Swapping Her Sofa for a Chaise Fixed This Designer’s Awkward Living Room Layout

Finding a beautiful apartment in a prime neighborhood is a dream — until you have to fit your furniture into it. Such was the case for designer Daniela Alilovic, founder of Spaces by Dee, when she fell in love with her 495-square-foot condo in downtown Toronto. “The living area is only 50 square feet,” she says. “It’s more of a nook than a dedicated living space.” Her living room would also have to double as a dining area, she realized, as it’s positioned directly across her small galley kitchen. 

To leave enough space for a dining table and chairs, the designer knew a traditional sofa was off the table. “Buying furniture that’s too large will make your space feel congested,” she explains. “I see this mistake happen all too often.” But she still needed the space to feel cozy and comfortable. Eventually after a lot of browsing, Alilovic realized that the perfect piece for her living room wasn’t even a sofa at all: It was a chaise lounge!

Although this design choice may be controversial, Alilovic says she doesn’t miss having a “real” sofa one bit.  “[Since] chaises come in smaller lengths and only have one arm; essentially, it’s [just] a half-sofa,” she explains. A piece with two arms — a full-sized sofa or even a loveseat — would have interrupted the flow of the space by making it too cramped to move around freely. Even though the piece is on the small side, Alilovic says it’s just right for her.

An avid music listener, the designer actually calls the living room her “listening room.” It’s where she goes to unwind, “lie down, have a cup of tea, and listen to music,” she says. “The chaise is perfect because it gives me enough space to put my feet up … without needing an ottoman,” Alilovic explains. “Which is great, as I wanted as few furniture pieces as possible within this space.” 

If you’re working with a smaller living room and you can’t find a piece that checks all the boxes, Alilovic suggests looking into a chaise — or even a modular piece that can be configured as a chaise. And then, if you ever move to a larger space in the future, you could even add onto your chaise and make it a sectional.

A chaise might not be the right solution for every tiny living room, but for Alilovic it was perfect. The moral of the story? Taking the time to consider the layout of the whole space — and how you actually use it — is key when decorating a small apartment. And definitely don’t be afraid to think outside the box!