Before you pay: 12 checks that prevent returns
The most expensive mistake when buying a chaise longue isn’t the color or the fabric: it’s measuring the gap and forgetting the swing of the building’s entrance door. A 240 cm wide sofa with a fixed chaise 170 cm deep fits in the living room, but it won’t turn on a 110 cm landing. According to the transport documentation from several manufacturers, the recommended minimum passage width for a rigid module is around 80-90 cm, and many models can’t be disassembled. That one detail decides more purchases than it seems.
Measurements and space checklist
1. Floor plan of the living room drawn to scale
Mark not only the sofa’s footprint, but also the opening zone if it has an electric or manual recliner. A reclining mechanism needs between 10 and 20 cm of clearance from the wall, depending on the model. If you push it flush, the backrest won’t recline.
2. Chaise side in relation to light and the door
A chaise facing the window forces you to turn your head to watch TV. Try it out with masking tape on the floor for two days before ordering.
3. Actual passage width
Measure the apartment door, the elevator and the landings. Modern chaise longues with a continuous base usually weigh over 100 kg; modular ones are transported in pieces and assembled inside.
Structure and upholstery checklist
4. Seat type: springs, foam or pocket coils
High-density foam (from 30-35 kg/m³ for seats, according to typical industry technical sheets) withstands daily use better than low-density foam wrapped in fiber. Ask for the density in writing.
5. Removable or fixed cover
A chaise longue gets more wear on the long module (feet, pets, children). If the cover doesn’t come off, cleaning is limited to vacuuming and dry cleaning.
6. Fabric composition and abrasion resistance
Technical fabrics with stain-resistant treatment help, but they aren’t waterproof forever: the treatment degrades with washing and aggressive cleaning. Synthetic velvet and bouclé are trending, although bouclé easily snags cat claws.
7. Seams and backrest filling
Check that the seat seams don’t sit right at the point where your thighs rest. On low-cost models, that’s where they split first.
Real-use checklist
8. For lying down or for sitting?
A 160-170 cm chaise lets a person up to roughly 1.75 m stretch out; any taller and your feet hang off. If you’re taller, look for a 180 cm chaise or a model with an extension.
9. Seat height
Between 40 and 45 cm is typical. Below 38 cm it’s hard for older people to get up; above 46 cm, people of average height may not be able to touch the floor with their feet.
10. Living with the chaise day to day
It takes up walkway space if the living room is narrow. In living rooms under 20 m², a fixed chaise 2.5 m wide can overwhelm the space; consider a modular one with an interchangeable chaise or a 3-seater sofa with a matching pouf.
Purchase and after-sales checklist
11. Delivery time and return policy
Custom sofas or ones with a chosen upholstery usually have lead times of 4 to 8 weeks and returns limited to manufacturing defects. Confirm this beforehand.
12. Structural warranty versus upholstery warranty
It’s common to find multi-year warranties on the structure and only one or two years on upholstery and foams. Ask for the document, not the verbal promise.
What this checklist doesn’t solve
It doesn’t replace a comfort test: firmness is subjective, and the same foam feels different depending on weight and posture. Nor does it guarantee that the final color will match the screen; always ask for a physical sample when possible. And if the sofa is going next to a radiator or a large window with direct sun, no fabric prevents color fading in the long term: it only delays it.