“A living room is a social place,” says Deborah Needleman, author of The Perfectly Imperfect Home: How to Decorate & Live Well (Clarkson Potter). “The goal of a living room is to make you happy there both alone and with others. Your furniture and how you arrange it can encourage cozy solo time and all different kinds of lovely conversation.”

Needleman, the founding editor of Domino magazine and the editor-in-chief of WSJ. Magazine, points out in the book’s “Places for Chatting” chapter that a stiff seating arrangement encourages an uptight mood. “Now picture a deep, soft sofa, a big armchair, and a pair of upright chairs ‘looking’ at one another,” she says. “I can now envision all kinds of pleasant situations: a nice nap, a cuddle with a child, a plop-down, catch-up with a friend, or a quick, intimate gossip.”

Here, Needleman talks the talk on how to create these inviting, companionable spaces:

Get flexible. When you’re arranging a room, it’s good to have a plan — but don’t get stuck. Guests should feel comfortable pulling up a chair or rearranging a pile of pillows, says Needleman. Obviously, this applies to lighter pieces — like armchairs, occasional chairs, and benches.

Go off the wall. Most people's knee-jerk furniture arrangement puts all big pieces, like sofas and armchairs, against the wall. Needleman instead suggests pulling them out into the room’s center, leaving the walls for art, shelves, or a console table with a display of pretty objects.

Be an upright citizen. Your granny will thank you for including a firm, upright chair in the room (some people don’t like that sinking feeling). This type of chair can add a formal, tailored look, but is also a good place to try a fun fabric.

Make an understatement. When it comes to upholstery: the bigger the piece, the quieter the fabric, according to Needleman. She recommends saving the bold prints for smaller chairs and tuffets, or accents such as cushions and throws.

Discover the power of the pouf. Stools and poufs are great for extra seating and, because you see right over them, they don’t add clutter or block sight lines. Pair them across a coffee table from the sofa, or push them under a console table. And, with a sturdy tray on top, they serve as mini-tables.

Let the furniture speak. Needleman suggests arranging chairs at an angle to each other, as though they were chatting (rather than lining them up like soldiers at attention). This will inspire sitters to do likewise.

Have a spare handy. Just like a sub waiting on the bench, the “spare chair” is Needleman’s game plan for gatherings. Living on the outskirts of your furniture arrangement, lightweight, and portable, this seat pulls up as a fill-in wherever conversation happens.