Ah, the struggles of having a small living room with minimal seating. You want to host a movie or drinks night, but there’s just nowhere for everyone to sit. Your family might even be expanding, and suddenly there isn’t enough room for your little ones to sit.
The last thing you want is to overly clutter your room in your attempts to accommodate everyone.
Fortunately for you, we know the best tips and tricks to squeeze more seats into your small living room that won’t make your room look cramped and claustrophobic.
How can I get more seats in my small living room?
It’s all about being tactical. You don’t have to squeeze another sofa or armchair into the room if it just won’t fit, because there are other things to sit on!
Poufs are a staple for small living rooms. These are flexible, short cubes that are slightly more sturdy (and more mature) than beanbags. They can come in a variety of colors, patterns, and sizes, which means they can also become a fantastic accent piece in the room.
They can fit comfortably underneath tables or in other rooms when they aren’t being used, so they’re not too inconvenient to bring out when you have company.
If they’re not being used but you don’t want to store them away, poufs can also be used to hold plants, books, and coffee.
Likewise, stools are a seating option for small living rooms! You can get coffee tables that are tall enough for stools to comfortably sit underneath when they aren’t being used.
When your friends or family have come over, you can bring out a stool or two from underneath the table. Sure, it’s not as comfortable as a sofa, but it does the trick.
Speaking of stools, you can also buy stools that stack on top of each other. Stacked stools, like these, are convenient in more ways than one - they are both a space-saver and a seating option.
Also, don’t disregard folding chairs. Not all folding chairs are rickety old lawn chairs, you know. Wooden folding chairs can be hung up on walls to create a unique accent piece, plus it means there are fewer chairs on the floor.
If you’re wanting something more permanent, you should also consider a window seat. Windows are usually distant from furniture, so why not utilize the space with a new, comfortable seat?
How do you arrange seats in a small room?
It mostly comes down to the shape of your room and your personal design preferences. However, we do have some tips on how to arrange seats in a small room.
Firstly, you could do with at least one sofa. Sofas are an expensive investment, so don’t worry too much about what will look more stylish in your small room. Focus on comfort and the type of sofa you’d like long-term, because you could easily rearrange the room or move house in the future.
This sofa can be faced anywhere you like, but they’re mostly situated in front of a fireplace or television with an option coffee table separating the two.
If you have small seats and armchairs, try to avoid keeping them aligned with the sofa in a “box” shape. This can make the room look even smaller. Instead, try angling them towards the sofa or the television.
If you have two armchairs, try rotating them so they are angled towards each other. This will give the illusion of a larger space, and looks far more interesting.
It’s all about convenience and simplicity. Stacked stools, poufs, and other small seats look brilliant both out in the open and stored away. You can place them wherever you like, because their light weight means you can rearrange the placement.
These seats can sit comfortably underneath tables, in storage cupboards, against walls, and directly next to your sofa.
Interior designers will often say to bring your sofas and seats away from walls to make large rooms look cozier, but this isn’t always possible in small rooms. It doesn’t matter if your sofa is leaning against the wall, because sometimes it’s the only possible option.
Having said that, if your small room is an open space that is connected to a kitchen or dining area, it can look unique to have the sofa away from a wall.
What can I use for extra seating?
Fortunately, you can afford to get creative when it comes to finding extra seating. Aside from the usual sofas and armchairs, there are plenty of extra seating options available.
Tucking away stools and poufs is possibly the best way to create extra seating without sacrificing your floor space. When company comes over, simply bring out your poufs or stools that reside underneath the table or in a storage cupboard.
Once they leave, you can easily put them away again. They are the best temporary extra seating option.
People will often avoid putting furniture and seating near windows, because they don’t like the idea of sitting away from the natural light.
Window benches are the solution for this. Not only do they create an extra seating space, but they look so unique and can make any room look instantly more comfortable. This is especially useful for awkward window nooks because it means you are utilizing all of your space.
Sectional sofas are another great way of creating extra seating without having to clutter the room with more armchairs. L-shaped sofas are popular for many reasons, one of them being because they offer more seating options.
Ottomans are a great two-in-one option. One minute they can work as a coffee table, the next they are a seat for two kids. Upholstered ottomans are a classy way of incorporating more design options into a living space, which can make it a useful accent piece as well.
If your sofa is located away from the wall, you can always put a bench behind it! Like an ottoman, this can work as a bench for holding plants or books as well as an extra seating option.
