Follow HGTV Star Breegan Jane's Tips To Make The Most Of Seating Space In Your Home

You'll need seating throughout your home, so it's a feature you'll want to put a lot of thought into. Seating adds comfortable and functional aspects to a room, but you shouldn't buy the first comfy or stylish sofa you fall in love with. Breegan Jane urges anyone decorating their space to think strategically and maximize the seating in their home.

Take, for instance, the living room, where most people will do most of their lounging and relaxing. When it comes to how much seating you should have, experts suggest four to five options in the living room, according to Home Stratosphere. That doesn't mean five individual pieces but rather five seating options. You should keep your lifestyle and the home's residents in mind when choosing which type of seating is right for you.

Don't feel daunted when you have to select a sofa or dining chair. "[T]here are a few simple things that can maximize seating in your home and make life a bit more comfortable," Breegan Jane says.

Before picking out or purchasing a piece of furniture, you'll want to consider how much room you have. "People often shop for the pieces that catch their eye instead of ones that best suit the dimensions of the space," Breegan Jane says. "That beautiful, tufted couch in the ideal shade you're obsessed with? It won't be nearly as stunning in your home if it crowds the room in an unappealing way. Attempting to fit a couch, loveseat, and accent chair in a smaller space won't give you more room, it will dwarf it." You'll want to start by measuring the room to know how much space you have to work with.

Don't choose a sofa that takes up an entire wall; instead, opt for one that leaves at least 18 inches on either side of the sofa, suggests Apt 2B. This will leave you room to walk around the sofa or place furniture like a lamp or side table. "[T]ake advantage of every square foot of your space. But, do it in an effective manner," Breegan Jane urges. "Opt for a sectional that can seat many people." One sectional that can fit multiple people is better than crowding the room with furniture. Or try modular furniture, which can allow you to customize the configuration in whatever way you need, according to JoyBird. Breegan Jane raves that multiple configurations "will give you additional options to tailor the seating."

You might need more seating but don't have the space to add another sofa, loveseat, or accent chair. This is when you can think outside the box to add more seating without overwhelming the room. "When it comes to seating, comfort is KING! Don't forsake the use of fluffy, oversized floor cushions or ottomans when you need to maximize your seating," suggests Breegan Jane. These options might be unconventional, but they're a great way to add more comfy seating without taking up a lot of floor space.

Oversized floor cushions allow for casual seating, especially when you're trying to accommodate friends and family, says Gharpedia. Stack them up when not in use and lay them out around the room for a quick seating addition. You can line them up around a coffee table for a game night or position them in front of the television to watch movies. Benches and ottomans are more options that can act as a decorative accent as well as seating when you need it.

When you don't have the option to extend your living space or add more seating, you need to get clever with how you use storage throughout your home. "If your family's home needs to conveniently seat several, consider options like a kitchen banquette instead of standard chairs or a mixture of chairs on one side of your dining room table and a bench on the other," says Breegan Jane. A kitchen banquet is a great option for casual seating in an eat-in kitchen. And benches at your dining room table offer versatility and help save space while allowing you to see more people, says Oak Furnitureland. But they lack a back and can be difficult to get in and out of, so they might not be the best option for dinner parties.

And look around your home for unexpected places to add a space to relax. "Cozy nooks hidden away under staircases and bay window reading nooks definitely add a dash of comfort in unexpected ways," Breegan Jane suggests. Nooks under the stairs can provide a little place to read or a desk area to do work. But before you knock out a wall, make sure it's not load-bearing. Walls around stairs tend to be load-bearing, according to DIY Without Fear. It's best to have an engineer ensure the wall isn't load-bearing before having the wall removed. Once removed, you can use the space under the stairs as a cozy nook.