets to another room temporarily to avoid any mishaps.
Enjoy Our White-Glove Service: Sundays sofas come with white-glove delivery, meaning we’ll bring it into the room, assemble it, help position it, and remove all packaging. Just be ready to relax on your new sofa as soon as we’re done.
Measuring might seem tedious, but trust us—it’s worth it for a seamless delivery. A little bit of planning can save you from any last-minute headaches, ensuring your new sofa fits beautifully into your space without a hitch. So grab your measuring tape and get started; your sofa and your home will thank you.
By Madison Otto, Retail Experience Manager at Sundays
