Modern Living Room Essentials

Of course, every style and every person has its own look and the objects and furnishings that set it apart. But nearly every living room will have core pieces that define the space and make the flexible, comfortable, and central space we all know and love.

Sofas for Modern Living Rooms

 The sofa is, undoubtedly the anchor of any living room. As the primary seating in the room, it must be large enough to fit everyone who regularly uses it, allow for some extra space for guests, be proportional enough to create a good flow through the room, and set the tone for the rest of the room. A big job, but one we know pieces like the Inheritance Sectional and No. 6 Sofa more than accomplish with both their silhouette and materials.

Must Have Accent Chairs 

Sometimes this is as simple as a wing-packed recliner and sometimes it’s as impactful as the Eames’ famous lounge chair. No matter what direction you choose to go in, this is a piece we love because it can be moved around, be that barrier to define more open concepts, bring in that color or pattern, or just be a soft place to land at the end of the day. Either way, it acts as the complement and companion to your sofa, so choose the two together for a cohesive look.

Why You Need a Rug

Now, some living rooms might just need a more open feel. Or maybe you have unique flooring you want to show off. But for the most part, the living room rug is a must. This is a great item to use to set the boundaries of the living room area, absorb sound in rooms with high ceilings, create soft tactile experiences, and build in some color. You can also use rugs like the Self Mirage or View Tufted Rug as art installations.

Don't Forget the Credenza

The credenza can take a few different forms in modern living rooms. Either lean into the classic look—cabinets and shelves all topped with art and lighting—or go a little off track with a floating wall shelf, large bookshelves that are adjustable to also fit electronics, or just use a bar cart for smaller, flexible storage. The primary point here is to have some sort of storage to fit everyday necessities, hide away remotes and extra blankets, or display books and other décor.

Essential Living Room Lighting

Your living room lighting must be layered. It’s almost non-negotiable, but it’s also a very natural thing to do in a space like this. You’ll have your large, overhead lighting in the form of recessed lights, some pendants, or maybe a large chandelier fixture. Then you’ll want to incorporate some floor lamps and task lights for more specific lighting in key seating areas. Finally, bring in some spotlight sconces or fun shelf lights to fill in where needed as accents. A light we’ve been loving lately is the Stirrup 3 Uplighter because it can be used on the side table, shelf, or as a spotlight for art.

The Best Ways to Add More Seating

Now on the crux of this article: how to add more seating. You’ve arranged your furniture, sourced a good sofa, fun accent chair, and strategically placed all your lighting. Now you have guests coming over and you know there will be overflow. Here are a few ways to address the problem before it’s a problem.

Benches for Seating Two or More

A bench is a classic way to slip more seating into your living room without introducing huge furniture that makes the room feel crowded. Plus, benches tend to seat two to four more people so with one bench you can provide a decent amount of extra seating. If you have a bench at your dining room table, bring it into the living room. Or, the bench can be a part of your regular décor when put under a window, placed behind the sofa, or just pushed up against a wall.

Three benches we recommend for living rooms: Highland Bench, Beam Bench, and Big Foot Bench.

Use Stools to Squeeze in More Guests

Like a bench, the stool can be a very flexible piece. Moving from room to room, stools can address seating in any setting. We love using stools as extra seating in the dining room as well, on patios, in bedrooms, and especially in living rooms where they can slip right into the gaps between chairs, sofas, and tables. One of the best things about most stools is they can act as side tables when not on duty as seating, so you can easily use them throughout your regular routine.

Right now, we love these stools for use in living rooms: Stump Stool, Tribu Stool, Offset Stool.

Consider Sectionals or Loveseats

Utilizing sectionals and loveseats is the old school way of incorporating extra seating in living rooms, but it is still popular because it works. The sectional not only adds more seating, but can often create a more intimate seating arrangement that really invites people in. But we also love the practice of arranging various loveseats to form a conversation area or choosing a loveseat instead of an accent chair to add that little bit of extra seating right off the bat.

Our favorite sectional and loveseat: The sectional must be the Silverlake Sectional while our favorite loveseat has to be the JORD 2-Seater.

Use Large Ottomans for Comfort and Style

Ottomans are a masterful way to really elevate the comfort of any lounge chair or sofa. But they can also step in and serve as seating. Most ottomans offer a wide cushion and automatically match the other pieces of furniture because they were meant to be paired with them in the first place. It’s a win-win. Like stools, ottomans can often be placed in a gaps between other seating, and like benches, they serve more than one purpose in the room.

The best ottomans for extra seating in the living room: Rico Lounger Ottoman, Elizabeth Ottoman, Mogensen 2202 Ottoman.

Easily Add Extra Seating

Few things are worse as a host than realizing halfway through your gatherings that there just isn’t enough seating. With some planning and some clever additions to your living room, you can ensure there is plenty of space for everyone. Whether you’re adding to a sofa arrangement, looking for multiple accent chairs, thinking of purchasing a sectional, or just need some stools and benches to style around the room, HORNE has everything you need to easily add extra seating to any modern living room.

Explore our collection of modern living room furniture and discover the best of contemporary, Scandinavian, and Mid-Century Modern seating.

Explore related collections, including Modern Coffee Tables, Coffee Tables, and Side Tables, and visit our design guides for a broader point of view.