LAF, RAF, and Reversible: Decoding Sectional Configurations

Left-arm facing, right-arm facing, L-shape versus U-shape, chaise sides, and piece counts — sectional listings assume you already speak the jargon. Here's the translation, and how to make sure the chaise ends up on the correct side of your room.

"Facing" means you're facing it

The single most-returned furniture mistake: a chaise on the wrong side. The jargon works like this — stand facing the sectional as if you're about to sit down:

LAF (left-arm facing): the arm is on your left as you look at it.
RAF (right-arm facing): the arm is on your right.

A "RAF chaise sectional" has its chaise on the right side as you face it. Now map that to your room: sketch the walls, mark where the long side must go, and see which side the chaise lands on. Don't trust the product photo — most brands photograph one orientation and sell both.

Reversible beats guessing

Many sectionals ship with a reversible chaise: the ottoman-style seat pad isn't fixed, so you can set the chaise left or right at home and change your mind later. If your room might change — or you're moving within a lease or two — reversible is the safe order. Alcovio flags orientation (left, right, or reversible) on every sectional that states it.

L, U, and the corner problem

L-shape is two runs meeting at one corner — the standard sectional. Measure both wall runs; listings give the long side × chaise side.
U-shape adds a second corner and typically runs 120 inches and up. It seats a crowd but eats a full wall plus two returns; check the 97-to-120-inch bucket and up before committing.
Pieces matter for delivery: a "3-piece sectional" comes through your door as three boxes — often the only way a 120″ sofa gets into an apartment. Piece count is listed on Alcovio detail pages where the retailer states it.

Modular is a different animal

Modular sectionals are built from same-width cubes you can rearrange — add an armless seat later, split into two smaller sofas, take a piece to the next apartment. If the listing says modular, the useful number is the per-module width: total width will always be a multiple of it.

The two measurements everyone skips

Diagonal depth at the corner. An L-shape's corner unit projects into the room along the diagonal; a 38″-deep sectional occupies about 53″ of diagonal at the corner. That's what your walkway actually meets.
Chaise length. Chaises run 60–70 inches from the back cushion. If the chaise side faces a doorway, its length — not the sofa's depth — sets your clearance.

Filter sectionals by exact width, check the orientation and piece count on the detail page, and the corner ends up where you planned.