Are certain seats reserved in your home?

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Buford12@reddit

I have my seats. I have my seat at the table and in the living room and if people sit there I tell them to get out of my seat. We the family have our pew at church. But on the rare occasion when visitors to our church sit in our pew I am a good christen and don't say anything.

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bigfatfurrytexan@reddit

If a guest sits it’s their seat. Among us we have our preferred spots

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cowgrly@reddit

I think this applies to every home on the planet, too- not sure why OP thinks it is just American.

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JoeMorgue@reddit

That was my thought as well.

What you gonna tell em "In mah country" you just pick a random seat everytime? Stop lying no you don't.

There's nothing "America" specific about this question. Might as well be "I heard Americans breath oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide? Is this true?"

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Mattturley@reddit

And comparing to many questions mods delete this is a head scratcher of why it was left off. About 75% of the questions mods delete are interesting, topical, and have good interaction.

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rognabologna@reddit

‘Do American couples really only have one side of the bed they sleep on every night?’

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cowgrly@reddit

We’re just couples- a huge giant country of them- I think it’s different depending on the couple and I think that’s worldwide.

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bigfatfurrytexan@reddit

The funny part is in a hotel that doesn’t matter. We just do random

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Sooner70@reddit

Heh… My wife is one of those, “Get up 2X to pee every night” people while I have to get up to pee about 2X per year. It’s always been this way and as a result “her side” is ALWAYS the side closest to the bathroom. Doesn’t matter if it’s the left or the right. Hotel. Home. RV. Doesn’t matter… Her side is the closest to the bathroom.

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Lcdmt3@reddit

It doesn't matter the side, but I'm always closest to the bathroom, my husband gets the further side because there's usually a chair or couch when he wakes up way too early.

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GiganticusVaginacus@reddit

Exactly, the guy in the cuck chair can still see the whole bed.

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Energy_Turtle@reddit

Still matters to me because I need that overhand right to put the moves on.

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BoulderNerd@reddit

Yes my partner and I do. We were both accustomed to sleeping on the other side of the bed from the other’s perspective, so it works it great by default. No fighting over who gets which side! We’re naturally do that in hotels too.

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devilbunny@reddit

We've switched bed sides a few times, but it never changes in a given residence. She's closest to the bathroom.

In hotels, it's the opposite. I have terrible vision, so I can't see if I need to get up at night. At home, I know the room, so no problem. In a hotel, I need the shortest possible distance.

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Individual_Umpire969@reddit

We fight our spouses with guns for choice of side of bed.

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o_simple_thing@reddit

This gave me a proper chortle.

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anonymous_fart5@reddit

My wife has never slept on the right side of our bed.

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Kenderean@reddit

I once read a comment from someone who claimed they and their partner don't have a side of the bed. They said they choose randomly every night. That's not even believable to me and if it's true it's sheer madness.

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bass679@reddit

Especially for old folks. I have to imagine that every house that houses both an elderly person and a comfy chair, that chair is by default theirs.

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lillyleonie@reddit

No, not really. My maternal side of my family is from the UK. I remember my grandmothers house being very uncomfortable and stiff. She would place your tea where you should sit. I didn’t even sit down until she gestured for me to take a seat. The more I hung out around my UK friends- it’s seems to be the norm in a lot of households

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criticalvibecheck@reddit

Exactly this. My only exception is for my grandfather with mobility issues, who gets a designated seat when he visits with an extra cushion to give him some more height to stand up. That’s an exception on an individual basis though, not a blanket “save the good chairs for the elderly” rule.

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Mental_0riental@reddit

If a guest sits in our seat that's fine but if my brother sits in my seats, I tell him to get up.

Rarely ever happens cause I always get the bad seats in my family.

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Shoddy-Secretary-712@reddit

Not seats, but the kids swings are. My 2 teens are autistic and like swinging as a stim/sensory inputs. They do not like anyone touching their swings

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Solid_Variation_6803@reddit

In our home we all have our preferred seats, but guests can sit wherever and it is fine. That said, as a guest I will never sit in a recliner at someone's home knowing that is likely someone's preferred seat.

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SendHelp9417@reddit

My siblings and I are all in our 30s, but when we’re back in our childhood home visiting our parents, we all still sit in “our” spots at the dinner table lol. Same exact places we sat for dinner growing up, every single time. I sit next to my mom, and even if we’re the only two at the table, we’ll still sit side by side on the same side 😂

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Asparagus9000@reddit

Mostly kids cared about getting "their" spot in my family.

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KikiCorwin@reddit

We had our chairs/spots but nobody cared as much about us sitting weird in our chairs compared to the nice furniture. If I sat cross-legged or sideways in my club chair or used the arm as a semi temporary pin cushion, that was fine, but do that on the couch? Never.

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throwawayCTserving@reddit

Yes, my pup has claimed a certain armchair. Use it AYOR!

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KikiCorwin@reddit

Ours has claimed the bed. It's a king. He is not a large dog, but it's not exactly comfortable for two adults to share the bed with him sprawling out across it.

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episcoqueer37@reddit

The cats own the furniture and kindly allow us repose sometimes. They get most perturbed, though, if the humans don't sit in their properly appointed spot. If we were cruel people, husband and I could switch seats for the night and enjoy the live entertainment of a multi-cat meltdown.

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my-cat-cant-cat@reddit

I sat on my husband’s side of the bed last week and the cats were quite irked. So much indignant glaring! The world was verklempt.

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Mitth-raw-nuruodo50@reddit

I had a really big Rottweiler that claimed a loveseat as his spot. Whenever someone sat in his spot he would lay on top of them until they either got up or scratched his giant head until he would fall asleep on them. Most of my friends loved it and chose the head scratching job.

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BulldMc@reddit

You know, my dog probably is the one in the household most distressed if he can't grab his spot at the end of the couch where he can rest his head on the arm and look out the door. But he's usually okay with it if he can lay his 80 pound body on top of you and do the same.

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tiger81355@reddit

Sort of? It depends on the home and the age of occupants. Younger families this isn’t a thing as much. Older families will definitely have preferred chairs, like a recliner for grandparents etc. But this varies and is not a rule. More of a preference of the inhabitants. Dining table seats are a rule in some homes (head of the table for grandpa/dad) but most homes it’s just first come first serve

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KikiCorwin@reddit

Or, for tables, the lefties get certain seats so nobody gets elbowed.

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Aggressive_tako@reddit

My kids have "assigned" seats at the dinner table because they are toddlers and will have a meltdown if someone else is in their seat. We even had to put numbers on the bench seat to show where each "seat" is. We don't tell guests that they have to sit in a certain place, by our 3yo is very vocal that she sits at the 3 and that guests shouldn't sit in her seat.

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KikiCorwin@reddit

Yeah, but that's because our stuff is in those spots. My husband can sit in my chair if he wants to, but if I need my computer, he's gonna move and vice versa.

As a kid, we all had our spots. Not so much "a nobody else sits there ever" but "X is home, get out of their spot." Of course, we're all probably some variety of neurospicy and wanted things just so.

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Sweet-Energy-9515@reddit

It varies. I (American) had a friend over recently and was very surprised when she asked where was ok to sit "so she didn't take anyone's spot". I said of course any chair is fine!

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sacredxsecret@reddit

We absolutely do not have guests enough to have established anything like this.

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AcceptableBanana2670@reddit

I grew up in a house where men always sat at the head of the table. No one in my boyfriends family cares and I've ended up at the head of the table there and it felt both wrong and liberating lol

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GoldInTheSummertime@reddit

My parents have a recliner reserved for my dad, but that's because it is a power lift chair and he needs the help. Otherwise, no. In our house, we tend to sit at the same seats around the dining table, but it's not a big deal if someone switches (well, unless one teenager takes the other's seat and all hell breaks loose because teenagers).

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beavertoothtiger@reddit

My dog has her own love seat. Nobody else sits there.

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JoeMorgue@reddit

I have a seat in the sense that that's where I usually sit and like... all my stuff is on the table next to it.

No, most of us don't do "The Sheldon" routine if that's what you're asking (that's what you're asking.)

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Mitth-raw-nuruodo50@reddit

The Archie Bunker for the old folks

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ejsell@reddit

It in the Smithsonian! Or at least it was when I was there last.

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mfigroid@reddit

But Archie Bunker wouldn't have a meltdown like Sheldon. Archie just told Meathead to get out of his chair.

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jackfaire@reddit

Sheldon was more polite. The only time he had a meltdown was Howard naked in his spot

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Annhl8rX@reddit

I’m very Sheldon like in that regard. Our living room furniture is just one very large couch. I have my corner I sit in, and it’s the only place ai’ll sit in the couch. Despite it being a very comfortable sofa, nowhere else on it feels right to me.

If my wife or daughter are in that spot (which, for some reason, they frequently are), I’ll absolutely kick them out. If a guest sits there, I won’t ask them to move. I also won’t sit anywhere else on the couch, though. I’ll go sit at the kitchen table or put a barstool behind the couch and sit there.

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Icy-Seaworthiness445@reddit

So what makes you more entitled to that spot than your wife or daughter? They clearly seem to like it too.

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Annhl8rX@reddit

It’s not so much that they like it…they just don’t care where they sit (which is completely baffling to me).

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Academic_Flatworm752@reddit

Cool that you found a fun way to exercise your control issues!

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Annhl8rX@reddit

Cool that you found a way to exhibit your penchant for condescension.

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Academic_Flatworm752@reddit

Complaining about condescension when you condescend to your wife and daughter. Cute.

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wheninrome5000@reddit (OP)

Not sure what Sheldon routine is.

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RedReaper666YT@reddit

Watch The Big Bang Theory. It's explained pretty well within the very first three episodes (S01 E01-03)

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CesarB2760@reddit

I would not recommend BBT to someone learning the language since the characters often intentionally use overcomplicated phrases and nerd/science jargon.

I would also not recommend BBT to a native speaker because it is terrible.

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RedReaper666YT@reddit

I rather enjoy Big Bang Theory so I don't agree with the latter part of your comment, but the former part is spot-on. It's definitely not a show to use for learning the language, but it can be rather entertaining if you're into nerdy things or you're stoned

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FeelingPlayfulNow@reddit

I'm into nerdy things which is why I find it terrible.

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GiraffesCantSwim@reddit

I noped out when a character made linen clothing for a Renfaire or something and another yelled at him for cutting up his pillow cases (or sheets, maybe). Nobody is sleeping on actual linen fabric. Not these American doofuses anyway. Maybe somewhere in the world, IDK. Bed linens are not linen. They're just called that and I thought that was common knowledge/sense.

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PistachioPerfection@reddit

Uh. I have linen sheets. Made them, even. I also have bamboo sheets. You’re sounding a tad... ignorant.

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GiraffesCantSwim@reddit

Yeah, YOU MADE THEM. Do you really think Leonard and Sheldon are sitting around sewing their own sheets?

I also said maybe some people do but not them, so you're sounding a tad...bad at reading.

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PistachioPerfection@reddit

I made mine because I have the skills to do so, and it saved me a lot of money. And since you mention it, I do think the character that is Sheldon could sew his own sheets.

Just because YOU don't use them doesn't mean nobody else does either. You speak of them as if they're unusual, but they aren't unusual at all. In fact, they're extremely popular. You are "confidently incorrect" on this.

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emeryldmist@reddit

I used to work at West Elm - trust me, a lot of Americans sleep on linen sheets, those were the top sellers. They are often resold on eBay, etc. And can be found in thrift stores used, etc.

I have found linen sheets and curtains in thrift and resale stores and used them for fabric for various projects, including clothing for SCA events.

These American doofuses could completely have linen sheets. Especially Leonard - after seeing his mother, she seems like the type of woman would would have linen sheets on all the 6 they could afford it. This could be something that Leonard grew up with and brought with him to the apartment, or purchased his own, or repourposed second-hand items.

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GiraffesCantSwim@reddit

Ok, fine. I don't know what the fuck I'm talking about. I also don't know what "West Elm" is. Most people I know got their fanciest sheets from Bed Bath & Beyond instead of Walmart. 🤷

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quasiix@reddit

West Elm is where you buy $200 sheets. You know, the standard for most Americans, lol.

Sorry, you got bean souped in the comments. A Google search says cotton is the most common bedding fabric used by Americans per a few different sources.

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GiraffesCantSwim@reddit

It's all good. I've had a good day, so I'm not mad. Surprised but not mad. 😁

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Deolater@reddit

Nobody is sleeping on actual linen fabric

I do!

Linen sheets are great. They're expensive though, I'd be really mad if someone cut them up.

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GiraffesCantSwim@reddit

I knew someone would just have to say so that is why I added: "Not these American doofuses anyway. Maybe somewhere in the world, IDK."

Georgia is somewhere in the world, even if in the USA. 🤷

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RedReaper666YT@reddit

I'm also into nerdy things which is why it appeals to me. I guess the show shows (hehe...) the differences in nerdy peoples choices in entertainment

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kimness1982@reddit

Or if you’re racist and hate women

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Pete_Iredale@reddit

The show isn't funny, that's really all there is to it. What a fucking weird thing accuse someone of just because they don't like a mediocre sitcom.

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kimness1982@reddit

The show itself is very racist and misogynistic. I’m replying to someone who likes the show, I think you might be confused.

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Pete_Iredale@reddit

Ahhhh, my bad! I haven't seen very many episodes, but I know that there are a few women and a British Indian dude in the main cast, so I thought you were insinuating that racist and/or misogynistic people didn't like it because of those characters.

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WowsrsBowsrsTrousrs@reddit

So glad to see someone else who doesn't like BBT. Such stupid stereotypes, "let's all make fun of smart people, let's pretend that all smart people are socially inept so we can feel better about not being that smart, and let's put a loud laugh track so everyone knows for sure that we're making fun of those people." Really stupid show.

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UnfortunateSyzygy@reddit

See, I teach ESL to adults and a lot of my lower fluency students really like BBT. Ive found over the years that English Language Learners respond more to speed/affectation than vocabulary when they watch a TV show in English. Like I had lots of people who could understand BBT but not The Office at a similar level of fluency. BBT has a lot more going on than just the script to give clues for meaning -- laugh track, exaggerated acting etc-- than The Office, which has very accessible, daily life vocabulary. They tried the Office, but would end up watching BBT or HIMYM. That said, there's no accounting for taste when you're learning a language lol

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Rourensu@reddit

Sheldon’s Spot Moments

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Flassourian@reddit

Big Bang Theory. Sheldon would have a meltdown if anyone sat in "his spot".

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RedReaper666YT@reddit

While I'm not quite as bad as Sheldon Cooper, there's exactly one spot in my house that everyone who visits knows not to sit because it's my spot. I say not quite as bad because my (literal) ass is in it when people arrive and my coffee cup is on the side table marking that spot as occupied (and I'm far more polite if a new person sits there accidentally). Other than that grab a drink, pick a spot, and let's bullshit!

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Lucky_Ad2801@reddit

In my house, the cat gets first dibs

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SexBucketListProject@reddit

At my grandparents's house, grandma and Grandpa's rocking chairs were.

At my ex husband's house the kids spots at the table are reserved. They don't like changing but sometimes they dictate people to rearrange so they can sit next to someone else.

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sean8877@reddit

The cats and the dog took all the good seats so there is the floor or maybe a table top to sit on.

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AmerikanerinTX@reddit

Not at all, but I did grow up with that as 'proper etiquette,' so I do often notice where people sit.

IME, it is only older men (45+) and young children who will sit at the head of our table. It's only a certain type of man who does this, and they never did when my husband was home, indicating they view that spot as reserved for the 'man of the house.' These are the same men who emerge from the garage to carve the turkey they had no hand in preparing.

And on the flip side, it is only certain types of women and teen drivers who park in my driveway. Again, totally don't care, but I do notice it. These tend to be rather entitled women - the types who complain that 'they don't care about their birthday because they know they will just be disappointed,' but in reality they celebrate their whole birthday MONTH.

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somecow@reddit

We have my grandfather’s chair permanently reserved (he died about 20 years ago). Nobody dares sit in that chair. Even during crowded things like christmas, not superstition, not haunted, just an unwritten rule, because that’s his chair.

Head of table, I always get it. Everyone knows that I have to be able to see everything, especially the door. That’s my spot. Plus, mom watches the tiny tv next to the table so she gets that spot.

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AleroRatking@reddit

At the table we all sit in the same seats every time

Like if someone else sat there it wouldn't be a big deal and no one would get mad. But we absolutely sit in the same seat every time

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randomlybev@reddit

In the living room, no. In our dining room my husband and I sit in the seats nearest the door to the kitchen so that we can tag team grabbing things (courses, extra bread, water, etc…) without disrupting our guests. My mother in law also has a specific chair and spot in the dining room, but that’s because she needs a chair with arms for mobility reasons.

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Frosty_Chipmunk_3928@reddit

In our family room we each have our own seat.

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Efficient-Panic3506@reddit

Nah, not really an “American thing.” It’s just normal human behavior.

People have their usual spots out of habit, but if a guest sits there you don’t say anything—you just take another seat. It’d be weirdly rude to be like “hey that’s mine, move."

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quietlywatching6@reddit

Generally, elderly are placed in recliners and the "head of the table is for the family head. Normally guests are set to to the left or right at the table, and guests are placed at the best spot in the living room to meet their needs. So if they're an elderly person there could be recliner before the elderly in the house. They'll get the spot closest to the kids stuff if their parents etc. Achievements

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animepuppyluvr@reddit

My cat has two preferred seats and my dog has a preferred pillow. Otherwise, whoever can sit wherever. 🤷‍♀️

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LetterheadClassic306@reddit

yeah that's a thing in some families. the dad's recliner is usually off limits unless offered, same with a grandparent's spot on the couch. head of the table is more formal but still a thing for holidays. honestly it's less about being rude and more about routine - people just have their favorite spot. if you're hosting and want to avoid awkwardness, getting a few extra cozy throw pillows or a lumbar support cushion makes any seat feel intentional. i've done that when guests visit and no one fights over the good chair anymore.

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Jsmith2127@reddit

No. We have our favorite seats that we tend to gravitate towards, but no..no one has a reserved seat. It's first come first served

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BeeSuspicious3493@reddit

Nope. Everyone in my house fights over the corner of the sectional. First come, first serve.

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SituationSad4304@reddit

We each have our seat at the dining room table. But it’s not inflexible to guests

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JustAnotherUser8432@reddit

If guests are over and someone sits in the chair I usually sit in, I just sit somewhere else. It’s not a big deal.

Do we all have spots where we usually sit at the dinner table or watching a movie? Yep. If guests are over does any of that hold? Nope. Unless you have a baby in a highchair, only the baby gets that spot. If a household member sat in someone else’s “usual” spot, then the someone else sits somewhere else.

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JadeHarley0@reddit

In general, it would be considered extremely weird if you were a guest in someone's home and they told you that a certain chair was off limits.

I'm more conservative families, children are expected to cede their seat to adults at family gatherings.

SOME families have a chair that's "dad's chair" or "mom''s chair.". In my family's house we always let my mom have the corner of the couch because she has chronic neck pain due to low-curve scoliosis.

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Vegetable-Star-5833@reddit

We don’t allow guests over but between my dad and I kinda, he never sits on the couch or in the living room at all really. He only ever spends time in his room or office

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Playful_Question538@reddit

I have a chair at the table and a chair to watch tv. I don't care who sits there but my family wouldn't do that because they have their own spot. If a guest sits down then that's their spot while they are here. I also sleep on the same side of the bed every night.

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CemeteryDweller7719@reddit

That’s my spot. Seriously though, I do have a spot. It’s got a foot rest, a table next to it that has some of my stuff and a lamp. If guests are over then it doesn’t matter if they sit there, but otherwise it’s my spot. (I’m not full blown Sheldon, but I 100% have a spot. It even allows for watching tv with a good view but not having to really turn to talk to others. So it’s kinda Sheldon-ish.)

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PCBassoonist@reddit

Seats aren't reserved, but if an exceptionally old person is around, we all give them the most comfortable seats. I have a grandma in her 90s so she gets the seat she can get in and out of easiest.

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InannasPocket@reddit

We have our "default" seats at the dinner table but it's not some heriarchial thing, just habit, and if we have guests they are welcome to sit wherever.

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peter303_@reddit

My cats get two.

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GryffindorGal96@reddit

In our house, it's kind of like picking the same seat in a class. Just habit. You get comfy. Guests can sit where they would like, usually

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goblin_hipster@reddit

My cat likes whatever half of the couch where someone isn't sitting.

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tex8222@reddit

Yes! Reseved seats only. We have a desl with Ticketmaster.

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SalishSeaSweetie@reddit

We have seats just for the two cats.

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pinaple_cheese_girl@reddit

Middle cushion on the sofa is for the cat.

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Bubbly-End-6156@reddit

I do not prioritize the comfort of men in my home.

Lol, I say it like I make them sit on the floor. I don't know any men that aren't my dad

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Cinisajoy2@reddit

My husband's desk chair is his because it is easiest to get in and out of . I have my spot but if a guest wanted to sit there, they could. Unless the guest was one of the children. Then only if they are working on a craft project that needs more light.

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Viola-Swamp@reddit

This was a generational thing. In my parents’ generation and earlier, the man had his chair, often a recliner or something similar, and the woman had hers, sometimes matching or sometimes lesser but complimentary. Then there was the sofa or furniture for company. Children were often relegated to watching television on the floor. It was about hierarchy and respect, social and gender roles. The dining room table was the same. The man sat at the head of the table, the woman at the foot, closest to the kitchen so she could serve. If the man wasn’t there, if it was bowling night or lodge night, nobody dared sit in his seat at the table. If anyone dared take his chair, they vacated it immediately the moment he came into the room, without him needed to ask. He also decided what program the family would watch on television or listen to on the radio, and his choices or preferences guided the menus. That’s why all these right wing jerkwads want to go back in time, because being a white man was pretty good, having life set up so your family catered to you and you were the center of everything, in control at all times.

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Cinisajoy2@reddit

At my mom's parents, for Sunday dinners, the kids got snack trays because the table sat 6 people.

We never all got together at dad's parents because there just wasn't room. Well most of us did one time. It was odd seeing an aunt sit in grandmother's chair. The oldest aunt took the other recliner. There were people in every room and outside. I think there were about 100 of us.

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AtheneSchmidt@reddit

When we replaced the couch last, we decided to just get each of us a recliner if our own. We don't entertain much, and felt that that would be fine. So all three of us have chairs that are "ours." But when we have visitors, we're not going to stop them from sitting on the comfy chairs! No one is going around telling the guests about "Sheldon's spot."

So when it's just us, yes we have our own chairs, when we have guests, we pull some chairs from other rooms and try and have comfortable seating for everyone. Personally, I generally want to make sure my friends are comfortable, so I tend to tell them to take the recliner, and I pull over a chair from the office or kitchen if we are all in the living room.

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Cinisajoy2@reddit

Yes, we have preferred seats. As to the bathroom, only if someone is having a massive poop.

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ForestOranges@reddit

Growing up we did always sit in the same spots at the dinner table. I currently live with a friend and we each have our specific spot we sit in the living room when we’re hanging out or watching TV.

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Nightlilly2021@reddit

Growing up, it was usually the living room chairs and the recliners. They were my parents' seats and everyone knew you could sit there only if they weren't sitting there. You moved when they wanted to sit.

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o_simple_thing@reddit

Yeah. Just like every single sane household in America, we have a specific seat that is designated for the cats. And that seat is whatever seat they say it is at the time. We are not allowed to move the cats unless all seats are taken.

If a cat has taken up the recliner or couch spot they want, sit somewhere else. If we have guests over, taking up more seats than normal and there are no other seats, then and only then are you allowed to 'share' with the cat. This must be a performative amount of cooing and coaxing and scooping the cat up, supporting them gently and assuring them they can keep their spot, but that they just need to 'share.'

Then you sit down and can settle the cat in your lap. Usually the cat chooses to stay. If the cat gets up and leaves your lap, it indicates their displeasure and everyone in the room quietly shames the human responsible for moving the cat. If the cat takes up on someone else's lap at that point then that guest becomes the chosen one for the evening and is waited on so they don't have to get up and suffer the cat to be disturbed a second time.

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GroundedSatellite@reddit

My wife and I have our preferred spots on the couch, but don't get upset if someone else sits there.

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CardiganHeretic@reddit

My mom and dad had Their Seats; at my grandparents' house, each had Their Seats. They were always the recliners. Guests sat on the couch.

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literarygirl2090@reddit

Kinda... In my parents house, the seat closest to the TV was my seat and in my house, we have makeshift futon and a sofa, and I just end up laying on the futon.

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YogurtclosetWrong268@reddit

Not explicitly but implicitly absolutely. I'm large and my wife is tiny. We have dimorphic furniture. Sometimes she plays "Edith Ann" and sits in my huge recliner for laughs.

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LizardHunters@reddit

Same, I have my tiny recliner. Hubby has his big guy recliner. Guests sit in normal size chairs.

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snoweel@reddit

"This chair is just right!"

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HavBoWilTrvl@reddit

Only for the cats. You can sit in those spots but you will be pestered to move if the cat wants it.

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llamadolly85@reddit

In our household of five (four adults and one child), my six-year-old sits at the head of our dining table because it's funny and also because it gives him an adult on each side to assist. We all have preferred seats for tv/movie watching together but none of it matters when we have guests over.

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Loisgrand6@reddit

My parents and in-laws had certain chairs or spots on the sofa that no one sat in or if they did, they’d get up and let the parent/in-law have it unless the parent said they’d sit somewhere else

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Defiant_Finger4011@reddit

The most comfy chair usually goes to a senior citizen. Unless that comfy chair is also hard to get up from-but always offered.

Head of the table is traditionally for the man of the house, but also I take that chair a lot for our own family dinners because it’s easiest for me to get up and down to go fill kids water glasses or grab extra napkins (just the layout of our kitchen)

No matter how we rearrange the bedroom or if we are staying in a hotel room my husband sleeps closest to the door.

There is most definitely one seat on our sectional couch that is the most loved. I kick my kids out of it when dad’s not home, my husband kicks me out of it when he is home. Or it gets switched around because either him or I am cooking but waiting for a pot of water to boil (or whatever.) and it’s quicker access to the kitchen.

So all in all, it kind of works like chores in the house, it’s all balanced, who worked harder that day, who has more time, etc etc.

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Graflex01867@reddit

My family usually sit in the same places, but when people are visiting, a seat is a seat.

The recliner I usually sit in is just for me right now, only because the mechanism gets stuck in recline mode, and you have to know exactly how to wiggle and jiggle the handle, or you can’t get up.

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BookHouseGirl398@reddit

All the seats in my house are reserved for the cats. Sometimes they let me join them.

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kludge6730@reddit

Only reserved seats are the high chairs because no one else can fit in them. Otherwise everything is fair game.

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KaetzenOrkester@reddit

I have a pair of antique chairs that are actually pretty durable--I'm quite tall and weigh over 200 pounds, and I can sit in them without worry. But certain guests, such as my parents, cannot. My mom is, shall we say, broad of beam, and will get stuck, while my dad won't be able to get out of them because he's refused for years to do anything to maintain physical strength. He just flails around. Both act like it's the fault of the chairs when it's clearly not.

I put things in the chairs to keep guests out of them. So I suppose they're anti-reserved?

Otherwise, there's an armchair that if you sit in it, the dog will expect you to throw things for him to fetch. It's called the Throwing Chair and I warn guests.

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3skin3@reddit

I could definitely see leaving a comfortable spot for someone who is elderly but I don't think there's anything in my home distinguished between men and women whatsoever

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jub-jub-bird@reddit

Yes. My wife and I have two chairs side by side that we sit in just like Archie and Edith from All in the Family or Carl and Ellie from Up. If we have guests people are likely to sit in "my" chair and nobody would think that's rude. On a few occasion if whichever friend or family member who is sitting there knows it's "my" chair an offers to move if they notice I'm looking for a place to sit... And on a very few of those occasions just hanging out with particularly close friends or our family... I'll actually take them up on the offer.

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Dangerous_Prize_4545@reddit

My cats have 1st pick, right of refusal and right of veto.

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theegodmother1999@reddit

it's never an actual issue, or even something that would be called out in any way, but there are definitely seats in my house that i think of as "my dads spot" and "my moms spot" and it's kinda strange seeing the other one sitting in those spots lol

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KindCompetence@reddit

My specific house?

I have a seat in my office that is set up with a lot of my medical care stuff. That's mine, its for me, if I want to sit there and you're in it, I'm going to ask you to move.

The sofa for the TV has habitual seats, but my kid and I are going to end up splayed all over my husband anyway.

The living room and dining room are pretty flexible. My husband or I usually get the head of the table. Oh, the livingroom sofa does have a seat where if you sit there, the cats will believe that you are going to give them a churu.

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Sad_bippy@reddit

My sister is very type-A and always has been. She also has OCD. So growing up, she had the same seat at the dinner table every single time because that’s the way she liked it. The rest of us would sit wherever, but Sarah’s seat was Sarah’s seat and that was that. If we all still lived together now, I guarantee she’d still have the same seat lol

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Taleigh@reddit

I do that for another reason. It allows me a clear path to get up and get stuff from the kitchen

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NeverRarelySometimes@reddit

People have their usual spots around the dinner table, and in the living room, mostly out of habit and convenience, and with respect to the lefties. (It is not comfortable for me to have a left-handed diner seated to my right.) When we host a dinner, the head of the table is reserved for the host, and that's a social convention. As co-host, I sit at the other end. It would be strange to have a guest take one of those two seats, but we wouldn't make a big deal about it. Toileting rhythms kind of happen, but no one is prohibited from using the bathroom as needed.

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Extra_Routine_6603@reddit

Only place can kinda think this could apply is dinner table though even that's more a case by case. Growing up didn't really have set seats same with when visiting family or friends closest thing was someone's preferred seat and unless they were older and seat was better for them it's first come first served

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Bluemonogi@reddit

Members of my household tend to sit in the same spots daily but when we have guests they can sit wherever they want.

I am a woman and usually sit in our recliner. It doesn’t mean other people can’t use it. My husband prefers a spot on the loveseat. My daughter likes the sofa. No one sits at the head of our table- we sit on the sides of the table facing each other.

Not sure what you mean by bathroom. We have 2 bathrooms but they aren’t reserved exactly. Our household uses the upstairs bathroom more and the main floor bathroom is more kept for guests to use when we have guests.

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StinkieBritches@reddit

I grew up with "pick up your feet, lose your seat."

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The_Motherlord@reddit

I haven't watch TV in about 3-40 years so I wasn't familiar with this concept and was very confused by your question. But I also don't enjoy movies and haven't been to one since the practice of reserving seats.

I'm an old. I have never seen this. I was married twice and both times there was no, "my side" of the bed. We slept where we slept.

When I was very young my grandfather sat in the same seat at the dining table, which was round so there wasn't really a "head" of the table. But he was disabled so this was the space where his chair fit best.

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J-Bird1983@reddit

A proper host would make their visitors feel welcomed in the home. Telling someone that they can't sit in a certain chair because it is mine is not being a good host. While I do have the spot I prefer to sit in the majority of the time, it isn't the end of the world if I have to sit somewhere else.

Also, I am a man and I hate recliners. I refuse to have one in my home.

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SVAuspicious@reddit

My wife and I have our preferred spots with knitting, books, chargers, lights, and power outlets to our liking. We don't impose those on guests.

We have a chair, Carl's chair, for a relative who was large. Now that he has passed anyone can sit there albeit at the risk of pissing off our cat Her Royal Highness Emma the Cat.

When my FIL (90) comes to visit, whatever chair he wants is his. Seniority loosely applies from there. No one sits in the desk chair in my home office but me.

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ginger_princess2009@reddit

My husband's seat is the recliner, mine is on the couch next to the recliner. The cat sits wherever she wants 🤣

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cannot4seeallends@reddit

My grandparents were born in the 1920's and had a recliner that was only for my grandfather. One of the chairs in the dining room set was grander than the others and had arm rests, it was the "head of the table" chair and my grandfather would sit there. If he wasn't home for lunch, then the most senior man might be offered the spot, so my dad or my little brother but this was often as a joke.

Those traditions died with them, I can't fathom explaining the why of those old rules to kids today.

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CalOkie6250@reddit

In our living room, we have my recliner (I’m not a dude, or old, by the way), a large sofa, an arm chair, and an office chair where the computer lives. Generally, I’m the only one that sits in my recliner, but if I’m sitting on the sofa, my daughter or husband might sit there. I’ve never seen a guest attempt to sit there, but wouldn’t make a fuss if they did. My Mother-in-law always sits in the office chair when she comes over because she says all of our other furniture is too hard for her to get up from.

When I’m at someone else’s house, I usually can tell where not to sit because of placement. If someone has a usual seat, there are often clues (like personal items near that spot), and I think people pick up on that.

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brian11e3@reddit

We always left a specific seat open for grandma because it was easier for her to get into/out of.

Thats about it.

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This-Reindeer6063@reddit

'Reserved', no. Do people tend to sit in the same place every time? Yes. But this is common outside of the home too.

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FrostyIcePrincess@reddit

We have certain seats at the dinner table that just become assigned seats after a while. If dad ALWAYS sits in the same seat every meal that just becomes dads seat.

We moved, and got a new table, but our old table had a seat that was MINE. I sat in that seat every single meal.

New house, new table, that seat no longer exists.

I think dad is the only one with a specific seat now though. Everyone else just sits wherever.

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spider_speller@reddit

My husband has mobility issues and his chair is set up to help him get up. That one is reserved for him, but all the other seats are fair game.

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famousanonamos@reddit

I have my usual spots, but guests sit wherever they want. My family has their usual seats when we eat or watch TV, but nothing is set in stone. If my husband gets to the recliner before me, I sit on the couch.

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Riker_Omega_Three@reddit

When you are a guest in someone's home for a holiday, reserved seats do not apply

If you are a kid and you are someone's house visiting a friend, you are a guest but you don't sit in the dad's spot or the mom's spot unless they give you permission

Typically speaking now a days, people have fewer and fewer pop in guests, so the only time you have people over is for specific events.

And when that happens, if a person has proper manners, they won't enforce reserved seating

Like if the dad has a recliner that is his and the rest of the family knows not to sit there...that rule isn't going to apply on Easter Sunday

But if you are 12 years old spending the night? the rule applies to you

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shammy_dammy@reddit

My dad had his recliner. My mom had hers. My husband had his recliner. So...yeah.

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samurai_for_hire@reddit

The swivel chair is mine. All others are a free for all

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CupBeEmpty@reddit

At my house everything is up for grabs by a guest.

At my parents house it’s funny because all us siblings usually sit at the table where we sat growing up. My mom at one head of the table and my dad at the other. If there’s a guest they just get worked in elsewhere at the table.

That’s said it is only a mild tradition so if a guest sat in “my” seat it would be just fine.

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SabresBills69@reddit

kitchen tables usually have regular seating. part of it is for convirnirnce like if you have to do different things for your kids like if one is allergic to some foods when setting the table for the kids, the child you need to be careful for you might have a set seat to set their plate to eat.

in living room some might develop a regular seat like with reclyners like man and women have different comfort settings so they might each have their own chair type.

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devnullopinions@reddit

I have preferred places I sit as do my wife and son but it’s only preference. If we have people over at our house they can sit wherever.

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Express_Barnacle_174@reddit

My mother will encourage guests towards certain chairs, because we have some that are very tall (so she tries to encourage the taller guests to them) while others are kind of short (so she leaves them for shorter guests).

Last Thanksgiving she kind of had a race for the couch. It’s very low, and our guest is taller than any of us, but the guest doesn’t want to put my mom out, while my mom doesn’t want the guest damn near crouching to fold their long limbs on the couch. It was funny.

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Maleficent-Hawk-318@reddit

Not really. The only time I've ever really had "reserved seating" was when I was a kid and we had family dinners every night; we did all sit at the same seats at those. But even when I was a kid, we'd sit anywhere when it came to other meals (we didn't necessarily sit down all together for those, just kind of meander in and out), and things would get mixed up if we had guests over. It was more habit than actual assigned seating in any real sense.

Similarly, I lived with my dad for awhile as an adult, and we'd frequently watch TV together in the evenings. I tended to take the couch because my dogs always wanted to cuddle with me and the couch had more room, while he took the recliner. But if I happened to already be sitting in the recliner when he got home or something, I wouldn't move, we'd just swap for the night.

The big exception was my grandmother, who had moderate dementia following a stroke and relied a lot on routine, plus was physically disabled so needed special seating to be safe and comfortable. So we did have spots that were reserved for Grandma, but it was for specific reasons, and if she wasn't around for whatever reason then other people would sit in "her" spots without anyone caring. But if you dared sit in her spot when she was there, and didn't immediately jump up when she entered the room, we'd all just turn and give you a death glare. (just kidding, we'd mostly just politely tell you since it was only really an issue with guests, but that did happen to my brother once because he was distracted on his phone and didn't get up right away, lol)

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YarnSp1nner@reddit

At the dinner table the kids sit on the bench because they have ADHD and tip chairs.

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prickmoranis@reddit

if its a holiday my father will take one head of the table and my grandfather the other. and there is a dad shaped shallow spot on the couch from him watching the news every morning

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GOTaSMALL1@reddit

Ass groove.

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xnatlywouldx@reddit

I'm unfamiliar with this, personally. Every house I grew up in had a sofa and some kind of chair in the living room, and you could choose whatever you wanted. If there was a person with limited mobility present, we gave them the chair, unless they specified that they wanted the sofa.

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jessper17@reddit

No. Sit where ever. Use either bathroom that isn’t the one in my bedroom.

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Hylian_ina_halfshell@reddit

Sort of in my house. But its just preference, sometimes my wife and I switch it up

At my parents house, yes, they have their chairs, though my mom is less territorial than my dad, who has had the same leather recliner (re upholstered in the 00's) for my entire life, and it was my grand fathers before that. They don't build shit like they used to

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t-poke@reddit

The dog gets first dibs. Everyone else fights over what's left.

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CTeam19@reddit

Depends on the seat and who is the guest. As a kid I couldn't sit in the recliners at my Grandparents because they were seats that they had the easiest time to get in and out of but at my parent's home my Grandparents always to use the recliners as it was the easiest time to get in and out of. Same reasoning for both but different dynamics of the house.

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Patient-Apple-4399@reddit

Our only real set space is dad sits at the head of the table. Just always has. Much of my family is the same, dad's sit in their designated spots, and nobody will get in trouble for taking the spot but it's like a little odd if you smack yourself in it. By the time alcohol flows though, it's sit your ass whereever you can

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Flimsy_Equal8841@reddit

Yes. The right end of the couch is mine. I'm kind of like Sheldon on TBBT. It's my spot.

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Midwest_Plant_Guy@reddit

Not really reserved seats, but we have "assigned" seats at the dinner table in my house, solely because if we didn't, my kids fight over who gets to sit where😂

It's gotten to the point that the kids will call out my wife and I if we're not in our "assigned" seats haha

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Saruster@reddit

We had assigned seats at the dinner table and even had individual placemats that we picked out ourselves (at a super young age but I was still using mine until I moved out! ❤️)

It just so happened that two of my brothers are left handed so the seating order made sure all elbows pointed out.

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NO3513@reddit

When I was a kid we had assigned seats too, and would rotate every season lol!

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Midwest_Plant_Guy@reddit

Maybe we should start seasonal rotations🤔

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EvilCallie@reddit

According to my stepdad the 3 months I stayed with them 13 years ago... yes, and even if he wasn't around to use it, you were "sitting in his spot on the couch that he paid for", not that he would come out and tell you or ask you to move when he was around... instead he would just be a passive aggressive dick without any clarification

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Longwell2020@reddit

Ya my cat has the window chair.

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lisasimpsonfan@reddit

I have a recliner but that is because I usually elevate my legs. If it is just us at home I sit in it. If we have company over and they sit in it then not a big deal. I will sit somewhere else.

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Carolina_Stag@reddit

Growing up my grandparents had rocking chairs that were "theirs" but even then it we all sat in them from time to time

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JimBones31@reddit

When no one is visiting we do, but when we have guests, they usually sit in "our" seats since they are the easiest to get to at the table.

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elonmusktheturd22@reddit

Yes, at night i sleep on the couch while my lab takes my recliner, in the day i take the recliner and my lab takes the couch.

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BankOk9472@reddit

Recliners being reserved for Elderly is certainly something I'm used to, it just makes more sense.

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Leather_Rate_9785@reddit

One leaves recliners for elders because they are generally easier to get up from than a couch. Just as if there aren't enough seats for everyone, kids sit on the floor. It's just a practical matter of can or cannot get up from a seated position.

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googlemcfoogle@reddit

Recliners aren't reserved for "men and the elderly" in general as much as they're reserved for the owner of the recliner, who usually happens to be an old man. Compared to couches and smaller armchairs which are generally treated as communal furniture, recliners are often seen as "personal furniture in a common room"

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Ok_Gas5386@reddit

It’s a stereotype that the La-Z-Boy in the living room is the “dad chair.” That’s where my dad would always sit in the evenings to do his crosswords.

I don’t have a recliner or a reserved seat, but I’m also not a dad yet so we will see how things develop.

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Gruesomegiggles@reddit

It's the opposite for me. I used to sit on the stairs, because husband and kiddo would take over the couch and it was getting harder for me to get off the floor.

Now that it's just me and the kiddo, it's him and the dog. When I sit down, they both start drifting over. When I get up, they immediately move fully into that spot. When I come back and sit on the other side, they immediately start scooching over again. I find myself dogpiled every evening, which is the best and the worst, rotfl. I find myself sitting on the stairs still, because that seems to stay free, lol. But, getting a cuddle is as easy as moving to the empty seat on the couch, lol.

Recently, I have been making a point of saying, I was sitting here, you were sitting there, you need to move back to your spot so I can sit back down. This has been met with absolute outrage. Who made me the authority on where he sits???? He asks me.

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KristyKrispito@reddit

No but the recliner is the last place you want to sit. Grandma or grandpa have been sitting and sweating in that thing for too long. It’s gross

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Weary_Capital_1379@reddit

No one sits in my recliner but me. I sit at the head of the dining table because I’m the cook and it’s the closest seat to the kitchen.

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-Boston-Terrier-@reddit

Are you just watching The Big Bang Theory?

It's very common for people in households to develop a routine and generally sit in the same spots but the character of Sheldon Cooper is just a character on a TV show.

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normallystrange85@reddit

Not in an immediately recognizable way. It's not like I would know walking into a strangers home who sits where normally.

But yeah, growing up my dad and my mom had their favorite chairs they would use. We used them too if my parents weren't using them, but would change seats if they wanted to sit down.

But you don't really expect guests to know that and you don't generally tell them to move unless it is something like "grandpa has a bad back and that is the only chair he can sit in comfortably".

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wykkedfaery33@reddit

In my home? Not really. We have a two seater & a three seater, it's anything goes.

My parents have assigned seats for themselves (they each have a recliner), but also have eash a two & three seater for guests, plus a nice glider w/ footrest.

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Wadsworth_McStumpy@reddit

When we don't have guests, my wife and I each have our own recliners. If a guest sits in one of them, though, we'll sit elsewhere.

It doesn't happen often, because our guests usually know our preferred seats. Even the cats notice when someone sits in the wrong seat.

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parkz88@reddit

You can sit in my recliner if I know you or I'm not using it. Even my very argumentative brother moves when I come to sit. New guest don't go to the second floor but can sit anywhere on the first floor and are always offered a drink and snacks.

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tcrhs@reddit

No. We have no reserved seats in our home. I had elderly relatives visit for a party. I asked them to sit in the most comfortable recliners.

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Easy_Key5944@reddit

Not at all, with the exception that folks with mobility issues get dibs. My grandparents when they were alive, then my sisters-in-law when they were pregnant. Now my dad has dementia and gets confused if someone takes his favorite spot. He can't speak up for himself very well, just becomes visibly anxious. So we make sure everyone knows that's his spot.

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Uhhh_what555476384@reddit

My step father had a specific chair which was "his" because the firmness meant that he could get in and out of it easier despite his relative frailty.

Otherwise, no.

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avicia@reddit

Most people share the seating with guests, but I ask about people’s spots or where they’d like me to sit. Most homes people have their typical living room and dining table spots with some more usual for guests.

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YoshiandAims@reddit

All the adults had their spot. It wasn't elderly or men, it was everyone. Generally the heads of the household.

Nana and grandpa each had their positions at the table, and in their living room.

My uncle had his spot at the dinner table, and his recliner in his home.

My parents had their spits as well.

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Quix66@reddit

Not really a thing in our family. We do have our preferred spots but in actuality anyone is free to sit there.

If anything some people will ask out of courtesy if you want them to move but we generally say it’s not a problem and to keep sitting there.

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penguinwasteland1414@reddit

Growing up, my grandpa had his chair and in my house, dad had his own chair. Both recliners and you couldn't sit there without express permission or if they weren't home.

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DragonSurferEGO@reddit

Nothing is reserved, but we have preferred seats.

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ITrCool@reddit

Not really. If a guest sits in any seat, it’s theirs. There might be an exception, such as a powered recliner for an elderly family member that has to use it, or obviously a small chair for kids. Or an antique chair or bench meant more for show than actual use.

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GotMeAMuleToRide@reddit

People in the household have "favored" seats but by no means is anything reserved or off-limits.

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Requilem@reddit

Depends on the family. The thing that doesn't get pointed out enough in this sub is that America is a melting pot. We have every tradition around the world along with as many unique traditions as we do citizens (340 million people). Also generations change the norm drastically. The final thing to always remember our coastal cities change constantly since that is the bulk of where immigrants begin. Compared to heartland (west of Appalachian east of Rocky) that don't change much over the generations. With that being said in a home that is owned there is typically preferred seating. It's a 50/50 split whether it is enforced or not, also the gathering makes a difference. If it's just the residents they typically will just go to their areas out of habit, 5 or less guests similar but normally accommodating, once you go over 10 people the residents are normally hosting and have no time to sit.

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arcticmischief@reddit

I can’t imagine not allowing a guest to sit wherever they darn well please. They’re my guests. That would be weirdly inhospitable of me.

I also would feel that it’s a bit off-putting to visit someone’s home and have them tell me not to sit somewhere.

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HeadstashedAF@reddit

When everyone can eat together we have our seats, but mostly because it’s what makes sense in our small kitchen. We have a sectional so no assigned seats there, but if someone sits down with a drink, etc beside them and has to get up for a minute, we do ask the kids to move if they “jump in our grave”. If a guest comes, they can sit wherever they want. 1 bathroom so can’t really reserve that. We ask each other if anyone needs to use first it if we plan on being there for awhile

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Adorable-Growth-6551@reddit

Kind of. I am a woman. We bought me a really nice rocker/recliner that fits me perfectly when the oldest was a baby. It was a place that i could comfortably rock the babies all night if necessary. I spent a lot of nights with sick babies in that chair. Kids are older and they now sit in it all the time. Husband never does though, he kind of has his favorite spot on the couch.

But if a guest wants to sit somewhere it doesnt matter, that is their seat.

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Constellation-88@reddit

No. It’d be rude to make a guest give a recliner to the man of the house just cuz he’s a man.

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TheMuffler42069@reddit

All the seats in my home with the exception of two are strictly reserved for butts. The other two are for butts and feet depending on the situation and maybe sometimes they will act as like… a tv dinner tray

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BoSKnight87@reddit

Nope, I rotate seats I don’t really care

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Beemerba@reddit

Only reserved seat in the house is my recliner, but op sez they are reserved for the elderly and infirm and I am both. My recliner has my meds, snacks, and my laptop. If a guest would sit in the recliner, I wouldn't kick them out, but I would be nervous.

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Individual_Check_442@reddit

I wouldn’t say there’s necessarily specific seats guests shouldn’t sit in, guests will typically wait for the host to tell them where to sit, if there are three guests and the host directs them to two spots on a sofa and a recliner, the host doesn’t care how the guests arrange themselves (like if there was one elderly guest).

At the table, again the guest would usually hesitate and wait for the host to direct them, but if the host says “sit anywhere” the guest most likely wouldn’t sit at the head of the table. Bathroom, same thing. Host directs you to the one they want you to use. They’re not going to have you use one that’s through their bedroom.

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WillThereBeSnacks13@reddit

Guests get first dibs regardless of if people sit in the same seats otherwise. My spouse and I tend to sit in the same seats at the dining table and sleep on the same sides of the bed. But the couch is a free-for-all. We have a big chaise and typically the convention is if someone had to commute to an office that day vs. someone working from home, the commuter gets to choose if they sit on the chaise

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GhostOfJamesStrang@reddit

I have a preference.

I would never deny that seat to a guest.

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ThatCrossDresser@reddit

For frequent visitors, we have assigned seating. It is a bit of an unwritten social contract that this seat belongs to person A and that seat belongs to person B but it is like that because that person chose that seat and sat there everytime they visit. Now if a new person shows up and sits in Person A's seat, usually Person A just picks a new seat. If friends come over to watch a movie and sits in my recliner, I sit somewhere else. I would say some guests intentionally avoid sitting in recliners because there is some impression that it belongs to the head of the household, but it isn't a hard rule.

The only really reserved seat in my house is with Dungeons and Dragons as I as the DM need room for my books, papers, and dice. Also so I can reach the whole table so I can hand everyone things and be given things by my players.

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OrganizationSouth481@reddit

This was very much a thing in my family when I was younger.

At home, my mom and dad had specific spots that were theirs. Us kids did not sit in them, ever. Neither did our friends.

At my grandparents house, the little sofa chair was grandma’s and the recliner was grandpa’s and no one else sat there. No matter how many of us they were hosting.

Now no one kicked up a fit if a guest sat in those seats in either scenario. But within the family we definitely respected it. It is not a thing in my adult life though.

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TheOnlyJimEver@reddit

Well, I'm in a wheelchair, so I'd get pretty mad if someone took that seat from me, but to otherwise, no. I'd say, usually, when someone sits down in anyone's home, they'll grab a spot on the couch, but that's not written in stone.

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LaLechuzaVerde@reddit

My husband is a creature of habit and always sits in the same spot on the couch. Other people are allowed to sit there but they have to move if he wants to sit down. He is apparently incapable of sitting anywhere else in that room.

Other than that, no.

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Cathode335@reddit

It's definitely not a "rule" but kind of a cultural norm I guess. I was at my cousin's house last week and saw a recliner, and I said "that is such a grandpa chair." And her husband said "yep, that was my grandpa's chair." I had a step-grandfather who spent basically his entire retirement sitting in a specific recliner.

In our house (family of 4 with young kids) we all have our assigned seats at the table, and we'll usually sit there even when guests come, but we would never kick a guest out of our seats if they happened to sit there. Our 4yo sits at the head of the table because when he had a highchair it was easier to fit there. So no, we aren't particular about it.

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letmesingyouawaltz_@reddit

My family and I are routine creatures so we do all tend to sit in the same spot in the living room and at the kitchen table, but not for any particular reason. Not because certain seats are reserved for men or anything like that

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shwh1963@reddit

People can sit where they want.

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holymacaroley@reddit

No. My 79 year old dad has the recliner reserved at his house, though.

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NANNYNEGLEY@reddit

My mechanical sit to stand chair is definitely just mine. No one else needs it.

Now, if they just make a laying to stand bed!

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Seppafer@reddit

In addition to what others are saying usually we automatically do some mental work to figure out where the least occupied seats are. Like we briefly look for signs that someone regularly uses a spot like a book to the side of it for example and sit somewhere else but the biggest factor is if there are preferences by the host then they usually will offer you a seat by either taking their spot first or offering you the spot they recommend you take. Theres no hard rule so just let the social cues happen and don’t rush to take a seat if you don’t need to.

For example at home my family and I all have our spots we sit at like who takes what seat at the dinner table or in the living room. We are a little peculiar about the spots at the dinner table and are open about seating people in particular spots like when we have extended family over we set things up so that theres some flexibility for guests to choose and that people can sit closer to the people they are close to

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river-running@reddit

Not currently. Growing up we had unofficial assigned seats at my grandmother's table and my grandmother also always sat in the same living room chair. It wasn't like no one could use that chair if she wasn't.

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mykepagan@reddit

Yes, for the cat. He gets very upset if someone is in his spot.

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RHS1959@reddit

I have a couple of places I usually sit, but if a guest comes in and sits in “my chair” I’ll just sit in another.

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joreanasarous@reddit

There's a spot on the sofa that has a fuzzy blanket on it.

That spot is for Clyde.

He's a dog.

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Outside_Narwhal3784@reddit

I mean my kid and I fight over the same seat on the couch.

I generally lose… So I guess it’s her spot?

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tropicalsoul@reddit

When my dad was alive, everyone - even guests - knew that no one was allowed to sit in his recliner. If you did, he'd just matter-of-factly say, "Get out of my chair." And you did.

Now, we each have our 'own' recliner and 'our seat' at the dining table, but if a guest sits in it we just sit somewhere else. I'm guessing this is pretty normal anywhere.

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themistycrystal@reddit

My husband has his recliner and I have mine. Guests sit on the couch or loveseat. Those also recline so everyone gets to relax.

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meowmix778@reddit

Not a hard assignment.

We have a sofa + love seat and between my wife, myself and our oldest daughter, we all have spots we tend to sit. Our youngest always sits in the middle. Similar for the dinner table.

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SwitchWitchLolita@reddit

Yes. My gaming chair is mine and my partners gaming chair is theirs.

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Puzzleheaded_Age6550@reddit

I always ask, prior to sitting down when I am in someone's home "where do you usually sit?" So I can ask elsewhere.

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Numerous_Delay_6306@reddit

maybe yea, from like 6 years I always sit on the same spot

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pinniped90@reddit

Nothing Sheldon tier.

We have our preferred spots but when guests are over none of that applies.

When we have a big dinner my wife and I usually take the ends of the table, unless it's just one other or two other couples. Then we all sit towards the middle section of the table, across from each other. (Nobody on the ends.)

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skatoulaki@reddit

My husband and I used to sit at the end of the dining table, and our son would sit on the side. After our son moved out, it gradually changed to me sitting at my end and my husband now sits at one of the side chairs to my left.

I think it was more or less because sitting at opposite ends made it hard to talk to each other, so it made more sense to switch it up, especially as we get older and our hearing gets worse.

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Perseverance2571@reddit

We sit all over our house in all the chairs, recliners, and sofas. We always sit in the same spots at the dinner table, except when we have guests, in which we seat people in a way that makes sense for everyone.

Growing up though, my mom always sat (and still does) on one spot on the sofa and my dad sat in his recliner.

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jafnharri@reddit

In my parents home growing up we had our assigned spots at the table... Probably to prevent us kids from fighting mostly. Then there were my parent's seats in the living room. You could sit there if they weren't around, but if they came in to watch TV and you were in their chair, you'd be expected to move. I live alone now so all the seats are mine.

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MydogsnameisChewy@reddit

When guests or extended family, children, grandchildren, etc., drop by, they can sit wherever they want. When it's just hubby and I, we both have our places we like to sit. It's not a big deal.

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ScarletDarkstar@reddit

Not in my family, we all just sit where nobody is currently sitting. Dad does sit in the recliner most, but he watches TV a lot and often nobody else is in the room. If he comes in and someone is there he sits on the couch.

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Inspi@reddit

My dog has her own chair she claimed. She does not like anyone else sitting there, except sometimes I'm allowed. My wife definitely is not, lol.

Other than that we just have our preferred places to sit but whoever gets there first is who gets to sit there.

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ArkansasTravelier@reddit

Yeah for the most part especially with older people the older man and older woman both have their own seat that you shouldn’t sit in, they’ll usually have a little table or cabinet beside it too with their things (newspaper and magazines, iPad, cough drops, pocket Knife, salt and pepper) and would just be weird to sit in their spot

I feel like people usually sit in the same spots in their homes and end up making it their own that they are used to.

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Whybaby16154@reddit

It’s disrespectful if someone sits in the Dad chair. Pick anywhere else

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Ship_Negative@reddit

This is how it was in my house growing up too, unless he wasn’t home

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megaray_charles@reddit

We have preferred spots but they aren't reserved by any means. I'm left handed so the only time I reserve a specific seat is at the dinner table and that's just any seat where I'm not bumping elbows with someone else.

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Apart_Pineapple2392@reddit

My kids sure think so.

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Last_Inevitable8311@reddit

My husband has his favorite spot on the couch. It’s so funny when he gets up to do something and comes back to find one of the dogs stole it. It really is the best seat on the couch.

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OneNerdyLesbian@reddit

We have seats that certain members of the family prefer, and we tend to sit in them when it's just use.

That all goes out the window when guests are over though. They can sit wherever they want. Also, we don't even care about our preferred seats that much. If someone else in the family sits in them, we'd just move to a different seat.

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LadyMRedd@reddit

I have a lot of pain issues and we bought a reclining sofa so that I can sit with my feet at a comfortable angle. My right shoulder has a lot of issues and so if I sit on the right side of the sofa it’s much better because I can use the right arm rest.

So that spot on the sofa has become my spot. My friends who spend a lot of time at the house will give others a heads up if I’m not in the room to clear that space if they see me coming in. I’ve never asked them to, but it’s sweet.

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omnipresent_sailfish@reddit

My dog has a reserved chair by the window

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rosietherosebud@reddit

My mom has a basically reserved seat. She's elderly but still works, so when she comes home, she eats dinner, takes a bath, and sits in her recliner. I'd be a jerk if I sat there.

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sulunod1313@reddit

At the dinner table we have "assigned" seats. But that's it.

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gaytee@reddit

In my home with my gf, we have our sides of the couch. At home with my parents, they have their seats and the rest of us fill in.

When guests visit my house, we let them sit wherever and accommodate, unless it’s the superbowl or we’re actually having movie night, then I’m sitting in my seat everytime. It’s a sign of respect to all situations.

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Away_Analyst_3107@reddit

Somewhat yes, my mom has her chair and my dad has his chair and the expectation is that if you sot there and they want to sit, you move. My dad is super specific about his chair at dinner as well, but the rest of us move around

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heirbagger@reddit

Only at the dinner table. Every other seat is whoever gets there first.

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TressoftheEmeraldTea@reddit

My husband and I have certain places on the couch we prefer, but we move around depending on circumstance, and we don’t have any qualms if a guest sits in our usual spots. If anything, we typically let the guests sit in our usual spots because they’re on the bigger couch.

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GrowlingAtTheWorld@reddit

Dad always took the couch in my parent’s home, mom had her rocking chair and that left the love seat for us kids. If we had guests dad would give up space on the couch for them to sit or if more guests us kids would take to the floor.

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Black_Dog_Industries@reddit

With my wife and our kids we have our own seats that are assigned to us.

When a guest comes over, they sit wherever they want. I usually sit on one of the counter top stools so everyone gets a comfortable seat while they visit

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lefactorybebe@reddit

Usually there's the seats people normally take in a house, but typically a guest wouldn't be told not to sit there.

Now I live only with my bf so we just have our normal seats on the couch, but I'd never tell someone they couldn't sit there.

Growing up (four people) we had our seats at the dining table but again besides the hosts sitting at the head of the tables no seats were reserved if company was over. We had our typical spots we preferred in the living room but it company was over nobody would be barred from sitting in them.

There might be individual family quirks (like your example, that's grandpas recliner!!) but generally, no ime.

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ohsummerdawn@reddit

We have our spots at the dinner table, but not around other parts of the house.

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LankyJeep@reddit

I have my spot, my wife has hers, but if a guest sits somewhere we normally sit we let the guest have the seat because it’s rude to kick a guest out of a seat.

At my grandparents it’s well known the two recliners are theirs and each one is desegregated for a grandparent, if they walk over and want the seat, your getting up out of their seat

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breaker_bad@reddit

I might run my daughter out of my seat but not the wife and definitely not a guest

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Professional-Pungo@reddit

nothing is super reserved or anything, but there is some respect/seniority.

if I was sitting in my fathers favorite chair and he decides to come and sit in the living room as well. he would tell me to move.

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DragonScrivner@reddit

We sit where we want to sit.

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Thereelgerg@reddit

No

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Independent_Bat1950@reddit

The best seat at the table is reserved for the head of the household, the right side for the wife, and the left side for the eldest or a guest. We follow a certain etiquette at home.

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you-absolute-foolish@reddit

No, we tend to sit wherever in my family and when at my parents house

However my husbands family does have typical seats, but whenever we visit his family I forget and sit in a different spot everytime so it forces them all to switch it up too mwahaha

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