Jennifer Aniston's innovative conversational seating is the discreet hero of her living room – it's a designer-approved layout worth replicating

At a glance, you might miss the most innovative feature of Jennifer Aniston's retro-style living room.

Designed by the acclaimed Stephen Shadley, it's a celebration of mid-century charm, featuring sleek wood paneling, statement artwork, and a mosaic lamp (the latter of which is described by Stephen as one of his favorite finds).

In all this beauty, however, it's easy to overlook Jennifer's clever 'conversational seating' arrangement, which, in my opinion, is one of the smartest features of her living room. It's also one of the easiest elements to replicate on a smaller scale, and, designers say, its impact is transformative.

This living room seating idea involves arranging a sofa and accent chairs to make it easy and comfortable to hold a conversation (instead of facing a TV or speaker, for example). It's so simple to follow, but Jennifer's space offers the ultimate blueprint.

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Unsurprisingly, Jennifer's living room layout isn't lost on designers. One being Stephen, the aforementioned figure behind the space, and the other being Mike Durbridge, the CEO at Andrew Martin, who follows a similar technique. Alongside using barrel chairs and a sofa (like Jennifer), he explains how you can also get the look with two sofas.

'Placing two sofas directly opposite each other with a coffee table in between creates an intimate yet open arrangement, ensuring that guests are naturally oriented toward one another. This setup encourages easy dialogue while maintaining a relaxed, inviting atmosphere,' he says.

'Conversational seating is all about balance – keeping seating at a comfortable distance, avoiding barriers that disrupt eye contact, and incorporating soft textures to enhance a sense of warmth and ease.'

Plus, if you love Jennifer's swivel chair, you're in good company. 'Swivel chairs bring both style and functionality to a space, offering a dynamic seating option that encourages conversation and flexibility,' Mike adds.

'Their ability to rotate makes them perfect for open-plan layouts, allowing seamless interaction between different areas of a room. With a sculptural presence, they create an inviting focal point while ensuring comfort and practicality.'