It’s always a good idea to have extra seating, but in small spaces, it’s not always easy to make a room arrangement work.  Apartments, lofts, condos…pulling up dining chairs isn’t necessarily the best solution. What is a great solution is something low that does not block the scene and can be easily moved to change the groupings.

Footstools, benches, poufs, ottomans…as an ensemble with a chair or a stand-alone piece, the options are endless. Trends are often spawned from necessity or convenience of not change for the sake of change.

Often used for coffee tables – with a tray  for stability beneath drinks, benches or ottomans can double as a foot rest or table-like surface.

Something as simple as a rattan stool can be easy to pull-up.

A pair of ottoman frame a seating area. An ottoman never has its back  to anyone or anything.

You can seat more than one person on a good-sized piece.

A round one can have guests facing different directions to join in different conversations around the room.

Low in front of a fireplace, tucked beneath a coffee table or a console table, they can easily be pulled out when needed.

They add a splash of color or pattern.

Or they can meld in with the color scheme.

Look at your room and see if it wouldn’t benefit from an extra low-profile seat or two.