Family Room Designs

Family room designs have evolved from the days of shag rugs and wood paneled walls. Today's family rooms are beautiful and functional. Some family rooms are combined with the kitchen to create an open floor plan and a place where the entire family can gather. These great rooms have become popular as more Americans are staying home instead of going out and lifestyles have become more casual. They allow family members to watch television, eat cook, do homework and play games all together.

In many homes, the family room has taken the place of the living room. With space at a premium, families are forgoing the formal parlor, for a true "living" room where they spend the majority of their time.

The ideal family room would have something for everyone:

• An entertainment center to house a television, video game system, DVD player, stereo system, game cartridges and movies
• A computer table and/or a wireless router for a laptop and printer
• Plenty of storage for magazines, board games and remote controls
• Appropriate task lighting
• Bookshelves full of books and a cozy reading chair
• A soft rug
• A sectional sofa big enough for the whole family to sit together
• An ottoman that can double as a table
• Multiple sitting areas to enable r multiple discussions

Alas, most people don't have the ideal space and the ideal budget to create a dream room. However, with appropriate planning and prioritization, you can create a family room design that is perfect for your lifestyle.

Answering these questions will help you determine how much space you need for your family room, how much seating to provide and what your priorities are when it comes to budgeting.

• How will you use the room? Will you be watching television or hosting parties? Will it be a place for doing homework or listening to music?
• How many people do you need to seat? Do you want one main seating area or several smaller seating arrangements? Do you want to be able to rearrange furniture when you are entertaining? If the answer is yes, then don't buy a sectional sofa.
• Will you eat meals in the room or will food be off limit? If you will serve food in your family room consider stain resistant fabrics for the furniture and carpeting.
• Will you have a computer in the room? If so, do you need to plan for cord management or will you set up a wireless router in your home?
• How long do you need your furniture to last? Do you have plans for another redo in a few years or do you need to live with this furniture for many years to come?
• Do you have pets or small children? Do you need to safety proof the room?
• What are your storage requirements? Will the room house toys, books, games or CDS?

Since today's family rooms are often the most used rooms in the home, you should make sure to integrate the room's design with the rest of the house. You can accomplish this by choosing a color scheme that flows with the rest of the house. Also, be sure to match architectural elements like molding and flooring with the other rooms.

Finally, remember that the most important part of your family room design, is making it a comfortable place for family and friends to gather and relax.

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