Shea McGee just proved a couch can actually work as dining room seating – this is the key to creating a casual yet practical set up

No dining room is complete without a few staple pieces and this trio of essential furniture first comes to mind. First, there's the all-important dining table, then the set of dining chairs, and of course, the overhead lighting that all works together to make the space functional.

Shea McGee's The Oaks house tour is a fresh take on tradition as it features a unique dining room arrangement with an unexpected statement couch. While we're all familiar with classic dining room furniture ideas, interior designer Shea McGee is not afraid to mix and match by bringing a piece of living room furniture into the dining space, proving that casual seating can provide comfort, practicality, and style.

We delve deeper into the elevated yet achievable dining look and discuss Shea's clever use of dynamic seating.

Every year dining room furniture trends change and designer Shea McGee is always at the forefront of these exciting ideas. The Oaks dining room is no different.

A fine balance has been perfected in the space, the textured wood and boucle dining chairs provide a formality that's matched by the glass pendant lights. Both are fairly traditional choices in a dining space, but the couch throws this vibe off in the best way possible, contrasting the formal chairs and giving the space a more relaxed, sociable feel.

A couch in the dining room may initially feel a little unfamiliar but when you consider the practical perks of the arrangement it makes sense. A sofa houses more guests and is far more comfortable for long dinner parties. It's also a transitional piece that blends the dining and living room, blurring the lines of tradition by creating a dynamic and liveable space.

It's not only the mix of seating and the informal feel that a couch adds to the space. Bringing this unexpected piece into the dining room allows for more layers of textures and softer finishes in a room that is so often filled with hard materials and clean lines. The linen adds a relaxed feel, both contrasting and complementing the mix of woods used throughout the room.

Shea loves to decorate with neutrals, and a lesson we always learn from her spaces is if you are going to keep things simple with the color scheme, you need to add that interest with the textures. The couch does just that.

Shop Shea's dining room style

Shea understands the importance of blending practicality with style, creating enviable spaces that make everyday living an exciting and inspiring venture. We love that she's strayed from tradition and created an elevated yet comfortable dining room that works for all occasions. Would you ever try adding a couch to your dining room?