how do you maximize seats in a small living room

How to Maximize Seating in a Small Space

• Scale Your Furniture. When you’re working with a small room, the last thing you want to do is choose oversized furniture. ...
• Add a Window Seat. ...
• Consider an Ottoman. ...
• Get Creative With Storage. ...
• Utilize Removable Seating. ...
• Carefully Select Colors and Patterns. ...

Full Answer

How do you maximize seating in a small space?

Small spaces can be difficult to lay out and decorate, particularly if you have a large family or like to entertain and need a lot of seating space. But there are some decorating tricks and things you can do to maximize seating in a small space without creating a cluttered room. Scale Your Furniture.

How to make a small living room look bigger?

The slim profile helps your space feel visually light. Maximize the airy feel of a small living room with a sofa or loveseat that is up on legs. The open space underneath creates a more spacious look. Opt for fabrics or leathers in solid patterns or neutral colors. Place a long mirror above a sofa to add depth and the illusion of more space.

How to decorate a small living room with a sofa?

Maximize the airy feel of a small living room with a sofa or loveseat that is up on legs. The open space underneath creates a more spacious look. Opt for fabrics or leathers in solid patterns or neutral colors.

How do you arrange sofas in a room with two seats?

If the room is narrow but also long, she recommends placing sofas back-to-back to allow for two seating areas. In the living room of a Hudson Valley, New York, home painted in a Benjamin Moore yellow, an ancestral portrait overlooks a Harry Heissmann–designed banquette made by De Angelis and covered in a Brunschwig & Fils fabric.

How to make a room look bigger?

What to do when working with a small room?

Can you decorate a small space?

Can you bring in a lightweight chair?

Can you use an ottoman instead of a coffee table?

How can I get more seats in my living room?

How to Maximize Your Living Room SeatingStart with a Focal Point. The biggest piece of living room furniture should be where you spend most of your time, such as sofas or sectionals. ... Add Some Accent Chairs. ... Create a Conversation Area. ... Go with the Flow. ... Furniture Sizing Tips. ... Finishing Touches.

How do a lot of people fit in a small living room?

Take advantage of unconventional seating options.Blur the line between indoor and outdoor entertaining.Take a “less is more” approach to decorating.Spread out the food and drinks.

How do you set up a couch in a small living room?

0:000:58Furniture Arranging for Small Living Rooms - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipFirst arrange to accommodate for walkways. This seating arrangement lets traffic flow in from theMoreFirst arrange to accommodate for walkways. This seating arrangement lets traffic flow in from the front door and from the door to the patio. Through the living room and on to the rest of the home.

What type of furniture is best for a small living room?

Choose a sofa or loveseat with thin or low arms and a low back. The slim profile helps your space feel visually light. Maximize the airy feel of a small living room with a sofa or loveseat that is up on legs. The open space underneath creates a more spacious look.

How can 20 people fit in a small space?

15 Smart Ways to Fit More Seating Into Your Small Home of 15. Add a Few Poufs. ... of 15. Try a Bench Booth. ... of 15. Hide Stools. ... of 15. Pull Up Your Table. ... of 15. Stack Extra Stools. ... of 15. Use Your Wall Space. ... of 15. Don't Hate on Folding Chairs. ... of 15. Use All of Your Corners.More items...•

How can I make a small living room look nice?

Light colours tend to work best so stick to pale tones such as white, cream, and grey to keep your room scheme light, airy and open – especially effective in spaces with minimal natural light sources. Light shades will make any small living room feel fresh and inviting – cosy, and yet not closed in.

Does sofa have to face TV?

You can also place couches perpendicular to the television or shift the couch so that it rests on a slight angle. Most people, however, still prefer having a couch directly facing their TV as long as it doesn't impede the accessibility of the rest of the room.

Where do I put my TV in the living room?

If your TV is your focal point, then place it in the center of the seating area. If you have another focal point such as a mantel or a beautiful window, then think about placing it on the wall adjacent to the focal point so it can still be viewed comfortably.

How do you stage an awkward living room?

Room Arrangements for Awkward SpacesScale the size of the table to the room by adding a leaf to it and resting it on a large rug. ... Place functional furniture, such as a bench or a storage piece, near the entry. ... Balance lighting around the room; consider both task lighting and mood lighting.More items...•

How do you fit a lot of people in a small apartment?

Think outside the chair—pillows and blankets create a comfy seating area for guests.Get creative with seating. ... Use all the rooms in your apartment. ... Crowdsource the tunes. ... Go full kid's menu. ... Quench the thirst with party-sized pours. ... Eat (with) plant-based ingredients. ... Paper towels. ... Play virtual games.More items...•

Can you put a large sofa in a small room?

There's no limit to what types of big couches can go in small spaces (well, aside from couches that actually exceed the size of the room). Even couches that expand from wall to wall are fair game. If you're working with an unconventionally sized room, consider looking at custom couches.

Does a large rug make a room look bigger or smaller?

Rugs or carpets can also help you create the illusion of a larger room. Large area rugs (avoid placing several small rugs), can make your place look more prominent. They should be within 12 inches of the walls on all sides.

How do you use a sectional in a small room?

1. Corner Placement. The most obvious arrangement for a sectional in a small room is to push an L-shaped couch right up into the far corner of the room, facing the TV or fireplace. This option opens up the room and maximizes seating without blocking off the flow from the adjacent room.

How to maximize the space in a small living room?

One key to maximizing the potential of a small living room is carefully selecting furnishings that fit the space and can serve multiple purposes. Another important part of the process is getting creative with your layout and finding ways to arrange your furniture to make use of every square foot, even those awkward corners.

How to make a small living room appealing?

New York interior designer Christina Murphy approaches a small living room strategically: “Assessing the room’s assets and making those the focal point as much as possible is the best way to make the room appealing,” she says. If it’s got great light, play that up with lighter colors to create a sense of expansiveness; if it has a stunning fireplace, draw attention to it.

Is it possible to have a small living room?

A living room is often the hub of a house, but when it’s cramped and narrow, choosing and arranging furniture can feel like an impossible math problem. The good news is that it’s possible to have a small living room that can do it all and still feel (relatively) spacious. One key to maximizing the potential of a small living room is carefully ...

How to add two bonus chairs to a living room?

Nesting stools are a cozy solution way to add two bonus chairs to your already-full living room. Pull 'em out when you have guest and push them away when you don't.

What is the key to small spaces?

The key to small spaces is investing in furniture that's multi-functional. This rolling cart offers counter space for eating when people are over, but can be pushed against the wall when it's just you.

What is the best thing about benches?

The best thing about benches is when you're hosting a play date, way more kids can fit around the table than with standard chairs. Plus, this one offers bonus storage underneath. Nesting stools are a cozy solution way to add two bonus chairs to your already-full living room.

What is one person's storage space?

One person's storage space is another person's office, bar or extra seating nook. If you have a closet in your most-cramped room, don't be afraid to think outside of the box.

Can you put soft chairs in a closet?

These soft chairs are basically sophisticated bean bags. And since they're flexible, you can stuff them out of sight and in a closet when not in use.

Can you use a stool as a seat?

The same stool you use to reach high-up storage in your kitchen can be used as a seat. Then, since they're short, you can tuck it under the table and out of the walkway when the party is over.

Can you host a party if your home isn't huge?

Just because your home isn't huge, doesn't mean you can't host a great party . These genius ideas result in extra seating that appears almost out of thin air (key word being almost ).

What is an ottoman in a living room?

An ottoman (or upholstered bench) as coffee table adds a nice, cushy look to your living room , and if guests show up it can easily make the switch to seating. Use a tray (as in this interior from Homepolish) to provide a resting spot for drinks, and make whisking away coffee-table clutter the work of a moment.

Where is the TV mounted on a sofa?

The TV is mounted to the wall directly across from the sofa, in a prime viewing spot, and a couple of low-backed chairs sit in front of it. This means the room can do double duty—perfect for watching television by yourself or with a friend, or for conversation with a larger group. Save Pin It See More Images.

What is a couch paired with?

From Domino, here’s a setup you don’t see often: a couch paired with, instead of a coffee table, a dining table, and two dining chairs. The reason people don’t do this very often probably has a lot to do with the fact that having a dining table in front of your couch makes it a lot harder to watch TV. But if this isn’t an issue for you, and you have people over for tea a lot more than you watch television, an arrangement like this one is a great way to add seating to your living room, and fit the functions of dining room and living room into a single space.

Can a small living room be a challenge?

Having a small living room can be a bit of a challenge, especially if you love to entertain. How do you fit in seating for all those people and still leave room to move? We’ve got some solutions.

How to make a room look bigger?

Using light colors, neutrals, and patterns that draw the eye vertically, you can make your space seem a little bigger than it is. This doesn’t necessarily maximize seating space on its own, but by making the eye think the room is not so small, you may be able to fit an extra seat or furniture piece without having the room look too cluttered.

What to do when working with a small room?

When you’re working with a small room, the last thing you want to do is choose oversized furniture. A fluffy couch and large recliner take up much more room than a modern sofa and simple 4-legged chair.

Can you decorate a small space?

Small spaces can be difficult to lay out and decorate, particularly if you have a large family or like to entertain and need a lot of seating space. But there are some decorating tricks and things you can do to maximize seating in a small space without creating a cluttered room.

Can you bring in a lightweight chair?

It’s nice to have some lightweight chairs or other pieces that you can bring in for guests but remove when it’s just your family so that the room isn’t too crowded.

Can you use an ottoman instead of a coffee table?

But by using an ottoman instead of a coffee table, you can have a space to put drinks and other items (just use trays if you need a flat surface) that can also double as extra seating if you have guests.