Left or Right Hand Facing? Choosing the Chaise Side on a Corner Sofa Bed
Order a corner sofa bed and one question decides whether it fits your room like a glove or blocks the door: left hand facing or right hand facing? It is the single most common thing customers ask us before buying a Mocca or Tampa, and getting it wrong is the number one reason corner sofas get exchanged across the industry. This guide from Sofa Bed Expert (sofabedexpert.co.uk) explains what LHF and RHF actually mean, how to work out which side your room needs, and which of our corner sofa beds let you change your mind later.
Short version: stand facing the sofa as if you were about to sit down. If the chaise (the long lounger section) is on your left, it is left hand facing; on your right, right hand facing. On the Mocca and Mocca Mini the chaise is reversible, so you can switch sides even after delivery.
Key takeaways
- LHF or RHF is judged facing the sofa, not sitting on it. Chaise on your left as you look at it = left hand facing.
- Draw the room first: the chaise should point away from doors and walkways and avoid covering radiators.
- The Mocca, Mocca Mini and Mocca corner models have a reversible chaise: choose left or right, and reposition it later if you move house or rearrange.
- The Tampa comes as fixed LHF or RHF versions, so the choice matters at checkout.
- Unsure? Send us a photo or call 0800 368 8914 before ordering. It takes two minutes and saves an exchange.
What do LHF and RHF mean on a corner sofa bed?
Left hand facing (LHF) means the chaise sits on your left as you stand in front of the sofa looking at it. Right hand facing (RHF) means it sits on your right. The confusion exists because some people instinctively judge it while sitting on the sofa, which flips the answer. Retailers, including us, describe corner sofas from the visitor's point of view: facing the sofa. If a product photo shows the lounger on the left of the picture, that is left hand facing.
How to choose the right side for your room
The right chaise side is the one that leaves your room easy to walk through. Sketch the room from above, mark the wall the sofa will sit on, then check four things.
- Doors. The chaise should point away from the door side, so nobody squeezes past its end to get in.
- Walkways. The natural route through the room (door to window, kitchen to hallway) should pass behind or beside the sofa, not around the chaise.
- Radiators and vents. A chaise pushed against a radiator blocks the heat and slowly bakes the fabric. Put the low end of the sofa there instead.
- The view. Most people lie on the chaise to watch television. Check the TV is visible from that corner, not behind your head.
The photo trick: stand where your sofa will go, take a photo of the room from that wall, and email or WhatsApp it to us. We will tell you which orientation fits. Contact details are on our contact page, or call free on 0800 368 8914.
Reversible chaise: the Mocca way
On the Mocca King Size Corner (235 × 150 cm, bed 150 × 200 cm, £1,899) and the compact Mocca Mini (200 × 150 cm, bed 150 × 180 cm, £1,849) the chaise is reversible: the corner section can be positioned on either side. You still tell us left or right when ordering so it arrives ready for your room, but if you later move house, redecorate or realise the other side works better, the chaise swaps over. For rented homes and rooms that change, that flexibility is worth having.
Fixed orientation: the Tampa
The Tampa Corner Storage Sofa Bed (227 × 160 cm, bed 120 × 205 cm, £2,299) is built as a dedicated LHF or RHF sofa, each a separate product. The payoff for the fixed corner is its construction: pocket springs with zigzag springs and high-density foam, storage under the chaise and a full-size 205 cm long bed. Just double-check the side before checkout, because changing it afterwards means changing the sofa.
What if I still get it wrong?
It is fixable. You can cancel or change your order any time before delivery free of charge. After delivery you have 14 days to request an exchange, and collection for eligible returns is currently free. And if you chose a Mocca, there is nothing to exchange: reposition the chaise and carry on. The details are in our returns policy.
"We are thrilled with our sofa bed, very well designed, easy to use and very comfortable."
Caroline Walton, verified customer review
Frequently asked questions
What does left hand facing mean on a corner sofa?
Left hand facing (LHF) means the chaise or corner section is on your left as you stand facing the sofa. It is always judged from the visitor's point of view, looking at the sofa, not sitting on it.
Is LHF judged facing the sofa or sitting on it?
Facing the sofa. This is the standard convention used by UK furniture retailers including Sofa Bed Expert. If you judge it while sitting on the sofa the answer flips, which is the most common cause of ordering the wrong side.
Can I change the chaise side after buying a corner sofa bed?
On the Sofa Bed Expert Mocca and Mocca Mini the chaise is reversible, so it can be repositioned on either side even after delivery. On fixed corner models like the Tampa, the orientation is built in, so the side must be chosen at the time of ordering.
Which side should the chaise go in my living room?
Put the chaise on the side away from the door and the natural walkway, keep it off radiators, and make sure the TV is visible from it. If you are unsure, photograph the room from the sofa wall and send it to Sofa Bed Expert for advice before ordering.
Does the chaise side affect the bed on a corner sofa bed?
No. The sleeping area is the same size whichever side the chaise is on: 150 × 200 cm on the Mocca, 150 × 180 cm on the Mocca Mini and 120 × 205 cm on the Tampa. Only the sofa layout changes.
What happens if I order the wrong side?
Before delivery you can change or cancel the order free of charge. After delivery you have 14 days to request an exchange with free collection on eligible returns. On reversible models like the Mocca, the chaise simply swaps sides with no exchange needed.
Do corner sofa beds with storage have it on the chaise side?
Usually yes. On the Mocca the storage compartments sit beneath the chaise, and on the Tampa the storage is under the chaise section, so the storage moves with whichever side you choose.
The bottom line
Face the sofa, name the side, then check the chaise against your doors, walkways, radiators and TV. If your room might change, choose a reversible-chaise Mocca and the question answers itself. And when in doubt, a two-minute phone call beats a two-week exchange.
Corner sofa beds that fit your room, not the other way round
Reversible chaise on the Mocca range, LHF and RHF Tampa, king size pocket sprung beds and free delivery across England, Wales and Scotland.
Browse corner sofa beds → Ask us which side fits →Related reading: Sofa bed sizes UK · Corner sofa bed with storage · Delivery and access guide
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