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by Judy Christopherson
No matter how large or small, almost every blueprint has a space on it somewhere marked "family room". But what is a family room? After all we can't design or plan a room if we haven't thought about its function.
I think that a family room is called that because it embodies the expectations we associate with the word "family". This should be a comfortable room, the room that most feels like coming home. Just like an ideal family situation, we need a family room to be a place we we can:
- connect with the other people
- be ourselves
- participate in favourite pastimes
- feel comfortable in a warm and inviting space
What elements do we need then to consider to make this family room ideal? What ever you choose for the family room, think of comfort first. This is a room to curl up in. Things to look for when decorating your family room are:
- soft large chairs that you can relax in, possibly a sofa or a lounge to lie on
- furniture that is durable that can take day- to-day stress
- enough tables to put coffee cups on, possibly a tables to play games on
- a television with a cabinet , preferably with doors so it can be closed off when not in use
- a rug to curl toes in
- a fireplace for warmth and atmosphere
- lighting that can be adjusted for function
- storage units for books, games, toys, and collectables
When it's time to set up your room you want everything in the room to make people feel welcome and comfortable.
- Use warm, inviting colours to draw people into the room.
- Place furniture in groups so that conversation can be intimate. Make sure that nothing is more than ten feet from the rest of the conversation group.
- Place lighting in the room for specific tasks like reading or playing games.
Make a checklist. What do you want your family room to include to be all that you need it to be? Follow your plan and voila!! You'll have the room of your dreams.
~ Judy Christopherson has been an interior designer as well as a builder for over 20 years. She lives with her husband in Vancouver, Canada. In addition to her decorating articles Judy wrote about A Mother's Legacy.
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