The Chaise Side Isn't the Obvious Part
I ordered the Owen chaise sectional thinking I had it figured out. I measured the longest wall, checked the doorway, even laid out tape on the floor. Turned out I never measured the chaise itself. The chaise is deep — 65 inches deep in my version — and I planned the whole room around a 60-inch gap. The chaise stuck out past the TV console by five inches. For two weeks I banged my shin on it every time I walked to the kitchen.
Don't make my mistake. Measure the chaise depth specifically, not just the sofa's total length. If you're working with a tight room, read how I did it wrong on my left arm facing chaise sectional — it'll save you five minutes of tape and a week of annoyance.
The One Decision That Matters Most
Before you even unbox, decide which side the chaise goes on. This sounds trivial until you watch two movers flip a 200-pound piece. Check the floor plan, check your door swing, then commit. I ended up with the chaise on the left, but I had originally wanted it on the right. Switching meant weeks of living with it the wrong way.
The decision affects how the room flows. Chaise on the left means people walk through the main seating area; chaise on the right blocks the window. You can't eyeball this. Use masking tape and a chair to physically simulate the chaise. Sit in it, walk around it, see your TV sightlines. That's the one thing that matters more than any other setup step.
For a deeper dive on chaise orientation gone wrong, check The Costco Pop Out Sectional — you'll see the same issue play out.
Unboxing and Moving: Do This First
- Clear the entire path from your door to the final spot. I didn't, and we knocked a picture frame off the wall.
- Have a friend (or two) ready. The chaise section alone is 115 lbs. You'll hurt your back if you try to solo it.
- Check that the door opening is wide enough. My door was 32 inches, and the base of the chaise is 31.5 inches wide. Barely squeezed through. If your door is 30, you might have to remove the door itself.
- Sliders under the legs make a huge difference. For $10, it saves the floor and your joints.
I didn't do any of this, and it cost me a scratched doorframe. You can read about that mess in my leather power sectional setup mistake — same story, different sofa.
Week One: What to Watch For
After setup, give it a full week before you judge comfort. On day one, the cushions feel stiff and too firm. By day four, they start to soften. By day seven, you know if the chaise is wide enough for your height.
I'm 5'11", and the chaise fits me fine. If you're over 6'2", you'll want the chaise deeper than this one offers. That's fine, but know it before you buy.
Also, check the stitching on the chaise's corner seam after a few days of use. I found a loose thread on mine. It's not a defect — you just need to snip it before it unravels.
The fabric is a performance woven. It repels water fine — I spilled coffee on day two, wiped it off, no stain. But it attracts pet hair like crazy. If you have a white dog, you'll be vacuuming weekly.
The Setup Order That Worked
If you start over, here's the order I'd use:
1. Position the chaise section first. It's the heaviest, and it determines the room's flow.
2. Attach the backrests then the armrests. The instructions say do arms first, but I found the opposite easier — the backrests keep the base stable.
3. Attach the corner bracket last. It takes pressure off the joint so you don't crossthread the screw.
The whole thing took me 20 minutes with two adults. Alone, plan for 45.
Skip This Sofa If...
You're over 6'2" and want a full recline chaise — the chaise is a bit short. Or if you need a sleeper, this isn't convertible. It's a straightforward, solid small-room sectional. If that's what you need, it holds up. I've had it three weeks now, and the cushions are still holding shape, the seams are intact, and it doesn't slide on the floor like cheaper sectionals I've owned.
But if you have a tight doorway or you're not 100% sure about the chaise side, measure twice and order once. That first week will be a lot smoother.
More on the mistakes I keep seeing (and making): IKEA sectional measuring wrong and Italsofa measurement mistakes.