Two Armchairs or a Sofa? How to Plan a Seating Area With Armchairs

Short answer

52.8 in
: two Kent armchairs side by side
4 to 12 in
Between the arms
35.5 in
Walkway around the pair

Two of our Kent armchairs take 52.8 in side by side, compared with around 79 to 90.5 in for a typical three-seat sofa, and a pair is easier to rearrange, which makes it a good choice for a small room, a second seating area or a reading corner. A sofa wins when you want to lie down or seat three. Place a pair facing each other or angled together, with 4 to 12 in or a small table between them.

Part of the guide to Armchairs

Armchair Einar in greige bouclé with oak frame, ideal for modern living or reading corners.
Einar in oak with a greige bouclé seat.Einar Armchair · from $2,199

Not every living room needs a sofa. In a small flat, a study, a bedroom or at the end of a large room, two armchairs can do the same job more flexibly: each person has a seat of their own, the pair fits where a sofa would not, and the chairs can move when the room changes. A sofa still has advantages of its own. This guide compares a pair of armchairs with a sofa, explains when each is the better choice, how to arrange two armchairs, whether they should match and how much room they need. Every figure is in inches, with the measurements of our own armchairs.

Can two armchairs replace a sofa?

Yes, for two people: two Kent armchairs take 52.8 in side by side and two Einar take 55.9 in, compared with around 79 to 90.5 in for a typical three-seat sofa, and a pair is more flexible, though you cannot lie down on it.

Two armchairs give each person their own seat and arms, which many people find more comfortable than sharing a sofa. They also split into two places, for example a reading chair and a guest chair, when the room is used differently.

The chart below compares a pair of our armchairs with a typical sofa.

A pair of by Crea armchairs compared with a typical sofa
Two Kent armchairsTwo Einar armchairsTypical 3-seat sofa
Width, side by side 56.7 to 64.6 in59.8 to 67.7 inAround 79 to 90.5 in
Seats 223
Lie down NoNoYes
Rearrange Easy, one chair at a timeEasy, one chair at a timeOne large piece

When is a sofa better than two armchairs?

When you want to stretch out or nap, when three or more people often sit together, or when the room is built around watching television.

A sofa is also the natural anchor of a large living room; the armchairs then gather around it. Many rooms end up with both: a sofa for everyday life and a pair of armchairs for conversation.

If you already have a sofa, our guide to where to put an armchair shows how to add one or two chairs around it.

How do you arrange two armchairs?

Face them towards each other across a small table, angle them together in a corner, or place them side by side facing a sofa or a fireplace.

Facing each other is usually the most sociable layout and suits conversation. Angled together, about 45 degrees, is the classic corner arrangement. Side by side suits a pair opposite a sofa.

As a guide, leave 4 to 12 in between the arms, or room for a small side table. Keep about 35.5 in of walkway around the pair.

Armchair Kent with black frame and ivory leather cushion beside a potted plant in a modern interior.
Kent angled into a corner.

Should two armchairs match?

A matching pair looks calm and formal; two different chairs look relaxed; either works if the chairs share their shape or their color.

Two identical armchairs are an easier choice and suit symmetrical rooms. A mixed pair, the same model in two fabrics, or two models in one fabric, looks more personal.

Kent and Einar share the same seat and proportions, so one of each in the same Greige bouclé makes a natural mixed pair: one in black steel, one in oak. Our guide to matching an armchair to the sofa covers colors.

How much space do two armchairs need?

As a guide, allow about 63 to 71 in of width for two lounge armchairs with a small table between them, plus about 35.5 in of walkway.

Two Kent armchairs are 52.8 in wide side by side with no gap, and two Einar 55.9 in. Add the gap or table you want between them.

Depth matters too: each chair is 31.9 to 32.3 in deep. Our armchair dimensions guide has every measurement.

Armchair Einar in greige bouclé on a dark stained oak frame in a minimalist concrete interior
Einar in dark oak and greige bouclé.

Which table goes between two armchairs?

A small side table level with the arms, or a low coffee table in front of the pair, sized so that both people can reach it.

With arms at 19.3 in, a side table of 17.7 to 21.7 in suits our armchairs. As a guide, a coffee table in front should sit 16 to 18 in from the front edge of the seats.

A set of nesting coffee tables, like our Leo, is useful here, as the smaller table can slide out beside a chair. See all our coffee tables and armchairs.

Anton Coffee TableA coffee table for a pair · from $3,199View Anton

Two armchairs in three points

Pair
for two people, a small room or a reading corner.
Sofa
to lie down or seat three.
Same
shape or color ties a mixed pair together.

Two Kent armchairs take 52.8 in side by side, less than a typical three-seat sofa, and a pair rearranges easily; choose a sofa to lie down or seat three. Face a pair towards each other or angle them together, 4 to 12 in apart. Match them fully, or keep the shape or the color in common. Kent and Einar are made in our own factory in Malmö, Sweden, delivered fully assembled and covered by a 10-year warranty.

Frequently asked questions

Can you have two armchairs instead of a sofa?

Yes, for two people. Two Kent armchairs take 52.8 in side by side, less than a typical three-seat sofa, and a pair is easier to rearrange, but you cannot lie down on it.

How far apart should two armchairs be?

As a guide, 4 to 12 in between the arms, or enough for a small side table between them.

Should two armchairs in a living room match?

They can, for a calm, formal look, or differ in one respect only, such as the same model in two fabrics.

How much space do two armchairs need?

About 63 to 71 in of width with a small table between them, plus about 35.5 in of walkway.

How do you arrange two armchairs in a corner?

Angle them towards each other at about 45 degrees with a small table between them, and put a lamp behind.

Can I pair a Kent and an Einar?

Yes. They share the same seat and proportions, so one in black steel and one in oak, in the same fabric, make a natural pair.

Kent ArmchairFrom $1,999 Shop