Seating

Throughout The Sims series, seating is a common furniture type of Buy mode object that can be found and purchased on any residential home (as well in community) lots. Different category of seating have their own distinguish purpose and appearance, though the common feature all hold is to allow Sims to sit or lie down on them.

In general, chairs are divided into three categories: dining chairs, living chairs or arm chairs, sofas/loveseats, and recliners, though not all games use the same category names. Such objects, along with Beds category, are classified as "comfort" in buy mode under Sort by function. The Label is given likely due to the fact that all these furniture objects originally have the purpose of increasing one's comfort motive.

Dining chairs
Dining chairs, as the same suggest, are popular to be used for dining out on tables. However, they aren't limited to such funtion-wise scope and don't always necessary present in it appearances despite the classification. Some objects, such as computers and chess sets, cannot be used unless a chair is present. In The Sims and The Sims 2, chairs fill the comfort motive. In The Sims 3, they give the "Comfy" moodlet. Dining chairs are designed to be used in front of objects, such as dining tables, desks, and chess sets, that Sims use while sitting. They are generally animated so that Sims can slide them back from, and back to, what they are in front of, which adds realism. Therefore, office-style chairs are often grouped as dining chairs.

After a chair is place down, it automatically gets selected. This feature allows for intuitive table setup without having to repeadly pick the same chair or hold down the key.

Over the span of expansion and stuff pack releases, there are over 47 of chairs in total:
 * Base game alone provides 17.
 * The Sims 2: University expansion pack adds 2 more.
 * The Sims 2: Nightlife expansion pack adds 4 more.
 * The Sims 2: Open for Business expansion pack adds 1 more.
 * The Sims 2: Family Fun Stuff pack adds 2 more.
 * The Sims 2: Glamour Life Stuff pack adds 1 more.
 * The Sims 2: Pets expansion pack adds 2 more.
 * The Sims 2: Seasons expansion pack adds 4 more.
 * The Sims 2: Celebration! Stuff pack adds 4 more.
 * The Sims 2: Bon Voyage expansion pack adds 1 more.
 * The Sims 2: Teen Style Stuff pack adds 3 more.
 * The Sims 2: FreeTime expansion pack adds 2 more.
 * The Sims 2: IKEA Home Stuff pack adds 1 more.
 * The Sims 2: Apartment Life expansion pack adds 3 more.

Living room, outdoors and other seating
Living chairs generally appear more solid and substantial, and are often used by Sims to read or watch TV Loveseats can seat up to two Sims, while sofas can seat two or more. Sims can nap or lounge on these seats, and will autonomously converse with Sims seated in nearby seats. They can also perform a variety of romantic and non-romantic interactions with Sims seated adjacent to them. In The Sims 2, couches are animated with the fabric retracting and inflating back in-synch when sat by a Sim. Sims can also play by bouncing on such seat. Recliners can be used as living chairs, but Sims can also nap in them. In The Sims 4, desk chairs are located in a separate category. Sims can play on couches

Special forms of seating that may be attached to another object or used for a specific purpose may also be available. These may include bar stools, chairs around fire pits, or a makeover station.

In The Sims 2: Apartment Life, good and evil witches can craft a throne of their respective alignment. Corresponding throne will fulfill the seated witch's of the respective alignment all motives.

Toddlers can be put in a high chair, which is equivalent to a dining chair older Sims can use. High chairs come with their own eating surface, so they do not need to be placed in front of a table. High chairs are not required, but can make it easier to feed toddlers, and allows Sims to serve baby food to them. Toddlers cannot get out of a high chair until an older Sim lets them out.