How to Design Your Own Modern Sectional Sofa

Determine what size and shape sofa your size space needs. A very wide room but an entrance on either side can use a left- or right-facing arm or chaise, but a narrow room may need either a left- or right-facing chaise or arm, or a U-shaped sectional. Measure your space and any other furniture you already have that you plan on putting in the room with the sectional sofa to determine your needs.

Choose a fabric for your sofa from your local craft or fabric store. Narrow down your ideas, before you go, to avoid being overwhelmed by the choices as most retailers will have thousands of fabrics that can be ordered or are already in stock. You don’t have to know exactly what you want, but a basic color scheme and material choices -- leather or a heavy, easy-to-clean fabric -- will make the process much easier.

Make a rudimentary sketch of the sectional sofa that you want to have built. The sketch doesn’t have to be perfect, but it should show the basic shape, along with written out measurements for seat depth and length on all sides.

Bring your sketch and a swatch of your chosen material to a local furniture builder and an upholsterer for a price quote. The builder and upholsterer will probably want to redo your sketch in a more precise manner for your approval before giving you a price on the sofa and telling you how much fabric you will need to order for the sofa.

Consider hiring a professional interior designer that works with or specializes in custom-designed furniture. A professional interior designer will be able to make an accurate sketch for your approval, as well as for the upholsterer and builder, while helping to source the fabric and labor. In many cases, a professional designer may be able to finish your project in very few billable hours, and you will likely end up with a better finished product.