Left Hand vs Right Hand Corner Sofa — Furniture Instore feature image
Author: Sarah Elizabeth Turner Posted:

Left Hand vs Right Hand Corner Sofa — LHF and RHF Fully Explained

Of all the decisions involved in buying a corner sofa, left hand vs right hand is the one that causes the most confusion — and the most costly mistakes. Unlike choosing a fabric or a colour, getting the orientation wrong means the sofa physically doesn't work in your room. And because corner sofas can't be reversed, there's no quick fix.

This guide explains exactly what left hand facing (LHF) and right hand facing (RHF) mean, why the descriptions feel counterintuitive, how to work out which your room needs, and how to double-check your decision before you order.

The short answer: Left hand facing (LHF) means the chaise is on the left when you stand in front of the sofa, looking at it. Right hand facing (RHF) means the chaise is on the right when you face it. This is always described from the front — not from the seated position. To find out which your room needs, stand at the corner where the sofa will go, face into the room, and note which wall the chaise needs to run along.

Why Left Hand Facing Feels Backwards — The Source of All Confusion

Almost everyone who gets confused about LHF and RHF makes the same mistake: they imagine the orientation from the perspective of sitting on the sofa, rather than facing it.

Here's why this trips people up. Imagine you're sitting on an LHF sofa — chaise on the left when you face it from the front. Now that you're sitting on the sofa, you're facing away from the sofa front, into the room. From your seated position, the chaise is now on your right. So an LHF sofa puts the chaise on your right when you sit on it. That feels backwards — hence the confusion.

Left Hand vs Right Hand Corner Sofa shown in a modern UK living room

The rule to remember: LHF and RHF always describe the view of someone facing the sofa from the front — as if you're looking at it in a showroom. Not the view from the seated position. This is the trade convention used by every UK sofa manufacturer and retailer.

A useful analogy: think of a car's driver side. In the UK, the driver sits on the right side of the car — but we describe it as "right-hand drive" because the steering wheel is on the right when you stand in front of the car looking at it. The same logic applies to sofas.

How to Work Out Which Orientation Your Room Needs

Follow these steps exactly and you'll get the right answer every time:

  1. Go to the corner of your room where the sofa's corner will sit — the point where the two sofa sections will meet.
  2. Stand at that corner and face into the room — with your back to the corner, looking toward the centre of the room, as if you were a person sitting on the sofa looking out.
  3. Identify the two walls — one is to your left, one is to your right. The chaise section will run along one of these walls.
  4. Decide which wall the chaise should run along. This is usually determined by your room layout — where the door is, where the TV is, and what feels natural for circulation.
  5. Apply the rule: If the chaise runs along the wall to your left as you face into the room → choose RHF. If it runs to your right → choose LHF.

The photo method: Stand at the corner position and take a photo facing into the room. Email or WhatsApp it to us at Furniture Instore with the sofa model you're interested in, and we'll confirm which orientation you need — before you order. Call us on 02476 705 600 or visit us in store.

Why the orientation flips in step 5

This is the part that still catches some people out. The reason is the same "seated vs facing" issue explained above. When you stand at the corner facing the room, you're in the seated position — facing the same direction the sofa faces. So the wall on your left (as you face out) is the wall that will be on the right of the sofa as seen from the front. Hence: chaise on your left as you face out = RHF.

If this still feels confusing, don't overthink it — just use the photo method above, or use the room scenario table below to find your situation.

Real Room Scenarios — Which Orientation Do You Need?

LHF

TV on the left wall, door on the right

The sofa sits in the far corner. The chaise should face toward the TV (right wall as you face the room from the sofa). Choose LHF so the chaise is on the right of the sofa's main section, nearest the TV.

RHF

TV on the right wall, door on the left

The chaise should point toward the TV on the right wall. From the seated position, that's the left wall — which means RHF. The chaise extends along the right wall when viewed from the front of the sofa.

LHF

Long, narrow room — chaise along the long wall

The sofa sits at the end of the room. The chaise runs along the long wall. As you face into the room from the corner, the long wall is typically on the right — so choose LHF.

RHF

Open-plan space — chaise used to zone the area

The chaise acts as a divider between the living and dining areas, facing the kitchen side. Confirm which side is which using the step-by-step method above — the orientation depends entirely on your specific room layout.

Note: The above scenarios are common examples, not guaranteed rules — your specific room may differ. Use the step-by-step method rather than relying on these alone. When in doubt, call us.

How to Tell LHF from RHF in a Product Photo

This is one of the most useful things to know when browsing sofas online. Product photos follow the same convention as the LHF/RHF designation — they are almost always taken from the front of the sofa, facing it. This means:

  • If the chaise appears on the left side of the product image → that is an LHF sofa.
  • If the chaise appears on the right side of the product image → that is an RHF sofa.

The image you see in the listing is exactly the view you'd have standing in front of the sofa in a showroom. So if you look at a product image and think "I need the chaise to be on the other side from how it's shown here," you simply need to order the opposite orientation.

Practical tip: Many product listings show both LHF and RHF versions with a selector or separate listing. If only one orientation is shown, look for the variant selector. Both orientations are available across our full range at Furniture Instore.

Does the Orientation Affect Comfort or Function?

The LHF vs RHF decision is entirely about room fit — not about comfort. The chaise is identical in both versions; it simply extends in different directions. Seat depth, cushion firmness, back height and all other comfort factors are the same regardless of orientation.

The one personal preference factor is this: if you tend to stretch your legs out to one particular side when relaxing, you may prefer the chaise on that side so you can stretch across it. But for most buyers, the room layout is the dominant factor and personal stretch preference is secondary.

Does Orientation Change the Price?

No. Left hand and right hand versions of the same sofa are identical in price. The orientation simply reflects which direction the chaise faces — there is no difference in materials, construction or manufacturing complexity. If you see a price difference between LHF and RHF versions of the same sofa anywhere, it is an error.

What Happens If You Order the Wrong Orientation?

This is the scenario every buyer wants to avoid — and it's more common than you might expect. Here's what can and can't be done:

  • Before dispatch: Contact us as soon as possible on 02476 705 600. If the sofa has not yet been dispatched from our warehouse, we can often amend the orientation on the order. The sooner you call, the more likely this is possible.
  • After delivery: An exchange is possible, but involves collection of the delivered sofa and redelivery of the correct orientation. This takes time and incurs a collection/redelivery fee. It is not a quick fix.
  • What won't work: You cannot physically swap a left and right hand sofa by rearranging the sections — the sections are designed to join in a specific configuration and are not interchangeable.

The best approach: Take two minutes to use the step-by-step method above and the photo method before ordering. If there's any doubt at all, call us before confirming your order. We'd far rather help you get it right first time.

LHF vs RHF — Quick Reference Table

Situation Orientation to choose
Chaise runs along the left wall (as you face the room from the sofa corner) RHF
Chaise runs along the right wall (as you face the room from the sofa corner) LHF
TV is on the left wall and you want the chaise nearest the TV RHF
TV is on the right wall and you want the chaise nearest the TV LHF
In the product photo the chaise is on the wrong side for your room Order the other orientation
You prefer to stretch your legs to the left when seated LHF (chaise is on left when facing sofa = on your right when seated)
You prefer to stretch your legs to the right when seated RHF

Browse Corner Sofas by Orientation

Both LHF and RHF are available across our full corner sofa range. Browse by orientation or call us on 02476 705 600 and we'll point you to the right models for your room.

Left Hand Corner Sofas (LHF) Right Hand Corner Sofas (RHF) All Corner Sofas Grey Corner Sofas

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FAQs

What does left hand facing mean on a sofa?

Left hand facing (LHF) means the chaise section is on the left side when you stand in front of the sofa facing it. This is always described from the perspective of someone looking at the front of the sofa — not from someone sitting on it. When you sit on an LHF sofa, the chaise is actually on your right because you're now facing the opposite direction.

How do I know if I need a left or right hand corner sofa?

Stand in the corner of your room where the sofa will sit and face into the room. Which wall do you want the chaise to run along? If it is the wall to your left as you stand there, you need RHF. If it is the wall to your right, you need LHF. If you are not sure, call us on 02476 705 600 — send us a photo of your room and we will confirm before you order.

Why does left hand facing feel backwards when I'm sitting on the sofa?

Because LHF and RHF describe the view of someone facing the sofa from the front — not the view from the seated position. When you sit on an LHF sofa, you're facing the same direction as the sofa, so the chaise appears on your right. This is the consistent convention used by all UK sofa manufacturers — it can feel counterintuitive until you understand it.

How do I tell LHF from RHF from a product photo?

Product photos are taken from the front of the sofa — the same perspective used for the LHF/RHF designation. If the chaise is on the left side of the product image, it is LHF. If it is on the right side, it is RHF. What you see in the image is exactly what you'd see standing in front of the sofa in a showroom.

Which is more popular — LHF or RHF corner sofas?

In the UK, right hand facing (RHF) is marginally more common. But room layout is the only factor that should guide this decision — there is no universally better orientation. Both are equally popular in different room configurations.

Does LHF or RHF affect the price?

No. Left hand and right hand versions of the same sofa are always priced identically. The orientation affects only the direction the chaise faces — there is no difference in materials, build complexity or manufacturing cost.

Can a corner sofa be converted from left to right hand?

No. Corner sofas are not reversible. The two sections are specifically engineered to join at the corner in a fixed configuration — they are not interchangeable. Once the sofa is manufactured and delivered, the orientation is set. Always confirm the correct orientation before placing your order.

I ordered the wrong orientation — what can I do?

Call us as soon as possible on 02476 705 600. If the sofa has not been dispatched, we can often amend the orientation on the order. After delivery, an exchange is possible but involves collection and redelivery, which takes time and incurs a fee. This is why we encourage buyers to double-check orientation — and to call us if there's any doubt — before confirming.

Does orientation matter in an open-plan room?

Yes. Even in open-plan rooms without traditional walls on all sides, the chaise orientation should reflect where the TV is, the natural flow of movement through the space, and which side you prefer to stretch out on. Use the same step-by-step method: stand at the intended corner position, face into the room, and determine which direction the chaise should run.