When moving into a new home or redecorating an existing home, many will analyze existing furnishings to determine which items should stay and which should be retired from the space. One of the most significant pieces of furniture in almost everyone's living room is a sofa, but some people no longer love the sofa that is in their space. When thinking about retiring an existing sofa, some may wonder if a living room sofa is a necessity or if it is a requirement for a home. While there is no set requirement to have a sofa, with closer inspection, it is clear that it is difficult to have a comfortable living room without a sofa.
Ample Seating for Many
A living room is a common gathering area for families as well as when entertaining. This may be a place where people gather to watch TV, to enjoy casual conversation or even to play games together. While it may be possible to gather around a dining table for some of these purposes, a sofa has a soft plushness that enables family and friends to truly get comfortable and to enjoy being in the living room together. The sofa provides ample seating for guests and family members to gather in comfort.
A Place to Stretch Out and Relax
A living room also is a place for the residents in the home to enjoy quiet time alone. This may be to take a catnap on a lazy afternoon, to read a good book late into the evening or to start the morning leisurely. These are typically times when a person wants to put their feet up or even to fully extend by laying down. The sofa is the ideal place to lay down and serves as an alternative to bed in the bedroom. While there are other seating areas in the home, such as chairs, laying on them is simply not an option as it is with a living room sofa.
A Space-Saving Option
A typical living room will have a couch, a loveseat and a chair or two. This can provide comfortable seating for up to six or seven people without having to bring additional chairs into the room. Without a couch, it may be necessary to have three loveseats or even six to seven sitting chairs in the room in order to have this same amount of seating in the room. Many living rooms are simply not large enough to accommodate this many loveseats and chairs. Even if they are large enough, this type of furniture configuration can look odd and not stylish. A sofa is a space-saving and stylish seating option.
While there is not a firm requirement that a living room must be furnished with a sofa, it is clear that a living room will not be as comfortable or as stylish without a sofa in it. Those who are considering decorating their living room without a sofa should carefully consider each of these points to determine how the function and style of the living room will be impacted if a sofa is not in the space.