Adding Seating During the Holidays
My holiday season is always a flurry of activity. I like to bring my design mentality into other facets of life whenever possible, particularly with entertaining. I love creating spaces that not only serve a specific function in everyday life, but can transform when required to accommodate festive gatherings and warm parties. If you have a large family, you know how challenging it can be to find enough seating for everyone when your house is full to the brim with guests. This week, I’ll share a few tricks that I build into the rooms I create to help these spaces grow whenever the occasion demands.
It always helps to add some benches or ottomans under a console table. I try to build these into the living room or family room of my designs whenever possible. They’re discreet enough to disappear when they aren’t needed, but always come in handy whenever you need extra seating for a party. These benches come in many variations, whatever the needs of your space. They can be pulled out into the open for daily use and they’re particularly good for a “kid’s table” setup when gathered around a coffee table. Small benches are true design chameleons, and can fit into almost any space.
I also enjoy incorporating dining-size chairs into my living room designs. You can place them on either side of the fireplace, or give them a specific function, like the vintage chair with a matching writing desk above. By selecting smaller chairs for your spaces, you add the potential functionality for future entertaining. You can always pull them into the dining room whenever you need hostess chairs. Make sure that the pieces you select for a space are not only proportional to the room, but small enough to serve multiple functions.
Dining benches are an awesome way to get more seating if you’re a frequent entertainer beyond the holidays. If you have a lot of people in your dining room (particularly a lot of little ones), incorporating a dining bench into your setup is the best way to fit a lot of bodies at one table. It gives the space a straightforward and communal feel, and adds unique touch of asymmetry to your dining room.
Planning for guests and visitors plays into the plan of my designs more than you might expect. I chose to place a single armchair in the Carraway Renovation because I knew a mate would get in the way of daily functionality, but I also wanted to make sure the space maintained it’s flexibility. With an open floor plan like this, you want to make sure your transitional areas can be made a part of either space. It’s not just about having the right seating, but giving yourself the room to add seating whenever needed. I believe that it’s always better to fill out individual spaces with flexible pieces, rather than overcrowding any one room.
Window benches are a fantastic way to add low-profile seating and storage options to your project without compromising the look of your space. Both of these benches are pretty long, and can easily fit 3 or 4 people. Between these, the existing furniture, and the stools and chairs found on the other side of the wall, the space is well-planned to accommodate any number of guests. It’s never too early to start party planning, even in the design phase. Plan for your spaces to “grow” so that you’re ready for all of tomorrow’s parties!
Happy Designing!