5 April, 2018
Decorating family rooms can feel like a delicate balance between maintaining the overall style of the home while creating a space that says “welcome home” to your family and friends. Use these tips to find the right balance for your home.
#1 Start with the Entrance
Creating a welcoming family room starts before anyone ever enters the room. If the hallway or entryway that leads to your family room is dark, bare, or otherwise unwelcoming, that vibe can carry into the room itself. Cheer the area up with adequate lighting and a rug that naturally leads people into the room.
#2 Light Up the Room
Lighting a family room can be tricky. If the lighting is too harsh, you’ll lose the cozy, welcoming atmosphere you’re trying to create, but no one wants to sit in an overly dark room. Create a cozier look with multiple light sources for adjustable lighting. Invest in a few lamps for your family room. You can also help to lighten a room by doing a quick clean of the area. Make sure the blinds, windows, and furniture have been cleaned. All of this can help increase how light your room feels and make it seem more welcoming.
#3 Conceal the Television
Many people make the television the focal point of the family room. While this makes sense for family movie nights, watching the big game, etc., it can also hinder quality family time as it may discourage conversation. You can move the TV to a different room, like the den, or you can conceal the television with an accommodating entertainment center or you can add sliding doors in front of it.
#4 Invest in Several Seating Options
Everyone has different preferences when it comes to seating; some people like sofas, while others prefer their own space in an armchair. Choose family room furniture sets that accommodate individual preferences with multiple types of seating
#5 Make it Personal
You don’t have to choose between having a beautiful family room and having personalized family room decor. There are many elegant ways to add a personal touch to the room. Display treasured family photos or items you’ve collected during your travels on classic, mid-century high quality accent tables.
#6 Arrange Furniture Accordingly
If you want to create a welcoming atmosphere, arrange your furniture in a way that encourages interaction and face-to-face conversation. Avoid placing your furniture all in a line; arrange your living room sofa and other furniture to facilitate interaction. Place seating close to each other when possible to create a sense of intimacy and closeness. However, make sure you don’t take this advice too far by making people feel claustrophobic.
#7 Choose an Inviting Color Scheme
An important element of family room decor is color selection. Warm colors will make a room feel more cozy and welcoming. Colors like brown, peach-orange, soft yellows, and reds can achieve this atmosphere. This doesn’t mean you are banned from picking white furniture if you enjoy the clean, crisp look. Just soften it with warm-colors like these accent pillows.
#8 Emphasize Physical Comfort
No matter how much you try to create a welcoming atmosphere, if the textures and furniture in a room are not actually comfortable, you’ll struggle to actualize your vision. Choose comfy, plush furniture sets and cozy textures for throw pillows, rugs, etc.
#9 Define Space in Open Floor Plans
It can sometimes be difficult to tell where one space ends and the next begins in open floor plans. This can be especially hard if you live in a home that was designed for a different time. However, there is a way to make mid-century home and furniture design work in your favor.The way you arrange your furniture can be a valuable tool, but that’s not your only option. Look at ways you can tie your furniture together and help your room and floor plan flow together more smoothly. A high-quality area rug can tie together the family room decor while defining the space.
#10 Plan Around the Ceiling Fan
If your family room features a ceiling fan, try to avoid placing seating directly under it. While it can offer a delightful breeze on warm days, most people will subconsciously feel on edge if they are sitting directly below rotating blades. Just plan for a coffee table or empty space to be right below the fan.
