This Living Room Seating Trend Will Be Big In 2023

Originally, living rooms — including parlors and drawing rooms — were used as places of visitation for lost loved ones, or only utilized on fanciful occasions. However, in the early 20th century, Edward Bok, an editor for Ladies' Home Journal, suggested we start to shift how we think of the living room. Credited with coining the term "living room," Bok wrote that the area should operate as a space for entertaining in the home rather than only for show or bereavement (via Now We Know Em).

Today, in a nearly post-pandemic world, where socializing is coming back to the norm, it seems it's time to take a new look at the living room again and the purpose it serves in the home. According to Livingetc, a living room's layout should promote healthy socialization within the furniture, including couches, armchairs, loveseats, tables, and more. For a cozy setting, you might choose low-to-floor chairs or convertible pieces that support the right fit for comfort and engagement.

Although trends change periodically, this year will be about getting the living room back to a vibe that is both convivial and entertaining. Whether big or small, formal or relaxed, you can also revive your seating arrangement by mixing various eras and color palettes while giving significance to the much-needed space.

As noted, experts predict social seating to trend in 2023 as we continue to emerge from the pandemic and periods of shut down and isolation. To this end, the living room looks to be once more a space of continual use, where you and your guests can meet and unwind. To establish this kind of social seating within your living room, think of connections.

Whatever your interior design is — minimal, industrial, midcentury modern, bohemian, etc., make sure you have the appropriate pieces for an interactive layout. Also, while focusing on the support of intimacy and relationships within your living room, the design might incorporate sustainable furnishings that are easy to clean and maintain, per The Everygirl.

Additionally, when determining what your space requires, make sure there's enough seating available for the number of people intended while remaining aware of the existing flow and focal point of the room. To promote conversation, you might choose to incorporate a table, cabinet, or other coffee table-style piece to allow your furnishings to be centralized.

Although the living room above has a mounted television, you might eliminate it altogether, as it can stunt genuine interaction. Other eye-catching conversation starters for the space might be a modern or reclaimed stone fireplace, captivating wall mural, or a picture gallery.

To support social seating, make things bright and cozy by filling in the space with the right balance of couches and chairs and smaller pieces like ottomans, poufs, and even pillows.

What kind of shape should your social-seating living room encompass? Whether it's L-shaped, U-shaped, spherical, or symmetrical, you'll want to point your seating pieces toward each other to help facilitate conversation. Also, keep them within arm's reach of a table, tray, or other reliable surface for resting drinks or other items on. You could station your furniture directly across from each other or go for a camp-like feel with pieces positioned in the round. However you choose to arrange your seating, just make sure it's inclusive.

When creating your social living room, start with the largest piece of furniture you have like a couch, sofa, or chaise lounge, and then build around it with your chairs, accent tables, lamps, etc. You can maintain the flow of the room with suitable thoroughfares in between your pieces as well, while keeping the layout cozy and welcoming within the center.