Feet on the sofa - yes or no?

[Ddakji]

I’m not talking about shoes here - just feet.

Inspired by another thread, do you think it’s fine to have feet on the sofa or not?

Personally, I always curl up with my feet under me so I was slightly astonished that a number of posters on that thread agreed that feet shouldn’t be on the sofa, so I thought I’d ask here.

Please vote below and add a comment if you want! I can’t edit the poll for some reason so as follows:

YABU = no feet on the sofa
YANBU = feet on the sofa are fine

Again - this is about feet only, not shoes.

Me. I’ve often watched TV when visiting my mum or sister, and if I’m staying overnight watching TV is very likely.

I think perhaps your idea of “visiting”
is quite formal, Jane Austen. Which is fine, of course, but unusual in 2025.

It's not formal at all? but I "visit" friends and families to talk, eat or drink possibly, not to watch tv.

I have never been invited anywhere when the host plonked us in front of the tv either 😂

I don't go to my own sisters to watch tv, I have one at home!

If I am invited somewhere, and the hosts turn on the tv, and expect us to watch, I would feel like I am totally unwanted and I should leave them in peace 😂
Unless it's a specific invitation to watch a match , but apart from that.

My mother had a no feet on the sofa rule.

It's not something I've ever been bothered about. I don't care who curls up on the sofa (without shoes). Just don't get on feet first.

Why do you keep talking about lying down?

You can sit with your feet up on the sofa and sit upright.

And yes, I often watch TV when we have visitors - sometimes they even come over specifically to watch something on the TV 😱

ok, sounds fun!

I was on a bus on Friday, the girl opposite me had her feet curled up under her. I'm afraid I'm a bossy old lady & pointed out to her that people who have to sit where her shoes had been & asked her if her mother allowed her to put her shoes on her furniture. She blushed & politely put her feet down.

I think someone's shoes are probably the least of your worries when it comes to how clean public transport is

On our own yes, possibly on my mum’s if she’s not there ….

My mum used to tell us off for feet on the settee as kids/teens!
Now I take great joy in putting my feet up!
I wouldn't do it in someone elses house, unless potentially, I was staying the night, and we were at that "wind down" phase of the evening, or I was visiting someone I'd know for many, many years.

Can’t tell if you’re being deliberately obtuse 🤣.

You asked about lying down. I gave some examples. Nowhere did I say that this was standard for visiting someone.

I used to go round to my sister’s a lot in the evening back in the day. We would chat, have dinner and maybe watch some TV before I headed home.

Often if I was visiting my mum for the day she would want to watch Countdown or Pointless or whatever.

Perhaps these kinds of situations are alien to you.

This is me. Friends sofas, family sofas, soft furnishings at work, in a pub, hotel… even on a train and plane, and my office chair. I so very rarely sit with my feet on the floor, 95% of the time I’m shoeless with socks tucked under me on the furniture I’m sitting in.

My feet are on the sofa right now in fact!

I've always wanted one of those really deep-seated plush sofas where you have to have you're feet up. Id put it in the conservatory where i like to veg out. I just have a cheap futon in there atm. I always put my feet up as soon as I've got home from work, I get very swollen ankles and feet.

I hadn't thought about it but at home yes I do it all the time but probably wouldn't want anyone other than family to come and put their feet up on our sofa. We are a shoes off house but I'd rather they wore socks than had bare feet.

Me on my sofa - yes.
Me on my parents’/ MIL’ / sister’ s sofas or they are on mine - yes.

Im on OP’s sofa or she is on mine — NO

Those were my parents rules, no feet on the sofa & no lying down on the sofa. When I moved out and my parents came to stay at my place my father tried to enforce the rule in MY house and told me to take my feet of MY sofa that I had paid for, I told him he was dreaming if he thought he was boss in my house. I always curl up on the sofa like you OP.

What are sofas for if not to put your feet on. A sofa you can’t put your feet in is called a chair.

I was at a friends house on Monday for a coffee - I had my shoes off and I was curled up on the sofa with a drink and a couple of spaniels while we chatted with the TV on in the background. It was absolutely lovely.

I can't imagine having the same formal friendships as PP seem to have. Sitting upright on a sofa with your feet on the floor for hours sounds so uncomfortable if nothing else!

Pretty much always feet on the sofa for me, I'm more comfortable tucked up.
Also we have a chaise sofa and "my spot" is in the corner so always when I'm at home!

why is "sitting" so uncomfortable to you? That's how I watch a movie or read a book. If I was uncomfortable, I wouldn't do it, but it's just.. sitting down?

It's not formal, it's just how we live?

I sit at my desk too, I mean, it's just sitting? Sorry but I just find the whole thing weird.

This.

Feet on with or without socks but weirdly not slippers. Or shoes.

I think its very situational TBH.
For example if I had just popped round my friends house for a quick chat my feet would probably stay on the floor....however if we were doing a movie and pizza night then it would be feet up.
Likewise a quick visit to a family member and Id keep my shoes on, but if it was an overnight stay Id probably get comfy and stick my feet up.

I really dont see how people can get comfy and sit bolt upright though, I tend to slouch and turn my legs into pretzels!😆

Yes if wearing clean socks or just out of the shower
No with sweaty / filthy feet.

Let me help you then. When I’m sitting at my desk I sit on an upright chair at around about 90 degrees back to thighs. Back straight and upright, just about.

On a sofa, which is much softer and less upright, I also am less upright, and often nearly horizontal if I’m watching TV or even reading. Sprawled, you might say. The more relaxed I get the less vertical I am. More so if wine is taken.

Now, that’s me in my own home, not with or as a visitor. But even with a visitor I don’t sit bolt upright on the sofa. It’s not Downtown Abbey. Granny isn’t going to rap me on the knuckles if I slump a bit.

And as I and others have said repeatedly, I’m short. On some very deep sofas my feet don’t touch the ground. And sitting without your feet touching the ground but dangling is quite backachey. So I curl up. Lovely and comfy. Perhaps you are taller.