The Family Room. Gathering place of family and friends. How is your Family Room working? Does it suit your current lifestyle? Consider these ideas if you plan to update this important room.
As “the” space for gathering, relaxation and entertainment, the family room often serves many purposes. Since it’s typically less formal and more casual than a living room, it’s the place to watch TV, read, play video games, do homework or have family game nights. It’s the hub of activity, so it usually needs a sofa or seating area, a bookshelf, and for homework time, consider installing a built-in desk. Storage for things like movies, books and toys is always needed, so having an entertainment center might make sense. Ideally the space will be large enough to accommodate the many uses this room will serve. For all these reasons, planning how this room will be used and how it will flow is very important.
When arranging the seating, consider the layout to encourage interaction if possible. An “L” shape or seating that faces each other is an easy way to invite conversation. Next, think about the things that will be stored in the family room. Are there enough shelves, cabinets, or drawers to store the toys, books, video games and other items that are commonly used in the room?
Once the logistics of the room have been figured out, it’s time to think about how it will be decorated. Your family room should be warm and inviting. Visit your local home improvement store for paint color combinations and ideas. Consider using neutral colors for the seating, and add splashes of color with accessories like pillows, blankets, and area rugs. These items can easily be updated to reflect changing tastes or trends. Be sure the lighting is sufficient in areas for reading, and appropriate for entertaining, and casual gatherings. Your family room should reflect your personality, so favorite pieces of art, family photos, and knick knacks can add that personal touch.
This is the place where the family relaxes and hangs out together. Make it comfortable for watching TV and reading alike. If your family likes to play board games or video games together, keep the seating in mind for those activities. For cold winter days and evenings, it is nice to have cozy blankets available to wrap up in while watching TV or napping. If your family room opens to the backyard, provide an area to wipe feet or store shoes. Consider the in and out traffic for kids, pets, and for guests when entertaining.
Updating a family room can make sense if your lifestyle has changed. Perhaps you are considering selling your home, you just purchased a new home, the family is growing, or the kids have left for college. Maybe you are upgrading your TV, or purchasing new furniture for that room, which opens the door for redecorating. In any case, this is a room that gets the majority of the use in your home. Why not take a good look and see if its time for a change? After all, the family room is truly the heart of the home.
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