Left Hand Sitting (LHS) & Right Hand Sitting (RHS): What Do They Mean?

When specifying modular and contract seating, you may come across the terms LHS (Left Hand Sitting) and RHS (Right Hand Sitting).

These terms describe the position of an arm, end or extended section of a sofa from the perspective of the person sitting on it.

Simply put: left when sitting = LHS, and right when sitting = RHS.

Understanding this orientation is important when specifying modular seating, particularly when combining different components to create a complete configuration.

LHS & RHS Explained

To identify the orientation, imagine yourself sitting on the sofa and looking forwards.

If the relevant arm or section is on your left, it is Left Hand Sitting (LHS). If it is on your right, it is Right Hand Sitting (RHS).

This terminology makes it easier for manufacturers, designers and specifiers to identify the correct configuration when ordering modular seating.

LHS/RHS vs LHF/RHF

It is worth noting that LHS/RHS and LHF/RHF use different viewing perspectives.

LHS / RHS (Left/Right Hand Sitting) is identified from the perspective of someone sitting on the sofa.

LHF / RHF (Left/Right Hand Facing) is identified from the perspective of someone standing and facing the sofa.

Because the viewing perspective is different, the two terms should not be assumed to describe the same side. Always check the manufacturer’s definition when specifying a product.

Why Does Orientation Matter?

Orientation becomes particularly important with modular and contract seating, where individual components are combined to create a specific layout.

A configuration might include a combination of arm units, armless units, corner modules and centre sections. Selecting the correct LHS or RHS component helps ensure that each module is positioned correctly within the finished arrangement.

This flexibility makes modular seating suitable for a wide range of commercial environments, including offices and breakout areas, reception and waiting spaces, hotels and hospitality, meeting and collaborative areas, and education and public spaces.