Wednesday, December 26th, 2018
The end of the Second World War was a moment mourned throughout the world. War veterans went back home, families cried over their lost loved ones, and they, together with the rest of the world’s population treaded on to get out of the Great Depression. At the time, the middle class started to rise and the demand for family rooms increased.
Family rooms became the embodiment of casual living as it offered space that’s meant for relaxation and family bonding. Those who clamored for family room wanted one that was utopic and one that strayed from the class lines. This was, after all, a room that lacked the formality of the traditional living room or parlor.
The Function of a Family Room
The family room’s purpose was not clear at first, as it seemed to focus only on leisure. But pretty soon, it became necessary for this room to become multifunctional. First, wives began asking for a separate spot for their household chores and the place where their family members gathered.
Living room became a space for entertainment and display and the humble family room became the zone where members of the family could let their hair down, so to speak.
But what’s the huge difference between the living room and the family room?
As early as the 17th century, guests were welcomed in living rooms. There are now more homes with more relaxed living rooms but there are still homes – especially the larger ones – where they are still formal. Others even refer to it as a grand living room.
The family room is similar to the living room because it’s also a place where the family gathers. This can be a place for relaxation and they tend to be kid-friendly.
Family Room Essentials
It is not a secret that family rooms can be a challenge to set up. No matter how simple the concept or theme in this room may be, it could get taxing setting it up especially when you have no idea where to begin.
So to help you on your endeavor here are the essentials that every family room needs –
Lots of seating. Be sure to set up ample comfortable seats for every family member plus some guests who could suddenly pay a visit. Try setting up a sectional if you have limited space to work with. Comfy pillows would also come in handy.
Warmth. And what’s a family room without a warm glow of fire in the evenings? That traditional wood fireplace, electric or gas units would all provide the warmth that you need in this room.
Comfy underfoot. A soft area rug or carpet is a must-have for every family room. Just imagine relaxing your feet on the carpet or rug while you gather during the evenings to share stories.
Lovely hues. Choose a color that’s relaxing to everyone’s eyes. Find out how to fill up the space with the palette that you pick. Greens and blues are the most relaxing while oranges and yellows are energy inducing.
Television. Plan a spot for your TV set. Find an entertainment set that will hold your TV along with your other entertainment gadgets and equipment. Leave some room for the DVD player, your DVD collection, speakers, and other equipment.
A place for everything. Make sure that there aren’t only shelves and drawers but more storage spaces for your books, game boards, magazines, and CDs. These should not be stored insomuch that they can no longer be accessed when they are needed.
And talk of out of reach, you should also have a shelf that’s high enough for your breakable accents to be placed on. Your little ones must not be able to reach this level easily.
Tags: family room, family room design, family room essentials, family room style, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings
Posted in Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements, Living Room Design, Special Rooms In Your Home | Comments Off on The Family Friendly Family Room
Friday, January 19th, 2018
There is a huge difference between a family room and a living room. For many decades, people have been confused when asked to describe the difference between these two. Both spaces are places where people can socialize and gather. The open space layout that is now an in thing in design also made the issue even more complicated.
Formal living rooms the more casual version which is the family room, still both exist. The main differences between these two can be seen in their function, layout, and their placement.
Location
A living room is often situated in front of a home. This is often near the entryway and is often used to welcome guests and to entertain them during formal occasions.
The family room, on the other hand, is often located at the back of a house. It is near the kitchen and usually adjacent to the patio, deck or any outdoor space. This room is just reserved for the family and is often used daily. At times, close friends and relatives can be entertained there, too, although the gathering has to be casual.
Casual or Formal?
The furnishings in a family room and the living room are often the same in terms of function. Since these are both spaces where people gather or socialize, they both have seating units such as a group of chairs or a couch.
In a family room, though, the furnishings zero in on comfort and a more casual, laidback appearance. This is a spot where you are likelier to see recliners and plush, comfy sofas. In the living room, furnishings are often more stylish and, yes, a lot more formal. For instance, wingback chairs are quite popular in living rooms.
The living room is also a spot where family heirlooms are typically found (e.g. a grand piano; an old, valuable painting; wooden chest; etc.).
To Entertain or Not to Entertain
Family rooms, since they are casual, are the zones where the family gathers to play games or to watch their favorite TV shows. The family can also set up the DVD player and sound systems there. They can have this zone stocked with the classic and modern movies.
In the more formal living room, these essentials are not found. Here, you are likelier to find pieces of art and family portraits.
The Décor
A lot of modern homes now blur the differences between living rooms and the family room. It is appropriate to still define the difference between these spaces so that the proper tone and, eventually, the theme can be set.
The family room should have warm and inviting hues. It must also have plush and the most comfortable furniture pieces. It can also come with an entertainment system and lines of bookshelves.
The family can also be a space where immediate family members can relax and enjoy. Here, they can unwind and just be themselves without putting their best foot forward.
The living room must come with as different mood. This is a place for that elegant leather sectional. This is also the right spot to put that antique chaise. This is also a room where you can appropriately welcome your dinner party guests or even host your holiday get-togethers.
How to Arrange Family Room Furniture
The arrangement of the furniture all begins with the definition of a focal point. If the room comes with a fireplace then it automatically becomes the focal piece. However, having a TV set in there could cause a bit of confusion.
To avoid this confusing scenario, have the TV and the fireplace on different walls then have the other furniture pieces arranged toward the television.
Remember to place the biggest furniture opposite your focal point.
Next, be sure to create a conversation zone. Add a coffee table in front of your couch then set up some storage units for your board games and set up the shelves for some books.
Tags: family design, family room, family room design elements, family room style, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings
Posted in Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements, Special Rooms In Your Home | Comments Off on This is a Family Room (Be Confused No More)
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