If you have two rooms in your house that resemble a family room or a living room, how do you know which one is which? This article will explain the major and minor distinctions between a family room and a living room.
All rooms in your home have unique functions. The terms “family room” and “living room” are frequently used interchangeably for rooms in your home, but they each represent something different and should connote a specific place.
If you’re wondering how to tell a family room from a living room, you should first look at their histories. Prior to the mid-nineteenth century, households had only one all-purpose living space where children played during the day and adults spent time there at night. But after WWII, when baby boomers started families and moved to the suburbs, many home builders added a second living room. Living in the suburbs meant larger houses with enough space for a more casual family room and a formal living room, explains Glenna Stone, an interior designer based in Philadelphia. Once TVs were in almost every home, the idea that the family room was the center of the home was strengthened.
Homeowners are more focused than ever on making the most out of every square foot of their living spaces. This means that your living room may be utilized for everyday family time, and your family room may be used for entertaining on a regular basis. It’s important to know how each space is meant to be different and reach its full (and intended) potential.
What is the address of the room?
There is no official rule on where your living room or family room should be located in the house. However, if you pay attention to the adjoining spaces and outside access points, you’ll become more aware of how the architect intended the floor plan to flow. The family area is usually adjacent to or connected to the kitchen, Stone notes. It becomes an extension of the traditional heart of the home and serves as the site for your daily living. A space near the front door that connects to a formal dining area is frequently intended as a living room. The living room is usually distinct from the kitchen, where it’s a little calmer, and it provides the first impression when you have guests, Stone adds.
How do you utilize the room the most?
The obvious answer to the family-room-or-living-room argument in many homes with dual living spaces is determined by one question. Where did you place your television? The living room is a more formal area, but the family room is where you can relax, and it almost always serves as the TV room, Stone explains. Kids can watch a show as you prepare dinner, or you can use this room to host more casually. For example, if you’re hosting Thanksgiving for 20 people, your guests will most likely congregate here to watch football. It’s more of a get comfortable and relaxation type of room.
The living room has traditionally been seen as a more formal, grown-up space, but more and more families are using it as part of their everyday lives. When houses and flats cost as much as they do, the first room to go in the formal living space is the living room. The living room is only rarely utilized during the year at the most, and it is the first extra room in the house to be eliminated, says Catherine Truman, a Boston-based architect. Stone has noticed a similar trend among her clients and never thinks it should be reserved for special events. People want to use every square inch of their homes, especially in the last year. The living room is a terrific place for adult gatherings, networking, and game evenings, and it should be welcoming and pleasant while maintaining an upscale vibe.
How did you arrange the seating?
Most family rooms include seating layouts that are ideal for a weekend movie night—or for keeping an eye on your kid while you work. Stone says that the TV will be the main attraction in 99 percent of family rooms, so seating will be designed around that. A comfortable sectional would fit your family room well if you have a large athletic family or enjoy movie nights. We really want to make this room a day-in, day-out space where clients feel completely at home. In the living room, you might have a reading chair near your favorite window, sofas that are made to get people talking, or flexible benches for relaxing and playing card games. That’s my favorite thing about designing living rooms, Stone adds, because we can create these very unique settings without having to wonder, can everyone see the TV?
What is the overall look?
Even though the design of both rooms should go together and fit in with the rest of your home, the living room is usually where you put older or more personalized things. For example, your grandparents’ piano, your kids’ school photos, or an old desk. Truman says that the living room is usually filled with fancy furniture, items given to the family, and more formal pieces. The family room, on the other hand, is usually filled with overstuffed, more casual furniture. Stone attributes some of this to the living room’s proximity to the main entrance. Because the living room is that first impression space, she says, we design it to feel more polished. Not stiff or stuffy, but with a focus on refined shapes, sophisticated fabrics and finishes, and unusual art or décor items.
Kid- and pet-friendly textiles, storage items meant to hide Legos and dress-up clothes, and stain-resistant flooring are all must-haves in family rooms for households with children. Do you know those old stories of people who never used the living room and wrapped the furniture in plastic? Truman asks. Nobody ever makes a joke about the plastic-covered family room furnishings. A joke about dog hair and food stains on the family room furniture is more likely! The family room is a place where family and friends can spend a lot of time and relax throughout the year. The living room allows homeowners to display decorative flairs and/or collections of what is of value or special to homeowners. A living is usually a room only rarely used by family and friends. Remember to display your own unique designs in both your family and living rooms!