How to Create Extra Living Room Seating for Christmas Guests
Whether it’s modifying what you own, shopping smart or trying some tactical rearranging, there are ways to seat a crowd this Christmas
Finding enough chairs to fit around your dining table is a challenge in itself at Christmas, but once lunch has been consumed and your over-stuffed guests want somewhere to relax, will there be enough room for them to sit down in your living space?
While squeezing in another sofa is not practical or feasible, there are ways to boost the seating for those busy festive get-togethers. From plundering the house for additional chairs to knocking up a solution yourself, these 11 tips should help you seat a crowd this Christmas – comfortably!
While squeezing in another sofa is not practical or feasible, there are ways to boost the seating for those busy festive get-togethers. From plundering the house for additional chairs to knocking up a solution yourself, these 11 tips should help you seat a crowd this Christmas – comfortably!
Choose armchairs with more
If you’re buying an armchair, choose one with a matching footstool. For a small additional investment, you will ramp up the comfort of the chair and, when guests descend at Christmas, have double the seating. Rather than introducing separate stools, the chair’s matching stool keeps the living room coordinated, and it can be moved around to create overflow seating exactly where it’s needed.
If you’re buying an armchair, choose one with a matching footstool. For a small additional investment, you will ramp up the comfort of the chair and, when guests descend at Christmas, have double the seating. Rather than introducing separate stools, the chair’s matching stool keeps the living room coordinated, and it can be moved around to create overflow seating exactly where it’s needed.
Bring in a bench
A bench, wherever it lives in the house, is a really helpful piece. Position it in the hall to create a slim place to perch when pulling on shoes, then bring it into the living room to provide festive seating. Alternatively, use a bench as a long coffee table and then clear it off for sitting on when guests arrive. If you can position it against a wall, all the better, so you can hand out cushions for people to lean against.
A bench, wherever it lives in the house, is a really helpful piece. Position it in the hall to create a slim place to perch when pulling on shoes, then bring it into the living room to provide festive seating. Alternatively, use a bench as a long coffee table and then clear it off for sitting on when guests arrive. If you can position it against a wall, all the better, so you can hand out cushions for people to lean against.
Find something flexible
With space at a premium in so many homes, a whole wealth of designs specifically made to multi-task are now available. But you can also get creative with vintage finds. This wooden barrel would work hard in a living room all year round, not just at Christmas! As well as functioning as a side table, it can also act as a stool for guests to perch on.
With space at a premium in so many homes, a whole wealth of designs specifically made to multi-task are now available. But you can also get creative with vintage finds. This wooden barrel would work hard in a living room all year round, not just at Christmas! As well as functioning as a side table, it can also act as a stool for guests to perch on.
Take to the floor
Floor cushions can be stored out of sight, used in a kid’s bedroom or stacked in a corner, but when Christmas friends and family come, scatter them across the floor to create a chilled-out place to lounge – ideal after a big lunch.
Floor cushions can be stored out of sight, used in a kid’s bedroom or stacked in a corner, but when Christmas friends and family come, scatter them across the floor to create a chilled-out place to lounge – ideal after a big lunch.
Beanbag it
Beanbags don’t simply belong in kids’ room – they can work well in living spaces, too, and are easy to squash out of sight when not needed. Anyone handy with a sewing machine could knock up a beanbag for very little money, making them a purse-friendly overflow seating option. Or choose a more structured version like the one above if you want a more grown-up look.
Beanbags don’t simply belong in kids’ room – they can work well in living spaces, too, and are easy to squash out of sight when not needed. Anyone handy with a sewing machine could knock up a beanbag for very little money, making them a purse-friendly overflow seating option. Or choose a more structured version like the one above if you want a more grown-up look.
Stack or fold
If you have lightweight dining chairs that stack or fold, they can easily be moved from space to space in a way that heavy wooden chairs can’t so easily. Look out for folding bistro chairs or vintage school chairs that look great, weigh little and can be neatly stored away or quickly grabbed from round the dining table to be used in the living room.
Tour the rest of this modern rustic barn conversion
If you have lightweight dining chairs that stack or fold, they can easily be moved from space to space in a way that heavy wooden chairs can’t so easily. Look out for folding bistro chairs or vintage school chairs that look great, weigh little and can be neatly stored away or quickly grabbed from round the dining table to be used in the living room.
Tour the rest of this modern rustic barn conversion
Borrow a beautiful outside piece
A lot of contemporary garden furniture can be happily used indoors, thanks to the often slim styling and lightweight materials. So head out onto the terrace and see which chairs you can steal for a stint indoors.
A lot of contemporary garden furniture can be happily used indoors, thanks to the often slim styling and lightweight materials. So head out onto the terrace and see which chairs you can steal for a stint indoors.
Do it yourself
How about making additional, flexible seating yourself from inexpensive reclaimed materials and DIY store basics? This coffee table consists of a palette on casters. Clear it off, lay a large cushion or folded blanket on top and it becomes a handy and informal seat for guests. (Just be sure to choose casters with a brake mechanism – you don’t want your guests rolling away!)
How about making additional, flexible seating yourself from inexpensive reclaimed materials and DIY store basics? This coffee table consists of a palette on casters. Clear it off, lay a large cushion or folded blanket on top and it becomes a handy and informal seat for guests. (Just be sure to choose casters with a brake mechanism – you don’t want your guests rolling away!)
Source a generous footstool
A large footstool is a great investment for a living room, as it can perform a host of tasks. Choose one that contains useful storage inside but is padded, so it can do double service as a coffee table and a footstool. Then, when guests arrive, clear it off and push it against a wall to act as additional seating.
A large footstool is a great investment for a living room, as it can perform a host of tasks. Choose one that contains useful storage inside but is padded, so it can do double service as a coffee table and a footstool. Then, when guests arrive, clear it off and push it against a wall to act as additional seating.
Plunder the bedroom…
…or the landing or hallway. Most homes have the odd, unmatched chair lurking somewhere, whether it’s acting as somewhere to sling clothes in the bedroom or loitering in a guest room. Bring it down and, to help it feel at home in the living room, add matching cushions or a smart throw.
Or consider a rocking chair… See some of the most stylish designs
TELL US…
Do you have any tips for creating more seating in the living room, especially for Christmas? Please share them in the Comments below.
…or the landing or hallway. Most homes have the odd, unmatched chair lurking somewhere, whether it’s acting as somewhere to sling clothes in the bedroom or loitering in a guest room. Bring it down and, to help it feel at home in the living room, add matching cushions or a smart throw.
Or consider a rocking chair… See some of the most stylish designs
TELL US…
Do you have any tips for creating more seating in the living room, especially for Christmas? Please share them in the Comments below.
Large, soft pouffes are great for squashing into corners to supplement seating. Their soft structure and lack of solid framework helps them feel lightweight and flexible, perfect for perching on when your family has already nabbed the sofa!