What most naturally follows?

How to arrange furniture around a fireplace
Decide on a use for the room.
The way the seats are arranged with respect to one another will depend on your intended use of the space. In order to promote conversation, seats should face inward and toward each other.
If you plan to watch television together, seats will tend to face in one direction. Versatile seating, such as swivel chairs or light chairs that can be easily repositioned, makes it easier to rearrange the furniture for various uses.