The One Unexpected Seating Style Designers Call Their ‘Secret Weapon’ for a More Social Living Room This Hosting Season

Neutral living room with a fireplace, built in cupboard and shelves in the alcoves, a blue velvet couch with two boucle swivel chairs.

Hosting season always makes me look at my living room with fresh eyes. As soon as guests walk through the door, I’m reminded that a space that feels perfectly comfortable day-to-day for myself, my husband, and our dog suddenly feels off once there are more people and more conversations in the room.

So to avoid a last-minute panic, this year, I asked designers how they design the perfect living room layout that will rise beautifully to the occasion, and their answer surprised me. It turns out: the swivel chair is where it's at.