Yes, You Can Do Without a Sofa in the Living Room!
This is how to create a more appealing and cosy atmosphere in your living room without the need for a sofa
There are a number of reasons why a sofa may not be workable in your living room. You may just be short on space and not able to fit in a sofa, or there may be particular pieces of furniture you hope to incorporate that serve the same purpose, such as a built-in banquette. Here are a number of ways to replace your couches with fun and unique living room seating.
There are no interior design rules that say that every living space must have a sofa as part of its furniture mix. In fact, with so many innovative and quirky seating alternatives available, it almost seems like a shame to settle on an ordinary two or three-seat leather couch as the hero piece of the room.
If you’re seeking a different look for your living room or perhaps your space cannot accommodate a large sofa, here are eight comfortable, functional – not to mention attractive – seating options to use in place of the humble sofa.
1. Hang up a hammock
Nothing says relaxation better than an awesome indoor hammock. For a light and airy boho look opt for a cream hammock made from woven cotton with crocheted trim.
Always check with your architect before hanging any type of soft furnishings from the walls or ceiling, to make sure the structure can take the extra weight. They may need to add extra supports to be certain it’s structurally sound.
Nothing says relaxation better than an awesome indoor hammock. For a light and airy boho look opt for a cream hammock made from woven cotton with crocheted trim.
Always check with your architect before hanging any type of soft furnishings from the walls or ceiling, to make sure the structure can take the extra weight. They may need to add extra supports to be certain it’s structurally sound.
2. Provide a window seat
An inviting window seat can be a wonderfully space-efficient way to add comfy seating to a living space. A built-in window seat or, as seen here, a curved banquette, can also offer a comfy perch from which to enjoy a nice view and to add some character when a room is too plain.
7 Great Ways to Utilise Your Bay Window
An inviting window seat can be a wonderfully space-efficient way to add comfy seating to a living space. A built-in window seat or, as seen here, a curved banquette, can also offer a comfy perch from which to enjoy a nice view and to add some character when a room is too plain.
7 Great Ways to Utilise Your Bay Window
Window seats are relatively straightforward to add to an existing bay window. For those without, you can achieve a pleasing result by constructing a seat out of a bench or low cabinets below another window and adding seat cushions – as seen here.
If you’re going down the custom route, why not also add drawers into the cavity under the seat for extra storage to stash all those cushions and knick-knacks.
If you’re going down the custom route, why not also add drawers into the cavity under the seat for extra storage to stash all those cushions and knick-knacks.
3. Scatter the bean bags
No longer exclusively the domain of university dorms, kid’s playrooms and share houses, there’s now a huge variety of chic and surprisingly comfy bean bag chair options to explore.
Forget the conical, saggy shape of bean bags of the past – there are now stylish tailored leather and sophisticated velvet varieties that have recliner forms, chaise varieties and even ottomans to rest your footsies on.
Use bean bags to add interesting shapes to your living space and pops of colour to your decor. What’s more, bean bags are super lightweight, so it’s easy to move them around and try new layouts.
No longer exclusively the domain of university dorms, kid’s playrooms and share houses, there’s now a huge variety of chic and surprisingly comfy bean bag chair options to explore.
Forget the conical, saggy shape of bean bags of the past – there are now stylish tailored leather and sophisticated velvet varieties that have recliner forms, chaise varieties and even ottomans to rest your footsies on.
Use bean bags to add interesting shapes to your living space and pops of colour to your decor. What’s more, bean bags are super lightweight, so it’s easy to move them around and try new layouts.
4. Rig up a playful swing
Embrace your inner child by rigging up the dream indoor swing you’ve always wanted in your living room. There are so many attractive and playful ways to get creative with swinging seats inside.
For a slightly roomier hanging seat, go for a suspended couch or daybed or a hanging love-seat. They’re the perfect spot for story time with the kids or a siesta on a Sunday afternoon.
Embrace your inner child by rigging up the dream indoor swing you’ve always wanted in your living room. There are so many attractive and playful ways to get creative with swinging seats inside.
For a slightly roomier hanging seat, go for a suspended couch or daybed or a hanging love-seat. They’re the perfect spot for story time with the kids or a siesta on a Sunday afternoon.
Inject some ’70s glam into your space with a hanging rattan or wicker egg chair, or a vintage-style and very groovy see-through plastic Bubble Chair. If you don’t want to make any permanent structural changes, consider opting for an egg seat on a stand.
10 Fresh Ways to Revive Rattan
10 Fresh Ways to Revive Rattan
5. Set up boho floor cushions
Floor cushions are a creative way to get extra seating into a tight living room and they give the space a laid-back, bohemian feel. They’re available in a rainbow of colours and patterns, and there are even varieties with back rests for added comfort.
Floor cushions are a creative way to get extra seating into a tight living room and they give the space a laid-back, bohemian feel. They’re available in a rainbow of colours and patterns, and there are even varieties with back rests for added comfort.
Achieve a cool Moroccan-inspired vibe for your living area with the addition of floor cushions in luxe exotic textiles in place of a couch. Layer on throw pillows to make the floor cushions extra cosy and inviting for guests. Team your cushions with ornate metallic accessories (lanterns, mirrors, side tables, etc.) and a suitably patterned rug to enhance the Moroccan theme.
Add a low coffee table to fill and define the area as a place for unwinding and entertaining. That way you can easily rest your glass of wine as you lay back in your pillow-filled ‘sunken lounge’ area.
Add a low coffee table to fill and define the area as a place for unwinding and entertaining. That way you can easily rest your glass of wine as you lay back in your pillow-filled ‘sunken lounge’ area.
6. Value an elegant easy chair
Don’t be too quick to look past the addition of an easy chair or two into your living space. Sometimes there’s nothing better than snuggling up in an oversized armchair and putting your feet up with your favourite book in hand. This kind of cosiness and comfort just can’t be matched by what a sofa provides.
Don’t be too quick to look past the addition of an easy chair or two into your living space. Sometimes there’s nothing better than snuggling up in an oversized armchair and putting your feet up with your favourite book in hand. This kind of cosiness and comfort just can’t be matched by what a sofa provides.
Complement the armchairs with a plush ottoman for extra seating, or as a spot on which to place a tray.
How to use ottomans
How to use ottomans
7. Take advantage of vintage
For timeless appeal and the ultimate in sophistication, you can’t look past the Eames lounge chair and ottoman. This stylish chair works with almost any decor style you can think of. It would look at home in any industrial, beachy, glam, Scandinavian, retro or contemporary setting.
For timeless appeal and the ultimate in sophistication, you can’t look past the Eames lounge chair and ottoman. This stylish chair works with almost any decor style you can think of. It would look at home in any industrial, beachy, glam, Scandinavian, retro or contemporary setting.
If retro styling is your thing, you could also try an upholstered and enveloping Egg chair and ottoman. The Egg chair will not only provide a cosy spot to sit, its beautiful design will act as a piece of art in your living room.
1 Chair, 10 Homes: The Statement-Making Egg Chair
1 Chair, 10 Homes: The Statement-Making Egg Chair
8. Position a chaise longue
The sofa’s cousin, the chaise, is part-chair, part-couch, part-ottoman. It is both an elegant and versatile living room addition that works in almost any space.
The chaise acts as a perfect substitute for a sofa, especially in a smaller living room, because it gives you space to fully recline, without being as imposing as a couch.
Iconic Designs: 14 Variations on the Chaise Longue
The sofa’s cousin, the chaise, is part-chair, part-couch, part-ottoman. It is both an elegant and versatile living room addition that works in almost any space.
The chaise acts as a perfect substitute for a sofa, especially in a smaller living room, because it gives you space to fully recline, without being as imposing as a couch.
Iconic Designs: 14 Variations on the Chaise Longue
Once a staple of 19th-century living rooms, the chaise is now available in a wide variety of traditional looks and sleek modern shapes, materials and styles. Indulge your love of vintage with a velvet Chesterfield-style chaise. Or, if a contemporary look is more up your alley, opt for a sleek leather chaise in black or cherry red.
TELL US
Tell us what seat you’d prefer to have over a conventional sofa in your living space in the Comments below.
Browse living room photos for more design ideas
Tell us what seat you’d prefer to have over a conventional sofa in your living space in the Comments below.
Browse living room photos for more design ideas
