Sofa alternatives for a small living room: 8 space-saving ideas
Daybed 710 is a versatile piece Alvar Aalto designed for Artek in 1933.
1. A versatile daybed
Timeless and pared-back, a daybed takes on many roles in a small space. Alvar Aalto’s Daybed 710 is a slender stand-in for a sofa and a lovely spot for an afternoon nap, and it turns into a guest bed whenever you need one. Thanks to its backrest-free structure, it can sit right in the middle of the room without making the space feel closed in.
• Artek Daybed 710 >
• All daybeds >
&Tradition’s Little Petra armchair charms with its compact proportions, curved lines and soft sheepskin upholstery.
2. Breathing room with an armchair and ottoman
A smaller living room gains the sense of space it needs when an armchair takes the leading role instead of a big sofa. An armchair invites you to settle in on its own, as a pair, or paired with an ottoman. The Little Petra armchair and ottoman make a striking yet compact duo, delightful for their soft sheepskin upholstery and functionalist shapes.
• &Tradition Little Petra armchair and ottoman >
• All armchairs >
Fatboy Original Slim Teddy is a slimmer take on the popular Original bean bag, covered in soft, pill-resistant plush fabric.
3. A relaxed, playful bean bag
The bean bag is a carefree classic that invites you to kick back. The surface of Fatboy’s Original Slim Teddy feels incredibly soft against the skin, like a plush companion whose warm hug makes everyday worries disappear. It shifts from a soft mattress for movie nights to a more upright armchair, and it’s effortless to move from one spot to another.
• Fatboy Original Slim Teddy bean bag >
• All bean bags >
Hem’s Palo armchair has a pared-back Scandinavian look built on clean geometric shapes and classic wool upholstery.
4. Modules that adapt
What if you could design exactly the lounging oasis you want? With the modular pieces of Hem’s Palo series you can build a seating corner that suits your own living room, in case ready-made sofa sets don’t quite catch your eye. When you move or your needs change, it’s easy to add more pieces for a larger setup. You’ll save even more space by attaching a side table to the armchair to hold the remote or a steaming cup of coffee.
• Hem Palo armchair >
• All armchairs >
The legs of Vitra’s Eames RAR rocking chair are made of metal and maple.
5. Rocking chairs that catch the eye
The coziest places to unwind in the living room are hardly limited to plump armchairs and sofa sets! Charles and Ray Eames created the Eames rocking chairs, which bring a fresh, expressive note to a living space and tempt you to read, watch a film or linger over good conversation. Light and airy, a rocking chair suits all kinds of styles and spaces.
• Vitra Eames RAR rocking chair >
• All rocking chairs >
Audo Copenhagen’s two-seater Offset sofa bed turns from a stylish sofa into a comfortable bed whenever needed
6. A two-seater sofa bed
A compact living room calls for furniture with the right proportions and excellent functionality. So if you’ve set your heart on a proper sofa after all, choose one that adapts to a small space so the room doesn’t feel stuffy. Audo Copenhagen’s Offset is an elegant two-seater that hides a soft bed for two inside. A sofa bed really is a clever space-saving solution, opening up all kinds of possibilities for the room.
• Audo Copenhagen Offset sofa bed >
• All sofas >
Design House Stockholm’s delightful Knot XL cushion rethinks the ordinary seat cushion and works beautifully in a reading nook or as an ottoman next to the sofa.
7. Playful knots
Ottomans make excellent companions for armchairs, but they also work as living room seating all on their own. Design House Stockholm’s charming Knot XL cushion was designed by Icelandic designer Ragnheiður Ösp Sigurðardóttir. Knotted from a stuffed wool tube several meters long, Knot XL is a larger version of the original Knot cushion. The giant knot is easy to stack out of the way when you need more floor space.
• Design House Stockholm Knot XL cushion >
• All ottomans >
Ferm Living’s Kona bed is a charming low wooden bed with an elegantly simple design.
8. From bed to sofa
If there isn’t room for both a bed and a sofa, no worries! Any bed turns into a sofa during the day once you prop a few beautiful cushions along the wall as a backrest. Ferm Living’s Kona is a lovely wooden bed with an elegantly simple look that nods to Japanese aesthetics. The oak-veneered frame is light to move, too, which comes in handy on cleaning days. A few Ferm Living cushions tossed casually on top dress the bed up in seconds, ready to welcome guests.
• Ferm Living Kona bed >
• All beds >
See also:
• All furniture at Finnish Design Shop >
Photos: Manufacturers
Article updated 10 November 2026. Featured designs may not be available worldwide.
Published on 18 Jan, 2022
