As an apartment hopper in Chicago, I haven’t been blessed with the largest spaces to work with, so I’ve had to get creative with my seating options! When planning seating arrangements (specifically in the living room) we tend to think of sofas & loveseats. However not all spaces can accommodate such large pieces, nor do those pieces work in every room! There are so many factors to consider when choosing seating including balance of the room, traffic flow, the focal point, the list goes on! Luckily there are so many great seating alternatives to your standard sofa & loveseat, and most of them can work in any room! Below is a list of some great alternatives, and I’ve linked some of my favorite pieces. Enjoy!

*This post contains affiliate links

Accent Chairs

Accent chairs are great because they add extra seating and don’t have a large footprint. They are also a great way to add personality, color and style to any room! They can be used at the end of your bed, near a window, across from a sofa, or positioned around an ottoman to create a conversation area.

1. White & Gold Chair

2. Fuschia Chair

3. Gray Chair

4. Green & Gold Chair

5. Beige Chair

Benches

Benches are so versatile and can be used in almost any room of your home! You can place a bench at the foot of your bed for an easy spot to throw on some socks, or in your entryway to provide guests with a spot to put on their shoes. A lot of benches have storage inside, which can be great for tucking away blankets or storing kids’ toys.

1. White Fur Bench

2. Pink & Gold Bench

3. Gray & Silver Bench

4. Black & Gold Bench

5. Blue & Gold Bench

Chaise Lounge/Daybed/Settee

A chaise, daybed or settee is a great alternative to a sofa, especially if you have a small space. They provide extra seating without breaking up a room, allowing you to create various furniture arrangements. They can act as a room divider without taking up too much visual space, which helps the room flow nicely. These pieces offer a cozy place to sit back and relax!

5. Charcoal Gray Chaise

Ottomans & Stools

Stools & ottomans are even more versatile than benches due to their small size. I love tucking these under console tables and pulling them out when extra seating is needed. You can also utilize ottomans and stools when you need to balance a room, but don’t have the space for a larger piece.

1. Black & Gold Stool

2. White Fur Stool

3. Blush Pink Ottoman

4. Pink Ottoman

5. Navy Stool

6. White & Gold Stool

Floor Poufs & Pillows

Floor poufs add a really fun element to rooms. When you see one, you just want to plop down on it! Since they’re small like stools & ottomans, you can easily move them around and use them in various rooms!

Ok, I know that was a lot! I hope you found this helpful - please let me know if you have any questions about seating options and arrangements! And don't forget to subscribe below for more tips & tricks like this! Have a wonderful day! <3

I am so excited to share the before & after photos of a recent project I worked on! This was a really fun and rewarding project as it was for a busy working mom who wanted to makeover her home office but didn’t have the time to do it on her own. The office is the first room you see when you walk into the house, so I wanted to make sure it made a statement and caught people’s eye.

Come tour the transformation!

Below is a "before" picture of the office. The room was dark and didn't provide a motivating work space. We wanted to brighten up the room and create a more functional space!

After:

Now, the room is so much brighter! We replaced the old furniture with a new desk & chair, new rug, a storage credenza and shelving - the room looks completely different! We brought in some beautiful gold & purple accents, as well as a few plants to give the room life!

Before:

After:

We brightened up the space by replacing the old curtains with white sheers, and took them all the way up to the ceiling to make the room appear larger. (Click here to learn how to make rooms appear larger!)