Your Living Room Might Be Better Off Without a Couch — Here’s Why

What if I told you that your living room might actually function better without a couch? Bear with me. If you live in a smaller home (think: 500 square feet), a sectional or sofa might make the family room feel even more crowded. While having a couch is a design tradition, Brian and Benita Lynch have a couch-less setup that makes their small living room feel more social and flexible. 

The couple lives in a 500-square-foot attic apartment and downsized from a significantly larger home. So when it came to furnishing their space, they had to be frugal about what items made the cut. A couch wasn’t one of them, and their solution is surprisingly conversation-friendly.  

Instead of a traditional couch or a loveseat, which are sometimes smaller, Brian and Benita placed four tub chairs in a circle formation. One of the most important reasons for the unique decision is to promote meaningful conversation and help Benita hear clearly. 

“[The seating arrangement] is perfect for hearing conversations without missing any gossip,” Benita said at the time of the House Tour. “I also wear hearing aids, as I was born with congenital hearing loss, therefore my life is all about positioning myself to hear others easily.”

Sofas are often not modular, and even if they are, they take up a lot of room, no matter how you position them. Having the chairs gives Benita and Brian the ability to make the room work for them at all times. For example, if they’re bored with the circular shape, they can create a square layout. Also, because their home is a one-bedroom, they’re still able to host guests thanks to the spatial freedom.

“The seats can move around as well if we want to change our style, and sometimes we put them to the side to allow a fold-up cot or two, to have extra guests stay sleeping in our living area,” Benita explained at the time of the House Tour. 

Benita and Brian’s seating alternative is a great reminder to think outside the box when furnishing your home. Just because something is typical, doesn’t mean it’s necessarily the best for your space. As Benita mentioned above, the formation allows for easier, more natural conversation while giving them more flexibility in a small footprint. To see more of their gorgeous apartment, visit the full House Tour.