Filed under: Your Home, Living Room, Design, etc, Experts, Furniture, Mitchell Gold and Bob Williams
Seating, seating all around! Photo: Mitchell Gold & Bob Williams
....Mitchell Gold & Bob Williams answer:
How about these options?
Armless sofa: Space-saving footprint, streamlined profile -- and it allows an extra person or two to share it at parties. On nights home alone, add cushy toss pillow for more comfort.
Sofa alternatives: Try a loveseat or what we call a "sofette" (settee size, but with sofa comfort). Rarely do more than two sit on a sofa, so save some inches and maybe fit another chair or allow more room for circulating. In very tight quarters, a chair and a half can do the trick.
Modular sectional: Customize it to your room so you don't waste space. Try two armless chairs and a chaise -- great for lounging or perching. Added benefit: modular pieces are easy to get in and out of a room when you move.
Note: Look for upholstery styles with slim arms, which gives more seating area and appears to take up less space.
Small-scale chairs. One of our favorite styles: the tub chair. It hugs your back, and lends a curve to a room. Armless chairs are great, of course. And be on the lookout for slim-arm versions of styles like leather club chairs.
Pull-up chairs. One of these scaled-down seats can be tucked in a corner and pulled into the conversation area when needed. The best ones look petite but sit as comfortably as a full-sized chair.
Dining chairs. Upholstered or slipcovered chairs can be carried in from the dining room, offering guests great comfort and a good look if you coordinate their fabric with your living room. Or use a space-saving dining chair instead of an occasional chair. And if you use one as a desk chair, it can also be backup living room seating.
Openwork chair: For example, an iconic mid-century Bertoia wire chair lends a lighter feel. It's a great look... though with limited seating in a room, you may prefer to get in as much upholstered-chair comfort as possible.
Bench and cube ottomans: Instead of a cocktail table, use upholstered ottomans to gain a few more spots. If they can be storage ottomans, even better.
Note: Include a few floor cushions and a soft rug for informal seating.
Whichever upholstery you choose, emphasize your room's intimacy:
o. Keep it calm with a simple scheme of two or three soft hues.
o. Put lights on dimmers.
o. Add mirrors to reflect light and give a more expansive feel.
o. Think double duty: a combo floor lamp/tray table beside a sofa, a slim console that can be cleared of accessories and used for serving.
o. Pare down accessories to help guests feel at ease moving about. Create a wall arrangement rather than displaying photos tabletop.
Reminder: Crucial to compact-space decorating is measuring. Be thorough, including things like doorway widths and windowsill heights. Bring measurements to the store, plus a floor plan and snapshot of your space if possible. If you want measuring backup, some stores will send someone to your home to help insure what you like will fit.