While many take it for granted, seating space is often the focal point of home decor. Paying close attention to seating selection is key to a living room’s overall appearance and comfort.
The traditional sofa setup is undoubtedly convenient, but it can be fun and visually appealing to go with an alternative layout. You might be surprised by how amazing pairings of benches, loveseats, chaises, and settees can look in your living room. Read on for expert advice on how to mix up the traditional sofa setup from the experts at Star Furniture.
Why You Need a Sofa Alternative
Back in the 16th century when sofas became popular, this type of seating furniture wasn’t just highly practical. It was a status demonstration.
People used sofas for all kinds of purposes, including guest beds, play areas for children, a place to have a drink, and much more. Back then, aristocrats would put this piece of furniture (or several of them!) in every room.
In more recent times, designers have swayed towards more unconventional living room layouts, featuring a variety of seating options that go beyond a standard sofa. Besides freshening up your home décor, you may want to consider a sofa alternative for a few reasons:
- Not enough space: A large and comfy sofa doesn’t always fit into your living room or bedroom space. Thankfully, this is hardly a reason to say “no” to new furniture. There are plenty of trendy, space-saving alternatives to consider.
- Doesn’t fit the décor: if you are after minimalistic, rustic, or Asian Zen interior design options, a sofa may not fit with your tastes. However, other seating elements could be an excellent addition to your space.
- You don’t need it: The purpose of your room may not require a full-size sofa. However, you might still want to offer seating options for you or your guests to sit and rest.
- You want change: The desire for change is the driving force behind some of the most refreshing décor and furniture ideas. It’s a wonderful reason to leave the standard sofa behind and explore a couple of alternatives.
While the traditional sofa set-up offers function and simplicity, it isn’t always the best option for your living room. You don’t have to opt for a sofa in your living room just because “everyone else does it.” Read on for creative alternatives to the standard sofa so you can make the best choice for your home.
A Versatile Pair of Armchairs
Even if you have enough space for a sofa, you may want to replace it with a couple of comfy armchairs. An armchair is an excellent place to get some rest, read your favorite book, or even take an afternoon nap. Try arranging a pair of armchairs facing each other to promote engaging, intimate conversation.
Choose to decorate your living room with armchairs and you’ll enjoy:
- Flexibility of movement: You can move them around as much as you want since they aren’t as heavy as a couch.
- Functionality: From swiveling chairs to chairs with footrests, you can choose a function that suits your needs the most.
- Less space: Two armchairs take up less space than a sofa. They are a great choice for smaller living rooms.
Since this sofa alternative encourages the best use of space, it gives you an opportunity to play around with the rest of your décor. As a bonus, armchairs provide much-needed personal space so you don’t have to fight over your favorite spot on the couch or move someone’s feet out of the way.
Mix it up! If you can’t give up on your sofa but want an alternative, you can do both. Choose a pair of armchairs that look perfect with your sofa and enjoy the balanced combination.
Charming Loveseats
The key difference between a loveseat and a sofa is the number of people each one can seat. A large sofa can easily seat up to five people while a loveseat is created for two. While loveseats aren’t as spacious as sofas, they offer a charming, unique look. Their presence in your home doesn’t just provide seating space, it creates a more intimate atmosphere.
Loveseats aren’t just a style statement, they also offer:
- Ease with rearranging: The smaller size of the loveseat makes it much easier to rearrange furniture at any time. You may not even need help moving it around.
- Plenty of uses: You can use loveseats beyond the living room. Having one in a bedroom or den works well as they don’t take up very much space. You might also choose to add one to your child’s room.
- Sleeping space: Yes, some loveseats are built with a pull-out mattress. While not large, such loveseat sleepers can usually accommodate at least one person comfortably.
Lounging on a loveseat brings people closer together. Alternatively, loveseats offer ample room for one person to sit and rest with more than enough room to get comfortable.
Pair it off! Many homeowners design their living rooms around sofas. Finding a matching loveseat is rarely a problem. Instead of serving as an everyday seating space, a loveseat can create an opportunity for an occasional romantic evening for two.
Multi-Use Daybeds
This sofa-bed combination is the perfect option for a flexible seating-and-sleeping combo. A daybed is the perfect option for those who are looking for additional seating with the option to lay out for a nap mid-afternoon. For smaller spaces, the daybed also offers sleeping space for the occasional guest to get a great night of sleep.
Invest in a daybed and enjoy benefits such as:
- Space saver: Since daybeds perform two functions at once, they can be an excellent choice for smaller rooms, such as guest rooms or kids’ rooms.
- Ease of use: The standard sleeper requires some elbow grease when it comes to pulling out the mattress. The daybed is usually static so you don’t have to worry about any hard-to-operate mechanisms.
- New styling opportunities: Daybeds are easy to decorate so they fit your existing style. They also add a unique appearance to your home.
When a daybed functions as a sofa during the day, you can use a variety of decorative pillows. They can really light up the room.
Why not both? It is entirely possible to decorate with both a daybed and a sofa. Just keep in mind the amount of space you are working with, as both of these pieces of furniture can be quite large. This is a great opportunity to wake up your inner designer.
A Modular, Customizable Sectional
Sectionals are great for families that need more seating space than a sofa can offer. They come in a variety of sizes for small and large spaces alike.
Sectional sofas are an especially great option for:
- Seating space: Sectionals usually have five or more seats while a traditional sofa offers just three.
- Spreading out: A sectional with an ottoman on one end contributes to an optimal lounging experience.
- Appearance: Sectionals usually offer more visual interest than the standard sofa. They give your room an extra oomph.
- Modularity: The versatile, modular pieces of a sectional offer a bit of customization and flexibility. Usually, you can choose from different functionalities, such as an added chaise or a section that reclines.
There are plenty of shapes and configurations to choose from when you opt for a sectional, including L-shaped and U-shaped options. It’s best to shop for a new sectional with the size of your space and the needs of you and your family in mind.
Coordinate the look! A sectional is essentially a bigger, better sofa. You can coordinate your sectional with some of the same furniture pieces that you would for a sofa, such as an armchair or recliner.
A Bold Chaise Lounge
A chaise lounge is a unique piece of furniture that offers both a place to sit and lay out. Perfect for the avid reader, a chaise could be likened to an armchair with an elongated seat. In fact, the literal translation of the French term chaise longue is “long chair”. Fun fact: many people associate the image of a chaise lounge with psychoanalysis, due to Sigmund Freud’s use of this furniture piece in his sessions.
Go with a chaise lounge over a traditional sofa for:
- Style: Chaises are available in a wide variety of styles, from modern to traditional and everything in between. Often you’ll be able to find them in intriguing, rounded shapes upholstered with luxurious materials such as velvet.
- Size: Chaises aren’t quite as large as sofas so they can fit in a smaller living room while providing ample, comfortable lounging space.
- Versatility: You can add a chaise to any room in your home, including the bedroom.
A chaise lounge is sure to add a touch of elegance to your living room. Opt for this type of furniture piece to freshen up the look of your space and leave a lasting impression on all of your guests.
Add a sofa! Depending on the size of the chaise you choose, you can usually complement it with a standard sofa. The majority of chaises are about the size of a loveseat, so these two seating options can work great together.
An Ultra-Cozy Recliner Sofa
Reclining sofas and sectionals offer a level of comfort beyond the standard sofa. You can choose your lounging position, relax, and enjoy an unmatched lounging experience without, well, getting off the couch.
You’ll love the added benefits of a reclining sofa or sectional, including:
- Comfort: Recliner sofas provide more comfort than a regular sofa.
- Impact: Recliner sofas are usually more massive than regular sofas. They lend a monumental impact to the living room.
- Choice of position: Each occupant can choose the desired position and still enjoy being close to other family members.
If you aren’t ready to invest in such a complex piece of furniture, consider starting with a reclining armchair.
Great for Gathering! Pair your reclining sofa with an armchair or a loveseat, and you’ll have more than enough seating for a gathering of any size.
Add an Ottoman
While an ottoman isn’t necessarily a sofa alternative, it’s a wonderful addition to your living room furniture ensemble. If you aren’t ready to give up on having a sofa in your living room but want something to improve your décor, an ottoman is a great choice.
The key benefits of adding an ottoman to your room include:
- Footrest options: By placing an ottoman next to a sofa, a loveseat, or a settee, you can lift your feet up and enjoy a wonderful lounging experience.
- Added Storage: Many ottomans double up as storage, so you get some extra space.
- Seating in a pinch: While ottomans aren’t ideal for long-term lounging, they offer a spot for guests to take a quick seat during light chit-chat.
- Work the room: Ottomans are easily moveable and can be positioned according to your day-to-day needs.
The pros at Star Furniture suggest adding a stylish tray on top of your ottoman which can function as a surface to rest beverages, books and everything in between. Because your ottoman may serve as a footrest, protect its fabric with a throw blanket draped over the top.
Liven Up Your Living Room Seating
Seating space is an important part of a living room’s décor. It can be plenty of fun to think beyond the standard sofa set-up and play with the options listed above. While sofas are undoubtedly the most popular seating choice for living rooms, many interesting alternatives deserve your attention. Shop with the designers at Star Furniture to explore new seating options for your home and take your design to a new level!