I hope you’ve enjoyed my “Home Decorating Tips & Ideas” series this Summer. This next bit of advice is five practical tips to create the perfect family room. You don’t have to stress over perfection, just focus on creating a comfy & enjoyable space with these ideas.
Do you call it a family room or a living room? My husband called it a front room when we first met, and for the life of me I thought forever that he was saying “French room” and I just though okay, well, okay that’s different.
Having a room in your home specifically designed for your family to hang out in is a great way to encourage regular family time. I know some friends who don’t have a TV in their family room, but others (me) who do.
No matter what your thoughts are on having a television in there are, creating the perfect room for your family will require a little planning, but not stressing.
I think you’ll agree with me that carving out time in a busy schedule to spend with your family is so important.
These simple decorating tips will help you create an amazing family room in your home.
Five Practical Tips to Create the Perfect Family Room
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1. Don’t Be Afraid of Color
The family room is the perfect place to incorporate some bright, cheery colors into your decor.
Your kids will love having a variety of colors in the space, making it even more enticing for them to hang out in the room. A bright cheerful rug, like this one on Amazon, is one easy way to brighten up a room.
This doesn’t mean you have to paint your walls if you don’t want to, or if you’re living in a space that doesn’t allow you to. Colorful curtains, pieces of furniture, pillows, and wall art are also places you can add in your favorite colors.
2. Pick the Perfect Fabrics
To create a family room that can withstand the wear and tear kids and pets can cause, you’ll need to be sure to pick the durable fabrics for the space.
You may want to start by choosing furniture in a neutral color. Then, you can add pops of color elsewhere. Throw pillows and blankets work well for this.
Then, consider the amount of traffic each piece of furniture will see. Pieces that are used often, like couches and lounge chairs, will last longer if upholstered in kid-friendly fabrics like stain-resistant microfiber or durable wool.
3. Make it Washable
I learned this the hard way. One of the first sofas my husband and I bought (with two toddlers running around, mind you) was beautiful, but the fabric was impossible to keep clean. It was one of those faux suede numbers, and it didn’t take long for the sofa to be ruined.
The more elements of your family room that are washable, the less stressed you’ll be about common kid messes. Washable throw pillows and blankets, fabric rugs that can easily be cleaned, and slipcovers on the furniture will ensure the space stays kid-friendly from day to day.
Trust me – five kids, two Great Danes, a Springer Spaniel, a farm, and a husband later, know this to be very good advice.
4. Have Plenty of Storage
Have you ever stepped on a LEGO barefoot?
I mentioned storage in my Simple Tips for Decorating Your Kids Bedroom post, and I’m mentioning it again because it’s so important.
Encouraging your kids to spend time your family room will require you to make the space kid-friendly. One the flip side, having toys scattered throughout the room isn’t the best way for the grow-ups to relax either.
To make every member of your family happy in the space, be sure to have plenty of storage for everything you’ll need in the room. Hide away items in baskets, add a storage cabinet, or set up a bookshelf to ensure your family room stays organized.
5. Comfort is Key
Another great way to make sure your family enjoys their time is to provide plenty of comfort in the space.
Choose a large, comfortable couch for lounging and provide lots of pillows and blankets to get cozy.
Continue the theme of comfort throughout the room by keeping sharp corners and edges out of the space.
Steer clear of traditional tables and choose round versions instead to ensure your kids are safe as they play. My dad was always adamant about this. He would come to our house with his sanding block and do a through investigation of sharp corners that might hurt his precious grand babies. I appreciated the help!
At the end of the day, there are so many ways to make your family room perfect. But whether your sofa is clean, or you have matching cozy pillows, the most important thing to remember, is to provide lots of love, hugs, giggles, and honesty to your loved ones. When you do this, the rest will fall into place.
More Home Decorating & Tips
Beautiful Farmhouse Style Summer Decorations on Amazon
Amazing Amazon Finds – Farmhouse Storage & Organzation
Easy Ways to Create an Outdoor Living Space on a Budget
