Modular Sectional Configurations: L, U and Straight Line
A modular sectional's individual pieces - corner units, armless sections, an ottoman - can be arranged end to end in a straight line, folded once into an L around a single corner, or folded twice into a U around two corners. Same pieces, three different floor shapes, and each needs checking on its own rather than assumed from the others.
What the three layouts actually are
A straight line puts every piece end to end along one run - the longest and narrowest shape the set can take, and the one that needs the least depth but the most uninterrupted length. An L takes that same run and folds part of it around one corner piece, trading some length for depth on the second arm. A U folds it around two corners instead of one, producing the most compact overall footprint of the three but requiring open access on three sides rather than one or two.
Why the same set needs three different footprints
The pieces themselves do not change size between layouts - what changes is how they are arranged, and arrangement is exactly what determines the length and depth of floor space required. A set that comfortably folds into a U on a square patio can be entirely the wrong shape for the same patio laid out in a straight line, even though it is the identical set of pieces. This is why the sizing pages publish a separate footprint for each layout a set offers, rather than one figure per product.
Not every "sectional" reconfigures this way
Most sectionals in the Rattaner range are genuinely modular - their own listings describe armchairs, a loveseat or couch, and ottomans as separate pieces, generally with language like "various layouts and combinations" in the manufacturer's own feature bullets. Two pieces in the range are not: a single fixed 3-seat sofa, and a 3-piece set whose own listing describes one couch, an ottoman and a table rather than swappable sections. Neither has an L, a U or a line to choose between - each has one fixed shape, published as a single footprint rather than three.
Piece count is not a footprint
Two listings that both say "7 Pieces" do not necessarily describe the same amount of seating or the same footprint - one may include a bundled table in that count, another may not, and the manufacturer's own catalogue data can report an entirely different number again for the same set (a component or packaging count, not a seating count). Piece count is useful context, published as a reference figure on every product page, but it is never the basis for a footprint calculation here.
Questions
How do I know if a specific Rattaner set is modular or fixed-shape?
Check its own product page - each one states plainly whether it reconfigures into an L, a U and a straight line, or has a single fixed footprint.
Which layout uses the least floor space?
Depends on which dimension is constrained - a U is typically the most compact by area but needs access on more sides; a straight line needs the least depth but the most length. See the specific set's own footprint by layout.
Can I mix pieces from two different sectionals into one custom layout?
Not confirmed by the manufacturer - treat each set's pieces as designed to reconfigure only within that same listing, not combined across different products.
Does adding a fire table change the footprint of the seating around it?
The seating pieces themselves are unchanged, but a fire table needs its own clearance from the seating and from combustible surfaces - see fire table clearance for what that means separately from the seating footprint.