Creating conversation areas within a room is the latest interior design trend. But big, bulky chairs don’t always fit. Make the most of any space with ottomans, stools, chaises and benches that offer versatile seating arrangements and moveable choices in hot colors and styles.

Take a cue from sleek, downtown lobbies with this red leather bench. The Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams Rennie bench offers as much seating as a sofa, but with way more style. $1,626, from Pacific Home.

Fun and fuzzy Tango ottomans by Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams are great for kids’ rooms and play areas. The shag carpetlike material adds texture to any room, and is available in three ’70s-inspired shades. $414 each, from Pacific Home.

Fifties glam furniture gets a 21st-century chaise update. The Crush’s gentle curve offers support with human curves in mind, and easy-to-care-for upholstery makes this piece a winner. $699, from HomeWorld.

Chat with friends, spread out the Sunday newspaper or convert it to a coffee table with a simple tray. This Thompson ottoman brings classy, flexible seating to any space. $861, from Pacific Home.

This upholstered, fringed ottoman is elegant enough for a posh powder room, functional enough for family sit-downs. $799, from Phase II Interiors.

In tight Hawaii living spaces, dual-purpose pieces are the best bet. This sleek wooden bench provides plenty of space underneath for stacks of favorite magazines. (We know you keep every issue …) $899, from Honolulu Design Center/INspiration.

Styled after antique vanity benches, this classic stool is perfect for entryways. Try a pair instead of a bench for foot-of-the-bed sitting. $1,150, from Phase II Interiors.

Make room for more elbows at the table with this leather and wood bench. Reminiscent of pulling up the piano bench at Grandma’s for Thanksgiving, but with more class. $197, from DeZign Home.

Easy-to-rearrange seating makes for easy-to-mingle-in parties. Try out a few of these abaca twist plaid, woven picnic stools with comfy cushions for groups, or a set of four around a low table for unconventional dining. $207, from DeZign Home.

Oversized and elegant, this Panama ottoman in leather and wood commands attention. Perfect as a stand-alone piece, or paired with equally-beefy pieces. $980, from SoHa.

Seated facing each other, friends can comfortably converse on this free-form “conversation bench.” Hand-carved from koa and mango, the piece calls for talk as much as it encourages it. $8,300, from King & Zelko Hawaiian Woodworks.

Hand-carved teak is all the rage in Island decor, and Bali Boo brings it to Oahu showrooms. Check out this traditional Balinese stool, as well as the showroom’s selection of alternative seating. $120, from Bali Boo.

Geometric shapes in woven wicker combine to create a fun, functional seat, side table or footrest. $75, from Wickerworks.

Although a daybed is dangerously close to a couch, this one qualifies as an alternative because of its distinctly Island flair. Woven rattan and plush cushions offer plenty of room to kick back and relax. $1,695, from Pacific Orient Traders.

WHERE TO GET IT

Bali Boo, a division of King and Zelko Hawaiian Woodworks
201 Kapaa Quarry Road
261-7239
www.kingandzelko.com

C. S. Wo
1 Location on Oahu and 1 on the Big Island
702 S. Beretania St., 543-5388, Honolulu
www.cswo.com

DeZign Home
455 Ward Ave.
791-3330
www.dezignhome.com

HomeWorld
2 locations on Oahu
702 S. Beretania St.
543-5300
www.homeworld.com

Honolulu Design Center/INspiration
2 Locations on Oahu
1250 Kapiolani Blvd., 956-1250
www.honoluludesigncenter.com
www.inspirationinteriors.com

King and Zelko Hawaiian Woodworks
201 Kapaa Quarry Road
261-7239
www.kingandzelko.com

Lanai Things
331 Kamani St.
589-2588
www.lanai-things.com

Pacific Orient Traders
560 N. Nimitz Hwy., #106
531-3774

Phase II Interiors
3654 Waialae Ave.
732-7992

Pacific Home
420 Ward Ave.
596-9338
www.pacific-home.com

SoHa
Ward Centre
1200 Ala Moana Blvd.
591-9777
www.sohaliving.com

Wickerworks
Windward Mall
235-1960