"Recessed living rooms or sofa pits were a popular interior feature in mid-century homes. Striking step-down dens with built-in seating not only encouraged deeper conversation through a feeling of separation from the rest of the house, they often became a topic in their own right. Even if half the chatter was quips about guests accidentally falling in. The trend fizzled out, in part thanks to the pits' trip hazards."
"But half a century on, design professionals suggest Marvel aren't the only ones tapping into a sunken room revival. The Alien franchise just featured a conversation pit in its TV series Alien: Earth, and searches for mid-century furniture are up 319%, according to Yelp's 2025 home, beauty and wellness report, with curved features like conversation pits up 124%. The Miller House, designed by American architect Eero Saarinen, in Columbus, Indiana, 1957. Photograph: Balthazar Korab Archive Wilson and her colleagues say they've been noticing a rise in requests for chic, maximalist pits."
Sunken, carpeted conversation pits are resurfacing as a design trend after decades of decline. Mid-century recessed living rooms and step-down dens originally encouraged intimacy and separated seating areas, though they fell out of favour partly because of trip hazards. Recent media portrayals in films and TV, together with rising searches for mid-century and curved furniture, have increased interest. Architects and designers report renewed client requests for circular lounge arrangements and banquette dining to foster conversation. Australian residential awards recently shortlisted homes featuring sunken lounges. The revival reflects nostalgia, a desire for maximalist comfort, and deliberate spatial emphasis in modern interiors.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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