How to Focus Your Family Room on Family

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Choose Comfortable, Durable Furniture

When selecting furniture for your family room, opt for pieces that are both comfortable and durable. Since this room gets a lot of use, you’ll want sofas, chairs, and tables that can withstand frequent activity and hold up over time. Leather or microfiber upholstery is ideal for sofas and chairs. Avoid delicate fabrics like linen or velvet which show wear easily. For families with kids or pets, performance fabrics like Sunbrella are great options.

Include Plenty of Seating

Make sure to include ample, comfortable seating in your family room so everyone has a spot. Sectionals are great for stretching out and having enough room for the whole gang. Ottomans and floor pillows also provide extra spots for playing games or watching movies. If you have a smaller space, look for sofas with chaise extensions that can seat more people.

Add Lots of Storage

Clutter can quickly take over a family room, so incorporate storage wherever you can. Baskets, cabinets, shelving, ottomans with storage compartments are all great options. Store toys, books, craft supplies, and more so they can be easily accessed but don’t take over the room. A designated media cabinet is also useful for hiding gaming consoles, streaming devices, movies, and controllers.

Arrange Furniture for Both Watching TV and Interacting

Position your seating to make both TV viewing and interacting with family and friends natural. Angle part of your sectional toward the TV for optimal movie nights. Then incorporate chairs or additional seating facing inward to encourage connection when you want to play games or just catch up.

Include Kid-Friendly Touches

If you have young kids, include pieces in your family room design just for them. Durable, washable rugs under high-traffic play areas, a small table and chairs for little ones, storage bins and baskets for toys at their level, and kid-height seating like poufs are great additions.

Use Durable, Washable Fabrics

Since spills and stains are inevitable in a family room, select upholstery and area rugs that are easy to clean. Fabric options like microfiber, Sunbrella, linen, leather, and performance velvet are ideal choices. Area rugs made of synthetic fibers like polypropylene are also easy to spot clean. Washable slipcovers are another great option.

Add Warm, Cozy Lighting

Lighting helps set the mood in your family room, so incorporate layers of illumination. Ambient lighting like table and floor lamps provides a soft glow for leisurely evenings. Task lighting near seating areas lets family members comfortably read or play games. Just be sure to avoid overhead lighting which creates a harsh, cold environment.

Display Family Photos and Memories

Personalize your family room by decorating with cherished family photos, your kids’ artwork, vacation souvenirs, and other mementos. Arrange collections on shelves, hang gallery walls showcasing favorite shots, and display your favorite memories to create a warm, welcoming space that celebrates your family.

Include a Homework Zone

For families with school-aged kids, create a dedicated homework zone within your family room. A desk or table against the quietest wall makes an ideal spot for studying. Add a comfortable chair, task lighting, storage for supplies, and a bulletin board or whiteboard for note-taking. Keep distractions like TVs out of the homework area.

Add Pops of Color

While you likely want soothing, neutral tones in your family room, adding pops of color livens up the space. Accent walls, patterned throw pillows, area rugs, and artwork are easy ways to incorporate color. Keep accents bright and playful for an energizing mood.

Incorporate Multipurpose Furniture

Look for family room furniture that serves more than one purpose, maximizing both function and flexibility. An ottoman that opens for storage or serves as a coffee table, a sectional with a pull-out bed for overnight guests, bookshelves that divide a room – all perfect picks.

Enable Zone Separation

Create defined spaces within your open concept family room if you have the room. Floating bookshelves, room dividers, area rugs, and even furniture arrangements can help divide a large family room into different zones for media, play, homework etc.

How Much Space Do You Need?

The size of your family room will depend largely on the size of your family and how you plan to use the space. Here are some general guidelines for determining how much space you need:

Small families (2-3 people) – 150-300 sq ft
Medium families (4-5 people) – 300-500 sq ft
Large families (6+ people) – 500+ sq ft

Be sure to measure both the length and width of the room to get the total square footage. Keep in mind traffic flow as you arrange furniture. Allow enough space between pieces so people can easily walk through the room.

What Are Some Layout Options?

How you arrange your family room will impact both aesthetics and functionality. Here are some common layout options to consider:

Focal point layout – Arrange furniture to face a focal point like a TV or fireplace. This creates a natural gathering place for movie nights.
Conversation area – Position part of your seating to face each other to encourage family chats. You can angle the rest toward a TV.
Perimeter seating – Place seating along the walls to open up floor space for playing, working, or doing yoga.
Zoned spaces – Use furniture, rugs, and lighting to divide open floor plans into zones for media, play, crafts etc.

What Flooring Works Best?

Durable, family-friendly flooring stands up to heavy traffic and makes your family room both practical and comfortable. Here are some top options:

Laminate – Affordable, realistic wood look, durable
Luxury vinyl plank – Waterproof, scratch resistant, easy to clean
Tile – Hard-wearing, easy to clean, comes in fun patterns
Low-pile carpet – Soft, warm underfoot, absorbs sound

Look for waterproof and scratch-resistant surfaces if you have kids and pets. Also consider noise reducing flooring like carpet if the room is below a bedroom.

What Are Some Family-Friendly Decor Ideas?

The decor you choose will greatly impact the overall vibe of your family room. Here are some ideas to create a family-friendly space:

Hang a gallery wall of family photos and kids’ artwork
Frame cherished memorabilia like kids’ awards and travel souvenirs
Display favorite family photos and keepsakes on shelves
Add baskets, bins, and buckets to corral toys
Choose whimsical wall art and accents like decorative letters spelling out “FAMILY”
Use chalkboard paint to create a fun wall for drawing and leaving messages
Showcase favorite family photos on an end table or coffee table

What Are Some Must-Have Items?

Certain items are must-haves for a functional family room. Be sure to include:

Comfortable seating – Sectionals, sofa, chairs, ottomans
Storage – Baskets, bins, cabinets, shelves
Media storage – TV console, cabinets for movies/games
Lighting – Floor lamps, table lamps, reading lights
Child-friendly pieces – Toy storage, kid-size table and chairs

Also consider including a TV, coffee table, family photos, blankets, a large area rug, and a homework zone if needed.

What Colors Work Well?

Aim for colors that are warm, inviting, and able to hide dirt and stains. Here are some top choices:

Warm neutrals – Beige, tan, light brown
Greys – Light grey walls with charcoal accents
Blues – Soft powder blue, denim, navy
Greens – Sage, moss green, lime green
Wood tones – Walnut, oak, mahogany

You can also add pops of bold colors like yellow, orange, red or bright blue through decor accents and artwork. Just keep other elements neutral.

Conclusion

Creating a family-friendly room meant for gathering, playing, relaxing and connecting comes down to choosing durable, comfy furniture, allowing for both TV viewing and interacting, incorporating storage, and adding personal decorative touches. Focus on pieces that can handle a lot of wear and tear, and arrange your space to accommodate your family’s needs. With these tips in mind, you can design a family room that becomes the heart of your home.

FAQs about How to Focus Your Family Room on Family

What size should a family room be?

The recommended size for a family room depends on the size of your family. For small families, 150-300 square feet is usually sufficient. Medium sized families will want 300-500 square feet. Large families of 6 or more people should look for 500+ square feet.

How can I decorate a family room on a budget?

Some budget-friendly ways to decorate include:

Shop thrift stores and yard sales for unique furniture finds
Display collected items like kids’ artwork, framed photos, and special keepsakes
Choose neutral paint like beige or gray for walls
Add pops of color and personality with patterned throw pillows and area rugs
Repurpose items you already have for new uses in the family room

What type of sofa is best for a family room?

Look for sofas made with durable, family-friendly fabrics like microfiber, leather, or performance fabrics like Sunbrella. Sectionals provide ample seating. Slipcovered sofas make cleaning spills and pet hair easy. Avoid delicate fabrics like velvet or linen which require frequent cleaning.

Should a family room have a TV?

Having a television in the family room is highly recommended since this is often where media like movies and gaming is enjoyed. Mount your TV on the wall or place it on a TV console. Just be sure to angle seating toward each other as well for family interactions when the TV isn’t in use.

What flooring works best in high traffic family rooms?

Durable laminate, luxury vinyl plank, tile, and low-pile carpet are great flooring options for family rooms. Look for scratch-resistant, waterproof materials especially with kids and pets. Tile and vinyl withstand heavy activity while carpet absorbs noise from kids playing.

What lighting works best in a family room?

Opt for layered lighting with ambient light from table and floor lamps paired with task lighting for reading nooks. Wall sconces also provide a warmer glow than overhead fixtures. Dimmer switches allow you to control the lighting based on activities.