Is it weird to have all chairs in your living room and no sofa?

[Goody2ShoesAndTheFilthyBeast]

I've currently got a 3 seater and a two seater. I want to change it to all chairs. Nobody ever sits next to anyone on the sofas. So the 2 seater is a chair and the 3 seater has a buffer seat in the middle.

I'd much prefer all chairs. Ideally recliner chairs. High ones. Ones that can tip you forward to help your aging knees so you don't have to groan oh my knees every time you haul your fat arse up.

But I have this voice in my head whispering that it's weird to have 5 chairs in your living room and no sofa.

Only I can't explain why its weird. I have no actual reason. And the voice in my head judging me for it has nothing more substantial to contribute than it'll look like a waiting room.

So is it weird? If it's weird do you know why it's weird or do you just have a vague wrongness feeling about it too? And why the fuck am I not just having chairs in my living room if I want them instead of asking stupid questions about it?

Does anyone actually have all chairs in your living room and if you do, can I see how it looks?

I think it depends on the size/ shape of the living room. I've got a through lounge so a lot of space to fill, so would look odd without a sofa as the focal point. But it's your space, you can do what you like with it.

It’s weird in the sense that it is unusual but nothing wrong with doing it if that’s what you want.

I think it would look like a care home or a waiting room with just chairs.

I like to sit with my legs curled under and that's difficult in a chair, and you can't lie on your side either.

I think it might look a bit weird, but my association would be old folks' home rather than waiting room, and memories of visiting my grandma and the lovely nurse saying 'I probably wouldn't sit on that one if I were you'. However, I think you would get away with it from a design perspective if you made sure they were all placed really logically for people to face and talk to each other, with a sensible arrangement of side tables etc. so that everyone would have somewhere to put their drink down. Maybe a footstool for one or two of them?

It would look a bit care home-ish I think, my parents have sofa recliners where each seat can recline but it’s still one unit IYSWIM. Would that work for you?

my MIL only has chairs in her living room and it doesn't look weird. I think it won't look weird if you have a fairly small and cosy space, with a nice mix of furniture (chairs, small tables, bookshelves) with cosy rugs and cushions and a generally slightly eclectic feel. The it won't look like a waiting room.

Would remind me of a nursing home. Especially as they are reclining!

Will it end up looking like an old people's home if you just have chairs? Or will you be able to cluster them in some way so that it still looks like a living room?

It's not unreasonable at all, especially if they are recliners that people can really get comfortable in. I do lie down on my sofa sometimes though, and I think it would bother me not to be able to do that. But only you know how it would work for you and your family, and I don't think you should spend a second worrying about what it might look like or what other people might think.

It would look weird. All chairs look like a hospital, office, waiting room or nursing home.

Who cares if it looks weird? If it suits you, crack on. I used to have a small room which was just 2 really comfy chairs in front of a tv which, pre-kids, was a great place to sit and watch a film.

Haha my mam had five (four?) recliner chairs each with with their own footstool and yeah it did look and feel weird. I didn’t realise at the time that it was a care home vibe but that’s spot on! 🤣
She was so proud of her chairs too. They were leather and on round wooden spinny bases.

Don't you ever like to lie down on the sofa? I don't think I ever watch telly upright.

It's a long room, runs front to back with windows either side. I like the idea of chairs dotted about all different colours, all doing their own thing.
Recliner sofa might work too.
I wonder if i can get 3d program that can show the room and what it would look like. I'll have a Google.

OP, somehow a chair is just not as comfortable as a sofa - and I agree with others that it would give off a bit of a waiting room vibe. I get where you’re coming from re easier to get out of - I recently had knee surgery and while it’s nice to be able to put my leg up on a sofa, I can only get up off the sofa by clinging to one end and pulling myself up on the coffee table (which is quite a heavy piece of furniture), or being given a hand by my DH. Why not compromise, though - if you were to replace the two seater sofa with a couple of reclining chairs, you could see what you felt about it, and it would still look like a living room rather than a care home!!

I feel it would look odd but if it’s your preference the so be it. I went to school with someone who had 4 chairs, lined up 2x2 facing forward. Was super odd

I have a small lounge, it has three large comfy chairs, one is a huge recliner, the others are those squashy love seat style ideal for curling up in. A sofa would have to be a tiny one barely bigger than the existing chairs.
I would say it depends on the dimensions of the room/door placement/through traffic.

Possibly, especially if they are all different shapes and sizes, it might look very mis matched

I have a two seater bed settee and two armchairs. Smallish room but it works for me

I'm loving the comments telling you that your preferred furniture options will look somehow negative and/or that armchairs won't be as comfy - as though you don't already know whether your family prefer a chair or sofa, like to lie across a sofa etc.!

Your family's preferences are all that matters for your home. It's not even like you wouldn't have a perfectly comfy chair to offer visitors, who presumably wouldn't be lolling with their feet up in somebody else's home?

We're a mixture: we both prefer armchairs but our DS prefers to spread on a sofa, so we have both; but surely you wouldn't choose to have something as big as a sofa in your home if half or a third of it will never be used - just for appearances?!

Personally I think it would look odd, a bit like a waiting room or a care home. However, it’s your house and if you want to then go for it.

Yes

It’s entirely up to you but I do think it would look like a waiting room especially of they are different colours. My ex’s parents just had two recliners..that was it ..you had to sit on the floor!

This would be my concern. Sofas look more homely.
I suppose it depends how big the room is and how it is arranged.
But ultimately it's your house so it's up to you how you furnish it.