The turkey gets all the attention on Thanksgiving. The chairs? Not so much.
According to new research from Norwegian furniture brand Stressless, seating may be one of the most overlooked parts of the holiday experience.
In a survey of 2,000 Americans who celebrate Thanksgiving, 82% said gathering around the table with family and friends is worth the stress that comes with planning and hosting the big meal.
There's just one problem: They're not especially comfortable once they sit down.
Survey respondents rated the comfort of their Thanksgiving dining chairs a surprisingly low 3.7 out of 10, suggesting that while Americans love the tradition of lingering around the table, many may be doing it from less-than-ideal seats.
Americans are spending hours at the Thanksgiving table
Thanksgiving isn't just dinner. It's often an all-day event.
The survey found people spend an average of
2 hours and 24 minutes eating their Thanksgiving meal, while 93% say they stick around the table after dinner is over.
That may explain why comfort matters so much. Nearly 76% of respondents said comfortable seating is important during Thanksgiving gatherings, while 46% said ergonomic support is important as well.
Younger adults appear especially eager to extend the celebration. According to the survey, 62% of Gen Z respondents said they'd like Thanksgiving to last even longer.
What Americans actually talk about at Thanksgiving dinner
While politics often dominates holiday headlines, the survey suggests most families are focused on lighter conversation during their turkey dinners
The most popular Thanksgiving table topics include:
- Reminiscing about family memories (40%)
- Family gossip (34%)
- Life updates (34%)
- TV shows and movies (33%)
- Sports (30%)
In other words, the average Thanksgiving gathering still looks a lot like what many families remember: good food, storytelling and catching up with loved ones.
A dining chair designed for marathon meals
Stressless released the survey alongside a spotlight on its newest dining chair, the Bay Low Back.
The reclining dining chair is designed to move with the sitter, allowing subtle adjustments throughout a meal. The company says the chair automatically follows users' movements and reclines slightly to help reduce pressure and fatigue during longer periods of sitting.
The Bay Low Back joins the brand's existing dining-chair lineup and is available in multiple upholstery, color and base options.
Discover the Bay Low Back chair
Is upgrading your dining room worth it?
A complete dining room makeover isn't in everyone's Thanksgiving budget. But if you're hosting family for the holidays, this survey highlights something many people overlook: guests typically spend far more time at the table than they realize.
Whether that means investing in ergonomic dining chairs, adding seat cushions or simply doing a comfort test before guests arrive, a few small changes could make those post-dinner conversations a little more enjoyable.
After all, Thanksgiving isn't just about what's on the table. It's also about how long everyone wants to stay there.
Shop Stressless chairs
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Do Americans agree on the most uncomfortable part of Thanksgiving?
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