need ideas for adding seating (floor, counter, kitchen, stairs) - City-Data Forum

sycsummit · 01-17-2011, 02:24 PM

I rent a loft studio apartment in Cincinnati and I like to entertain. I love that my place is starting to become the favorite hangout spot for watching sports & movies, but lately I've had to break out the lawn chairs just to accommodate everyone! I have plenty of space, and I love the furniture I already have, but I'm short on ideas for expanding and making my living room more comfortable for a greater number of people. Here are some photos, any suggestions would be great!

I'm a bit limited front-to-back (TV wall to back wall/bathroom), but have plenty of space side to side in this room. I've changed one thing since I took these photos, I pulled the big chair up to the coffee table, 90 degrees rotated from the couch, and the ottoman is currently taking up the corner space next to the couch & chair (again - for more seating when I need it); this has freed up even more floor space between the living room and kitchen that's currently just sitting open. Hope this provides enough info! Thanks!

icibiu · 01-17-2011, 04:19 PM

I would suggest a few things, replace the coffee table with one of those large leather ottoman/coffee table combo's. I have one from bed bath and beyond that can seat two and inside are two more mini ottomans that can provide even more seating. It takes up less room than your coffe table and provides seating for 4. They have reversable or removable tray tops so you can still use it as a coffee table when people are not sitting on them. There is also a larger one that is a square and has four mini ottoman's inside so you could seat 6 or 7 people but it might be too large for your room.

Another thing you can do is get folding chairs from ikea, they have a few styles that are affordable but way more attractive than lawn chairs or aluminum folding chairs. I remember seeing a set of six once that came with a little hanging rack for them, but I don't think it was ikea. May have been BBB, Target or Wal-Mart.

Lastly, invite more girls less guys. For some reason guys hate sitting next to each other on the sofa!

plaidmom · 01-17-2011, 04:45 PM

I agree with the ottoman to replace the coffee table you have. Either that or a bench. Same concept works as a coffee table when not being used as seating with the addition of a tray or two. You'l just have to make sure that shorter people sit in front.

It will also mean that people on the couch will lose a place to set drinks and snacks so you may have to invest in (gulp

) TV trays. I think there are more stylish option available now.

I notice that arm chair is huge. Is it one of those "chair and a half" deals? If so, do two people (a couple perhaps?) ever share it? If not, I'd look for two smaller side chairs that coordinate with (not match) your sofa. Navy would be attractive and masculine.

Also, cute bar stools. Could you buy a fourth (or even fifth) one? It looks like you have room at the counter and that can act as seating at game time.

Finally, as the poster above mentioned look for inexpensive folding chairs at places like Ikea and Target. If all else fails ask you guests to pack camp-chairs.

findinghope · 01-17-2011, 06:28 PM

i agree with replacing the coffee table with the ottomans. i have some i got online from walmart that look like brown leather. inside is storage. i bet you can fit 2-3 of the behind your couch at that wall.

sycsummit · 01-17-2011, 08:17 PM

Thanks for the input, all, I was thinking more along the lines of just getting another couch/loveseat or something more permanent. I have ways to create seating, including those bar stools, but the whole point is for people to be comfortable. I have SO much space side to side, I have given serious thought to getting a great big sectional, or part of a sectional, and putting it in place that black pseudo-recliner, along the wall with the windows. I'm just a bit limited because it's on the 3rd floor and the hallways leading downstairs to the entryway are quite narrow - just getting that couch up here took me, 3 other dudes, and disassembling every fixture & doorframe along the way just to squeeze it through. Even just an extra-long sofa would probably work, though it would be a pain to get up here, but I can't visualize another place for my existing couch that would look good. In all honesty, I really only need another, maybe 3, permanent comfortable seats, so it'll likely come down to just buying one large furniture item and shifting around what I already have.

The guy/girl ratio is usually pretty equal because so many of my friends are married. In response to the post above, that IS a huge chair, and it does work for couples. The arms are actually padded pretty well and have served as seats, too. I will never get rid of this chair, its the most comfy seat in the whole place.

Hopes · 01-17-2011, 08:22 PM

Buy a sectional. Pay for the delivery that way you don't have to worry about getting it up the stairs.

It looks like you can store your existing sofa in the room behind the kitchen. That way you won't have to give up your furniture. You'll be set when you move to a bigger place.

Hopes · 01-17-2011, 08:30 PM

I wanted to also mention the importance of the scaling of your new sectional.

Don't buy a sectional that has big arms (like your sofa) and that's super deep.

The more space given to arms, the less space you have for seating.

Nobody wants to sit on the arms of funiture.

Buy a sectional that is streamlined and sleek, not bulky.

Contemporary styles will have more seating possibilities than traditional styles.