What's the purpose of that backless part on an L-shaped sofa?

March 1, 2017 3:05 AM

Many L-shaped sofas have a small section with no back to lean on (at the end of the short side). Why?? Here are some examples: Couch 1 Couch 2 Couch 3
posted by pablocake to Home & Garden (20 answers total)

To lend chaise like esthetics to the furniture. I see those aren't full on chaise sections of sectional, I think it's supposed to just give the suggestion of a chaise.
posted by kellyblah at 3:13 AM on March 1, 2017 [3 favorites]

In my house, that's the part of the sofa you sit on when you're waiting for someone else to find their keys or their wallet so you can go out. It's also the part of the sofa you sit on when you're putting on your shoes.

I always assumed it didn't have a back so the person waiting doesn't get too comfortable on the couch and change their mind about going out while they wait for the other one to get organised.
posted by colfax at 3:19 AM on March 1, 2017 [24 favorites]

There are a lot of L-shaped sofas where that 'open end' is a separate section that can be moved out and used as a foot stool. On others it's integrated into the rest of the sofa - I'd guess that it's just a fashion that sells better than sofas that have a back all the way round. Maybe it makes the sofa seem more versatile?
posted by pipeski at 3:22 AM on March 1, 2017

On mine, that half back is clearly an armrest that mirrors the armrest on the other side. I think these designers just went too far.
posted by b33j at 3:27 AM on March 1, 2017

Also - at a party, two people can sit there.
posted by Mchelly at 3:42 AM on March 1, 2017 [2 favorites]

Its where my legs go when I am sitting at that end. Also the cat has a blanket there and snoozes there during the day. My SO can stretch along from her end if so inclined though we ended up getting a pouffe so she could have legs out in front.

Honestly, ours is of the three along, one sticking out style and they are not great for more than 2 people.
posted by biffa at 3:44 AM on March 1, 2017 [1 favorite]

I think it's also a design element to make the sofas more flexible in open-plan houses. In a room where the sofa can't be snugged into a corner, one end will jut out into the room to create a sort of peninsula. What the sofa designers have done is "soften" that peninsula so it doesn't act like a barrier. With that backless section, the sofa is more open to the room, making it more inviting, so to speak. Also, the peninsula becomes an extra seating perch as noted above.
posted by woot at 5:27 AM on March 1, 2017 [26 favorites]

I always thought of it as an extension for your feet when you're sitting along the other axis, not as a place to put your butt. It's so you can put your feet up while watching TV, so no backpiece necessary.
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 5:51 AM on March 1, 2017 [4 favorites]

You can sit on both sides of it, making it more flexible. I, instead, have mine against the wall with a blanket for the dog; it gives him more space and keeps fur off the couch’s backrest.
posted by metasarah at 5:58 AM on March 1, 2017 [1 favorite]

Yeah, I think these are poor examples of the sofa-with-chaise style of sectional that is popular now (and that I have). As b33j said, these are just not well designed, or maybe weird hybrids.

Not that IKEA is all that amazing, design-wise, but this is what my sectional looks like. The thing on the side is an armrest, not a sofa back, and makes it more clear how one is to sit on it.

As woot pointed out, the popularity of this style right now is likely because of how it makes the sectional easier to use in an open floor plan.
posted by misskaz at 6:01 AM on March 1, 2017

We recently got an L-shaped couch, and it was hard to find one that wasn't just a sofa-with-chaise. It seems to be a design thing that is in right now. To me, it just results in a couch that takes up lots of extra space without much added utility. I think it is just a built-in foot rest.
posted by fimbulvetr at 6:43 AM on March 1, 2017

There is no answer, because you're making the common mistake of conflating couches where they left out part of the back, with couches where they added some extra seat.
posted by Segundus at 7:01 AM on March 1, 2017 [2 favorites]

You're supposed to stretch out on it, like the person on the right in this photo. It's a chaise (for short people, apparently.)
posted by MexicanYenta at 7:07 AM on March 1, 2017

In the Ikea version, there is a pull-out under the "regular" part of the couch so the whole thing turns into a bed.
posted by ArgentCorvid at 7:10 AM on March 1, 2017

It's a chaise. Theoretically, you could just buy that section of the couch and have yourself a chaise. Also theoretically, you could most likely buy two of the other section plus a corner piece and have a normal l-shaped couch. I think these photos are intended to show the different configurations.
posted by kevinbelt at 7:18 AM on March 1, 2017

To put your feet up on. Think day bed if you're short enough or a permanent recliner.
posted by wwax at 7:51 AM on March 1, 2017

Best answer: There are ways in which it makes sex on the couch more comfortable.
posted by clawsoon at 9:00 AM on March 1, 2017 [1 favorite]

I always thought of it as an extension for your feet when you're sitting along the other axis, not as a place to put your butt. It's so you can put your feet up while watching TV, so no backpiece necessary.

Yep, that part is for reclining. As you can see from the photos, the reclining extension is slightly shorter than one seat, so if they put a back on it, it would be a short stubby back part that didn't look symmetrical with the rest of the couch.
posted by capricorn at 9:27 AM on March 1, 2017

In addition to being a footstool, I appreciated that section of my couch in my previous house, where it slid nicely underneath a window rather than letting the back of the couch block the window/light.
posted by writermcwriterson at 11:04 AM on March 1, 2017

You put your legs there, if the cat will allow it.
posted by pompomtom at 1:31 PM on March 1, 2017 [1 favorite]