There are multiple interior design trends that tell you different ways to style your living room. While most of them use the mighty sofa as the focus of the room, you can always opt for a sofaless living room. There are no set rules to the type of furniture you should be using for the living room and that’s the beauty of interior designing. This guide consists of the different types of seating arrangements you can opt for when it comes to decorating your living room.
Why decorate a Living Room Without a Sofa?
Less space is one of the most common reasons why people choose to decorate their living room without a sofa. For smaller spaces, a sofa or couch can end up looking and feeling too stuffy. Individual chairs might be a better option for smaller spaces. On the other hand, some people might prefer low-level seating or floor seating. This could just be a personal preference or a cultural preference.
1. Armchairs
Armchairs come in all shapes, sizes and designs. Moreover, they offer a comfortable and stylish seating option for your living room. Whether you have a sofa or not, people often tend to have armchairs in their living rooms anyway. Winged armchairs are the traditional style of armchairs that will sit well with just about any interior design style.
On the other hand, you can go for a statement piece such as tub chairs in rattan, bamboo or jute. These chairs can be very comfortable and offer a rather eclectic look to your living room.
If you have the space for a sofa but don’t really want one, then you can always fill up the space with four armchairs a stylish coffee table and a sideboard or a bookshelf. Four armchairs instead of a sofa make the space look a lot bigger than it is.
2. Chairs with Ottomans
Opt for a classic leather chair and ottoman. The chair and ottoman combination are perfect for lounging style in the comfort of your living room. Moreover, the ottoman can be used as an independent seat if needed.
If you want a softer look for your living room then a fabric chair and ottoman would do the trick. Just two chairs and ottomans provide you with comfortable lounge seating for two people or four people if needed.
Additionally, you can add a few accent stools in the area for more seating. These stools don’t take up much space, so they are perfect for small spaces.
3. Recliner Chairs
Are you a fan of the TV show F.R.I.E.N.D.S? Then you would remember Chandler and Joey’s iconic apartment and them lounging on their super-comfy recliner chairs. Two recliner chairs in the living room are exactly what you need if you want seating that is practical and sleek at the same time. Recliner chairs are available in a myriad of styles, colours and materials. Just choose one that goes with your home’s aesthetic and you have yourself a TV show-inspired living room.
4. Floor Chairs
It may be a Muji-styled home or a personal preference, but floor chairs are an excellent alternative to sofas. There are different types of floor chairs you can opt for based on how you’ll be styling the living room. If you only want floor seating for the room, then you can go for a floor sofa. These are floor chairs that can accommodate 2-3 people but don’t have any armrests or legs. Alternatively, you can use low-lying armchairs or accent chairs along with individual floor chairs to make your living room setup unique.
5. Bean Bags
Just like floor chairs, bean bags are another floor seating option. They are comfortable, malleable and easy to handle. Bean bags are absolutely loved by children, so if you have kids of your own, getting bean bags for the living room might be a great idea.
6. Chaise Lounge
While chaise lounges are often associated with luxury, they can be a very comfortable seating option. Moreover, there are so many different types of chaise lounges that you can choose from. You can opt for a stylish single-seater or go for daybed style chaise.
For our rustic and boho interior lovers, there are simpler design options. A bench-style chaise lounge fits perfectly with these interior styles, as can be seen in the image above.
7. Rocking Chairs
If your living room is going to be an amalgamation of accent chairs, stools and floor seating, then you can definitely add rocking chairs to the mix. For parents with newborns, older folk and anyone who enjoys rocking back and forth to kill time, these chairs are a great investment. Recliner, adjustable and fabric rocking chairs are just a few options, to begin with. You can always go for the classic wooden rocking chair, but you also have the option of leather and metal.
8. Accent Benches
Another interesting way of adding more seating options to the living room is through accent benches. These come in a variety of designs, each more unique than the other. You can choose between a classic wooden bench and a storage bench that looks like old lockers put together. Besides that, there are designs that include fabric or there are benches made of rattan.
9. Hammocks
Yes, you heard that right. Unconventional is what we are going for here and let’s be honest, hammocks are comfortable and beautiful to look at. They immediately add personality to the room.
