Do it! Just MHO, but I like that configuation better anyway and am giving our couch in the keeping room to DS so I can do just that!

Another idea is four chairs around a round table (yes, I admit it, that is what I want to do in another small sitting area we have).

I'm not sure that a chair-and-a-half is all that useful. Too small for two people and wasted space (especially in a small room) for one person.
Two loveseats are fine I think. Or what about one loveseat on one wall and two smaller chairs in front of the window with a small table between them. Do you have room for that? Actually it doesn't matter which wall that configuration goes on but it would mix it up a bit. With the two chairs you have more options as circumstances dictate when entertaining.

Sorry - you're probably already doing this but search for or go to places that specialize in apartment/condo sized furniture. Arms and backs are often narrower, shapes are less bulky and all without sacrificing actual seat size.

I think you'd do better with four smaller scaled armchairs or a pair of apartment sized sofas than two loveseats. I don't see four adults sitting comfortably on two loveseats...unless they were VERY close friends.

There is a very wide variety of sizes of couches and loveseats. I would go for something with slim features (slim arms especially) to maximize seating space for the size of sofa. I think it's certainly fine to use single or multiple loveseats or small "apartment sofas" instead of a full sized sofa. Personally, I determine the maximum and minimum sizes of furniture for the layout I want. Then I hunt around for furniture that I like that will fit the space.

Would that mean you'd have to sacrifice a comfortable place to lounge about reading a book on rainy days or to take a decadent nap in front of the TV?

I would go with either a small size couch or larger loveseat and two chairs. I think it would seat more. I would also get something designed for smaller spaces. I have a tiny living room and just moved in last year so I have my regular size sofa still and one chair, and thats all that will fit. That is what I would do if I was to buy just for this space.

Thanks for the responses.

@adriennemb, why did you have to ask that? Ugh!(just kidding) Living with a loveseat instead of a couch will be a challenge:-).

The other thought I had was a couch (an apartment sized one) with a chaise, where the chaise part of the couch sits against the window. Thoughts?

I am heading out after work to start hunting for living room seating, so I will keep all of your suggestions in mind while trying to work with what's in the stores. Wish me luck. . .

I recently switched out my very large sofa and love seat for a much smaller but still full size sofa and a comfy chair with ottoman and another accent chair and my room still seats almost as many people, if someone sits on the ottoman, as before and it opened up the room so much.
I noticed a lot of smaller scaled furniture is avaiable now where as 7 years ago, when I purchased my last set Which was 43" deep and 93" long, there were mostly large overstuffed furniture for sale. Most of the size was in the arms(each arm was12" thick) and the cusions where as deep as a twin bed. Now with the economic downturn furniture is more appropriately scaled. Have a look and take a tape messure and see if you can find smaller but still standard size furniture and than decide. GL

I have a love seat and two chairs in my family room. I regret getting the love seat because I like to lay down and watch TV..read..or nap. Love seat is just too short. I did have a long couch when I bought the love seat but it wore out and didn't buy another one....instead bought two chairs, which I do like but will not get another love seat. Really, only one person sits on the love seat comfortably.

I agree that normally no more than 2 adults will sit on a couch, so for seating adults a loveseat provides the same amount of room as a couch. But 2 adults and a small child can all sit on a couch, and if you need/want a place to lie down a nap, a couch is necessary, unless you are very petite.

If you don't lie don't on your current sofa, then 2 loveseats would be fine or any combo of chairs and a loveseat. Now I like to be able to stretch out and lie down on a couch, so I wouldn't give up my full size sofa. But that is my personal preference. It's whatever fits your needs best.

I would do a regular chair instead of a chair & a half (did the latter in my small DC rowhouse and it was a huge space-waster). But I do think you can do without a full sized couch. I actually lie down on a loveseat & just prop up my feet on the arms, but I'm only 5'4.

I think a large loveseat or apartment-sized sofa with very thin arms plus 2 chairs would give you the most seating. But 2 chairs tend to cost more than a sofa.

I like the loveseat (for "loving" lol) and two chairs option if that will fit your room. I think I would opt for no sofa next time we buy if DH would go along with it. Sitting in the middle of a couch is no one's preference. I'll always sit on a chair when one is available. The couch is only good for naps (which I prefer to take in bed anyway) or when someone is sick.

I got rid of my sofa and bought chairs. I have a large flat screen TV and set the 3 chairs in a curve in front of it. My room looks so much larger and roomier than it did with a sofa. My husband and I never used the sofa.

A reg. sofa only holds two people comfortably and a love seat would crowd 2 people.

Our sofa is a 2nd bed when someone is sick, or when "someone' wants to watch the game until the wee hours and not wake the other "someone" up when it's over. I hate loveseats. Can't snooze on them - cramps the legs. Total waste of money in my experience, as are chairs with halves. But everyone has their own habits and habitats.

Interesting that most sa that only two sit on a sofa. I have found when there is no other choice three will sit on the sofa. The alternative would be to stand or sit on the floor.

It does depend on how you live. As empty nesters DH and I have always watched t.v. with me lounging on the sofa and DH in his leather chair. Now that the grandchildren are here they squeeze in very happily with me... and the dog:>) Even if I lived alone, I would be miserable if I couldn't lie down to read or watch the tube on a comfy ( not huge) sofa. Two love seat are good for a gently used parlor, imo.
Therefore, I vote for: one sofa and two matching, smaller scale club chairs( with ottoman if there's room).

I know from experience that a love seat and two chairs will work fine.

But I don't tend to sleep on the loveseat. I do a lot of reading there, sitting sideways with my feet up on the loveseat cushion.

This works well for me. You need to think about how you use your furniture and what would work well for you.

There are many variations in size for sofas and loveseats. I'm currently shopping for a new loveseat and I've found that some small couches are narrower than some wide loveseats. So a lot has to do with how the manufacturer is marketing the furniture.

Get your measurements and forget the labels "sofa" and "loveseat." Go out there and find something that fits that works for your family. If there's enough seating in the room for the family on a daily basis, that's good enough in a small room. You can always bring in chairs from other rooms or even get some comfortable folding chairs to handle guests when you entertain. Furnish the room for how your family uses it the majority of the time, and be flexible with how you handle the overflow when you have guests.

Of course you can! I like the idea of two loveseats or one loveseat and two chairs. Honestly, I could live without our sofa. It's basically only used when others are there. If my hubby and I are in the great room - we each have a chair we use. It's very rare for one of us to lay on the sofa. If I'm sick or want to lay down and watch tv, I'd much prefer the bed. We have a loveseat in our office, and one in our sunroom. Our sunroom gets more use than the greatroom. That and the bedroom are are preferred spots.

I think you could do just fine without a couch. And to whoever mentioned the 4 chairs and a table - still love Zuzu's room!

tina

Thank you all. I went hunting yesterday and I found a smaller curved sectional which I thought would work well in the space. I have to do a mock-up to see how it will fit in there. After listening to DH moan about the loveseat idea, and looking only at couches or sectionals, I think I may have to give up my dream of a 2-loveseat living room. In some ways I can understand his need for a larger space to spread out since he is 6'4". The hunt continues, and I will try to keep pushing DH in the 2-loveseat direction since I do agree that many times, only 2 people would sit on a couch, and that third seat remains empty because noone really wants to sit between two people. It is a bit uncomfortable, and looking at the space, I do believe that a loveseat facing the TV and another down the window wall with a small table in the corner between them would look great. I just have to keep selling the idea to him. We did see one not-so-large sofa at La-z-boy that we both kinda liked. Any thoughts on the quality of their sofas?

I would do a smaller sofa and a chair or 2 chairs but not a chair and a half.

I would suggest that you take the measurements of whatever you plan to buy and put some painters tape where you would like it to see if it will fit properly in your space. The sofa's look so much smaller in the furniture store.

This is such an interesting discussion. I have a chair and a half and it's the most popular chair in our house. Kids love it.

The chair is perpendicular to the tv and I often have two kids sprawled sideways in it. Heads on one armrest, legs hooked over the other armrest. When we have guests, the chair often holds a Mom or a Dad and one of their kids. It's cozy for two, but not cramped.

dee, we have a chair and a half also, and it's the first place people choose to sit! When my kids were dating, that's where they'd sit as a couple.

If you have a small room don't get a sectional. It will only make the room more crowded and limit you on re-arranging furniture.

I know when I get sick I get my pillow and blankie and lay on the sofa watching the tube, or just take a nap, that way I can be by the front door if I'm home alone and I set the phone on the coffee table.

What about a recliner for your dh, and a sofa for you? Oh, and when we have a lot of company, three always sits on the sofa.

I would miss having a couch. I like to stretch my legs out. I'm also about 5'11, so a loveseat doesn't cut it! The sofa is also my "guilty pleasure" place -- nights when I can't sleep, or don't want to, I grab my pillows and a blanket and clean out my DVR library of shows I can't watch when DH is around. :)

Do you mostly sit, or lounge?

In DH's theater room we had a reclining sofa, and two recliners. That worked fairly well. I would take two recliners over a love seat, but I certainly don't think anyone NEEDS a sofa.

Hee, this discussion has become a debate about "form vs function"...

we don't have space for couches so have had 2 reclining love seats for the past 10 years or more. I'm not 6'4" but all of us have passed out on them at one time or another! My husband prefers to sleep there!