{"id":104201,"date":"2020-01-18T14:59:00","date_gmt":"2020-01-18T19:59:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bhgre.com\/bhgrelife\/?p=104201"},"modified":"2020-01-17T15:19:49","modified_gmt":"2020-01-17T20:19:49","slug":"family-room-decor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bhgre.com\/bhgrelife\/family-room-decor\/","title":{"rendered":"Best ways to cozy up your family room or den"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

One\nof the best ways to ensure your family life doesn\u2019t turn into a \u201cships passing\nin the night scenario\u201d is to create a space in your home for the entire family\nto congregate spontaneously. Choosing the right family room decor is the best\nway to cozy up your family\nroom<\/a> or den. As\nthe days get shorter and less time is spent outdoors, it\u2019s important to create\na family room to retreat to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Comfortable Seating is Key<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Comfortable\nseating for the entire family and then some is key to a successful family room <\/a>setup. Whether you place the couch\nagainst a wall or float it in a larger, open-plan house, think not about enough\nseating for the family and a few guests, but about enough lounging area for\neveryone. Even if you don\u2019t own a pair of sweatpants, the family room is a\nplace to sprawl, not the place to worry about your posture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sectionals\nare great for letting family members do just that. They also have the advantage\nof separating off a portion of a room. The DIY alternative to this is built-ins\nalong the walls with corner seating. Add some oversized, comfy lounge chairs\nand several ottomans and you\u2019ll have flexible seating for you, your children,\nand their friends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Invest\nin furniture that comes with washable slipcovers or that\u2019s made from\neasy-to-clean surfaces like leather or vinyl. If you must use white or off-white\nin your family room, washable, stain guarded slipcovers for upholstered\nsurfaces are a must.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rugs up the Cozy Factor<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The\nother big family room investment you should make is in a rug that\u2019s both easy\nto clean and plush. When the playoffs are on and it\u2019s game night, you may have\nmore guests than you can seat and the overflow will have to make do with throw\ncushions and the floor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Go\noverboard on the cushion and throw front. We tend to use our family rooms at\nthe end of the day and at the end of the week when we\u2019re already tired and want\nto relax without exerting a lot of energy. Stretching out with a comfy pillow\nat your back and a cozy throw to keep you warm (even if the movie turns out to\nbe a two-and-a-half-hour marathon) might just be the best leisure activity you\nparticipate in all week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Traffic Flow Matters<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Pay\nparticular attention to traffic flow and conversational (or viewing) seating\nareas when planning your family room decor. Floating a couch several feet from\nthe wall that contains the room\u2019s entryway means people can enter and exit the\nroom from other areas without having to pause the movie to let newcomers squeeze\nby.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Basement Family Rooms<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If\nyour family room is in the basement, you may have to work a little harder to\nget a cozy vibe. Invest in some really comfy seating and try to keep things low\n(including any wall art). In a room with low ceilings, hanging pictures at\nseated eye level is crucial. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alternatively,\nperhaps instead of artwork or photos, create a curated wall that has texture:\nold skis and snowshoes painted white and mounted on the wall above the couch; a\ncollection of straw hats or baskets; or a net full of shells you\u2019ve collected\non your beach vacations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If\nyou have exposed pipes or beams, don\u2019t feel obliged to close in the ceiling.\nYou can go one of two ways with a basement den ceiling: paint it the same color\nas the room, or use a contrasting shade that accentuates the obvious.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Family Room Storage is Essential<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Make\nsure you build in storage space for toys, games, devices, and books. You\u2019re\nprobably going to want a TV and a surround sound system. Now is the time to\nthink about how various family members are going to want to use the space. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If\nyou don\u2019t mind your kids listening to music while they do their homework, you\nmight want to consider creating not only a family game area but also a study\narea. Your young scholars may feel less like they\u2019re being punished when doing\ntheir homework if they\u2019re also hanging out with the rest of the family. Even if\nyou don\u2019t want to create a study area in the den, you\u2019ll need a table of some\nsort for cards and board games.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don\u2019t\nforget there will be snacks, whether they\u2019re s\u2019mores or popcorn. While you\nwon\u2019t necessarily want to create a formal dining area in your family room, a\ndedicated table or buffet where you can put out all the snacks and guests can\nhelp themselves is a good idea, while a small bar fridge can save you trips\nback and forth to the kitchen with chip dip and drinks.\n\nOther ideas: a play\narea for younger kids and a billiards, pool, or ping pong table or dartboard\nfor the adults. If you invest the time in planning the best ways to cozy up\nyour family room or den, it will become not your home\u2019s centerpiece, but rather\nits heart.\n\n\n\n<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"