Your new is just around the corner
Sign up for insight into the latest design trends from our newsletter
You're on the list
By signing up, you agree to receive email marketing.
DESIGN 101
What To Know About the Oversized Furniture Trend
There’s a furniture trend on the rise that’s making a statement and taking up space — both in homes and on social media. It’s the oversized furniture trend that is all about emphasizing comfort and maximizing your space.
What Is the Oversized Furniture Trend?
The oversized furniture trend embraces pieces that are significantly larger than standard furniture, often two to three times the typical size. This could include expansive sectionals that stretch across an entire wall in your living room or oversized patio furniture that transforms your outdoor space into a luxurious retreat. The focus of the trend is to prioritize comfort and create an inviting atmosphere for relaxing and socializing.
This trend has gained popularity on social media, resulting in more and more people introducing oversized furniture into their homes. And it’s not only reserved for large homes. As long as you select oversized pieces that don’t overwhelm your room, you can get in on the trend too. The key is to be thoughtful about the selection and placement of your furniture so you can create a warm and cozy atmosphere while still maintaining a balanced environment.
What You Need To Know Before Buying Oversized Furniture
Size & measurements
Before you commit to buying a piece of oversized furniture, measure the room to make sure it will fit comfortably. To better visualize how the furniture will impact your space, consider creating a simple mock-up using large objects like boxes as stand-ins for the furniture.
Beyond your room and furniture’s dimensions, we also recommend thinking about how you currently use the room, and how you plan to use it in the future. For example, consider whether your living room will serve as a gaming area, a space for watching the game, or a cozy spot to relax with coffee and company. All of these activities require different living room setups and arrangements that will ultimately help you determine how much space you can realistically dedicate to a piece of oversized furniture.
Materials
Since oversized furniture is about comfort and style, most pieces are made with soft, cushioned material rather than hardwood or plastic. Materials often used in oversized furniture — like leather, fabric, and velvet — also happen to align with modern trends. This makes it easy to integrate oversized furniture into your existing color scheme and aesthetic.
Furniture types
The most common oversized furniture pieces include long, wide couches and low, deep chairs. These shapes are designed to provide ample seating and deliver deep comfort. These pieces can accommodate several people rather than the standard two or three that would fit on a loveseat. They’re ideal for large family gatherings, get-togethers with friends, or community meetings.
Unlike traditional couches, where lying down comfortably often results in your head or feet hanging over the edges, oversized couches offer plenty of space for lounging and reclining. Similarly, the cushions on the chairs are larger and deeper than you’d find on regular-sized furniture.
In addition to couches and chairs, the trend includes large beds that provide plenty of space to sprawl out. These beds are perfect for napping, hosting a cozy family night, or even letting the dog snooze at the end of the bed. The generous dimensions allow for multiple people (and animals) to relax comfortably without feeling jostled or cramped.
Choosing Oversized Furniture by Room
As you consider where to incorporate oversized furniture in your home, it’s important to weigh the possibilities and limitations of each space. An oversized chair might be perfect for a social area like your living room, but in your bedroom, it could clutter the space and go largely unused. Here’s how you can add oversized furniture to your bedroom or living room:
Bedroom
Your bedroom is a place of comfort and ease — and there’s no better place to spend a cozy night in or enjoy a lazy Sunday morning like an extra-wide bed where you can sprawl out. Alternatively, you can mix and match your bedroom set by pairing a regular bed with an oversized chair, or a chair and ottoman set, in the corner.
Regardless of the arrangement you choose, it’s important to define the space and ensure nothing looks cluttered. One effective way to do this is by placing a rug between key pieces, helping to visually separate and anchor the furniture. Rugs add a little softness underfoot, helping to keep your bedroom cozy.
Another way to create the illusion of space is to look for a bed with a low headboard or no headboard at all. While high headboards are great for large spaces with high ceilings, we recommend opting for a more subtle headboard for an oversized bed. Since the bed will take up so much horizontal space, it’s key to keep things the vertical space a bit more open. Similarly, many oversized furniture pieces feature low backs to avoid taking up vertical space. It’s common for a chair or sofa to have seat cushions that are half as high as the seat cushions are long.
Living room
Your living room is the perfect place to show off the oversized furniture trend. Whether you have a spacious ranch-style house or a small condo, there is a way for you to adopt oversized living room furniture in a way that complements your unique space.
One way you can create an overall feeling of comfort is by keeping your central floorspace open. Place your oversized items against the wall, whether you opt for a long sectional or replace your sofa with two or three oversized accent chairs. This will keep things from looking cramped in your living room. Another pro tip: choose furniture with legs so the furniture floats above the floor, creating an illusion of more open floorspace.
If your oversized furniture takes up the majority of the room, consider paring down other accessories and smaller furnishings. The best way to edit your setup without losing functionality is to choose multifunctional designs. For example, instead of purchasing both a sideboard and an ottoman, choose an oversized ottoman with built-in storage space so you can get practical benefits along with style and comfort.
Make the Most of Oversized Furniture
Oversized furniture can be seamlessly incorporated into almost any room, bringing both comfort and style to your space. Simple strategies like using rugs and having hidden storage space can help maintain functionality while preserving the illusion of spaciousness.
This trend is perfect for people who value their living room or bedroom as a haven for relaxation. By thoughtfully selecting and arranging your oversized pieces, you can create a cozy and inviting atmosphere without compromising your style and space.