Every home usually has a multipurpose room that’s used by the rest of the family. This is the family room, and if you have one, you may be looking to redesign it so that it fully meets the needs of every member of your family. As a parent, you also have to factor your kids into the equation when figuring out how to design a family room. It’s important that your kids have a comfortable space they can gather for various activities like reading, watching TV, or playing games. To help you out, here are some tips for how to design a family room.
Discuss the Project With Your Children
Want to know how to design a family room that your kids will love? The best way is to get the kids involved from the start. You can begin by discussing the details of the project long before you start working on it. This will give your kids plenty of time to get used to the idea and to come up with ideas of their own that you can incorporate into your designs. Kids can be a creative bunch, and if you give them a chance, they can easily come up with inspiring ideas that also work for you. Of course, you don’t need to pander to every whim. Instead, start by letting your kids know that you’re in the process of designing a family room and then hear what they have to say.
You can also share some of your design ideas with your kids. If you’re strategic about it, you can get your children on board with your ideas quickly and make them feel like their voice matters. For instance, one of the effective strategies is to come up with three similar design ideas and ask your children to choose the best one. This allows your children to choose something they want from options that also work for you.
Consider What Your Children Like
If you’re an attentive parent, chances are you know your children better than they know themselves. Perhaps, you’re aware of their favorite colors and the activities they enjoy participating in. The more thought you put into what your kids like, the better your chances of success when figuring out how to design a family room that your kids will love. If you consider each of your kids’ needs, this allows you to create a flexible space that easily caters to different members of your family. So spend time observing your children and considering their preferences. If one of your kids loves flowers, then they’ll be pleased to see you incorporating floral arrangements into the family room.
It’s all about paying attention to detail. Admittedly, it’s not an easy act to pull off, coming up with a kid-friendly family room design. This is often an intuitive process, meaning that you can still create something your kids will love and appreciate without their direct input. Based on your intimate knowledge of your kids and what they love, you can add many personal touches that reflect each younger member of your family. Even if your children are not always paying attention to these touches, this adds a more welcoming and inviting ambiance to your family room. By keeping your kids in mind throughout the process, you can capture the true essence of what a family room is all about.
Go Shopping Together
One way you can involve your kids when designing a family room is to take them shopping. Shopping around is an important part of how to design a family room because it allows you to test out your design concepts. For instance, if you think that an L-shaped couch would be the perfect addition to one corner of the family room, then going out shopping will help you conceptualize this idea. You’ll discover many couches with different designs and styles before choosing one that closely matches your vision. Your children can also chip in with ideas. For instance, if they say they like a particular couch.
Find out what it is specifically they like about the couch. Maybe they like how comfortable or colorful it is. This insight can help you make a better decision that suits your kids when you finally decide to make a purchase. Taking your kids shopping will also help open up a world of possibilities for designing a family room. Whether you’re shopping for living room furniture or family room decor, your kids will love exploring many options. You can even ask your kids to pick up the smaller items that will be added to the family room, such as small sculpture pieces or decor items. That way, your children can add their own personal touches to the design process.
Choose Low Maintenance Options
When you have kids in the room, there’s a lot of potential for things to get messy quickly. As such, looking at low-maintenance options can help you determine how to design a family room that’s also easy to take care of. For instance, consider buying furniture that’s easy to clean. In that case, it’s better to choose microfiber instead of upholstery when buying new furniture for your family room. Additionally, you might want to choose darker colors for your coach or carpets so you don’t end up needing to hire a carpet cleaning service frequently. You should also go for low-maintenance finishes so that the surfaces of your furniture don’t end up peeling quickly.
Even if you’re installing epoxy flooring or other types of floors, consider the maintenance requirements. The good news is that epoxy flooring doesn’t require a lot in terms of daily maintenance. You should also consider maintenance requirements for various aspects of your family room, such as the window covering, the flooring, and the finishes. This is simply because since the family room gets used a lot, you want a design that makes life easier for you when it comes to keeping the space in the best possible condition. You and your kids should be able to enjoy spending more time in the living room without involving a lot of daily maintenance.
Add More Storage to Beat the Clutter
As mentioned, family rooms have a tendency to get messy quickly because they are used by everyone most of the time, including your kids. Keeping the family room tidy can be a difficult process, but another great solution to how to design a family room that works for your kids is to incorporate more built-in storage. The best smart storage solutions can help you beat clutter in a heartbeat and make it easier to keep up appearances. It’s an easy way to stay on top of all the toys, books, and other odds and ends that end up accumulating in the family room. The good thing about adding more storage is that your kids will still have easy access to their stuff since they’ll be tucked out of sight within easy reach.
Meanwhile, you get to have a minimalist design that can still fully accommodate the needs of your children. You can explore many storage ideas, such as cabinetry that frames the TV or adding rows of open shelving that can house books, family photos, and pretty decorative pieces. Evaluate the size of your family to ensure there’s ample storage. The family room is often the most used space in your home, and if you want it to be relaxing, then it’s crucial for it to remain as clutter-free as possible.
Include Plenty of Comfortable Seating
Comfortable seating is a huge part of how to design a family room that your kids will love. If your kids spend a lot of time in the family room, they need to be comfortable. That’s why you shouldn’t hesitate to splurge on quality seating. It’s not only about comfort. It’s also about whether the whole family can fit without feeling like they’re tightly squeezed on the couch. If you need plenty of seating space, you usually can’t go wrong with a large corner sofa. An L-shaped arrangement is a contemporary and stylish choice that will keep your kids comfortable and offer enough space for many people to relax.
You also have many options when choosing your seating style and options. You can choose to add an ottoman or a large sectional that’s complemented by fluffy cushions and soft throws to make the seating space more inviting. If you want your family room to work for your kids rather than the other way around, then it’s crucial to prioritize seating. For cases where you have a larger family, consider using different furniture styles to create allocated zones so that everyone has a place for their needs. Once you have all your seating in one place, consider in-home furniture moving until you discover a seating arrangement that works for your kids.
Incorporate a Playroom Section
Do you have younger kids that need a dedicated playing area? It’s a good idea to also incorporate a playroom area that’s separate from the rest of the space. Your kids will love having a dedicated play area where they are free to have all the fun they need. The right design will enable you to create a family room with one space that can function as a formal or informal living room and a more laid-back area where the kids can let their hair down. If you’re afraid of clutter, you can create a snug area that’s partly closed off so that the bright toys and other play pieces don’t interfere with the aesthetics of your family room.
Add More Color and Texture
Kids have a reputation for getting bored quickly, so the last thing you want is to come up with a dull design. Try to create a family room that’s as lively and exciting as possible. A great way to achieve this is by adding plenty of color and texture. Functionality is an important factor, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have the best of both worlds. If your family room comes with a great view, consider adding some interesting hardscaping elements, such as a water feature, to keep your kids inspired.
Create a Multifunctional Space
There are many factors to consider when considering how to design a family room that works for your kids. The best family rooms are multifunctional, and if you want to create such a space, then it’s in your best interests to think practically. When considering family living, you need to think ahead whether you need to hire an electrician to upgrade the lighting or if you’re comparing vinyl frame window options. There are many tips you can apply to create a multifunctional environment that will keep your kids on their toes.
For instance, you can use different varieties of furniture pieces to keep your family room as flexible as possible. As mentioned, you can use furniture and decor to create zones that can offer something of value to your kids, whether it’s entertainment, relaxation, or privacy. We have already talked about how to make the family room more aesthetically pleasing for your kids. By coming up with a family room design that’s both decorative and multifunctional, you can greatly enhance the quality of life for your children.
These are the top tips for how to design a family room that resonates with your kids and everyone else. The good thing about these design inspirations is that you can tweak them, so they better reflect the unique needs of your family. In a home where there are kids, it helps to keep these tips in mind because the ultimate goal is to create an inviting family room that everyone can enjoy. The key takeaway here is to involve your kids as much as possible. They’re a big part of the family, so it makes sense to keep them in the loop when it comes to how to design a family room. Doing this means your kids are more likely to be happier with the final results.