Whether for the living or dining room at home, or the reception, office floor or meeting room in a commercial setting, seating is an incredibly important part of facilitating optimal relaxation, social interaction and welcoming and productive work environments.

Whether sofas, armchairs, ottomans, poufs, benches or a chaise longue for relaxing in comfort, or stools, dining chairs or office chairs, seating furniture needs to be chosen wisely – with proper consideration given to how best to arrange it. 

How should I arrange my living room furniture?

In a home where entertaining is a regular occurrence, it is vital to have ample seating –arranged in a way that encourages conversation. Rather than the furniture facing the television, consider a face-to-face arrangement with a three seater sofa opposite two armchairs over a low coffee table. This compact arrangement will work in even smaller rooms. 

If the home is more family oriented, and generally a place for relaxing and winding down, then a couple of sofas or a couch and a chaise lounge might be better suited. Pair them with matching or contrasting ottomans or poufs for a footrest, extra seating, or a casual coffee table alternative. 

What are the best seating options for a small space? 

• Armchairs

• Chairs 

• Stools

• Benches

• Floor cushions

A smaller living space may not easily accommodate a sofa or lounge suite. While an L-shaped three seater may fit in a square space, consider doing away with the traditional sofa and armchair set and make use of more slimline comfortable chairs – and other creative seating options. 

What are the best materials for dining chairs?

Dining chairs need to be hard wearing, durable – but stylish and consistent with the interior design of the home. Leather is therefore a common choice as it ticks all these boxes being resilient to tearing, peeling and heat – with faux leather also a strong consideration for a tighter budget.

Upholstered dining chairs offer the comfort of padding and an endless array of fabric textures, colours and patterns, so are also a popular option – while for outdoor dining, wood and steel provide durability and weather resistance.

What should I look for in seating furniture for a commercial setting? 

Much like in the home, commercial seating needs to cater to a wide range of needs and purposes. Seating requirements in an office or premise where external visitors are regularly welcomed will include ample comfortable reception seating as well as ergonomically supportive office and meeting room chairs. 

Sofas and dining chairs should also be considered wisely, with durable materials a must as usage is likely to be much higher than in the home.