Decorating and Design - Formal Living Room Help
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dmerces
06-26-08, 02:27 PM
Hey guys! Moved into my house about a year ago and our formal living room area is still empty because we dont know what to do with it. Both my wife and I agree that we're not into that "room that no one goes into" type space. We need some ideas!
Anyone have any different ideas of what we could do with that room so it looks nice and is functional? My pool table idea has been shot down multiple times...hahaha.
Please help!
Anyone have any different ideas of what we could do with that room so it looks nice and is functional? My pool table idea has been shot down multiple times...hahaha.
Please help!
twelvepole
06-27-08, 02:41 AM
Typical livingrooms are furnished with pieces that tend to provide comfortable seating and a conversation area. This usually means a sofa and a couple of chairs. Size of room will determine number of pieces of furniture and arrangement. If you have a focal point like a fireplace, the conversation area is usually arranged around the focal point.
The best way to get an idea of what you would like in your livingroom is to take a look at what style furnishings you have as well as wood species. Upholstered pieces should carry through with your color scheme. If floor is hardwood, the area rug is best bought first and upholstered pieces later so they can complement the rug.
Visits to furniture showrooms and a study of pictures in magazines and catalogs can provide ideas for furnishing a livingroom. Many websites also offer photo galleries of livingrooms. Here's one to get you started: http://www.gardenandhearth.com/ID-Living-Rooms/1.htm
The best way to get an idea of what you would like in your livingroom is to take a look at what style furnishings you have as well as wood species. Upholstered pieces should carry through with your color scheme. If floor is hardwood, the area rug is best bought first and upholstered pieces later so they can complement the rug.
Visits to furniture showrooms and a study of pictures in magazines and catalogs can provide ideas for furnishing a livingroom. Many websites also offer photo galleries of livingrooms. Here's one to get you started: http://www.gardenandhearth.com/ID-Living-Rooms/1.htm
Annette
07-11-08, 09:08 AM
you don't say what other rooms you already have, so if you don't already have an office, turn it into an office. you might want to add french doors to you can work in peace & quiet while others are in the family room watching tv. another option could be a playroom for the kids (?). again, doors might be called for, and maybe with opaque glass or no glass, if you want to hide toys/clutter. adding another tv in there would allow them to watch their shows while you're watching your shows. or it could be a library/reading room/homework room.
basically, you need to look at your & your family's interests, hobbies, and needs. by all means, don't waste it by putting in super formal furniture that no one will ever use. USE IT however you NEED to.
personally, we're using our formal living room as our office. it's bigger than a normal-sized office would be, but we're going to fill it up with a large L-shaped desk, several bookcases, file cabinet, 2 wingback chairs with a table in between, etc. we have a dining room adjacent to it that's smaller, and we tried switching the 2 rooms' functions, and the sizes were better, but the flow was all wrong - it meant we had to walk from the kitchen thru the office to get to the dining room, so that didn't work out for us, but it might for you. think about switching another room with this one, and then repurposing the other room. for example, if your wife's objection to the pool table is because it's the first room guests would see, then maybe turn that formal room into your family room, and use your family room (which might be more hidden toward the back of the house) for the pool table or office.
basically, you need to look at your & your family's interests, hobbies, and needs. by all means, don't waste it by putting in super formal furniture that no one will ever use. USE IT however you NEED to.
personally, we're using our formal living room as our office. it's bigger than a normal-sized office would be, but we're going to fill it up with a large L-shaped desk, several bookcases, file cabinet, 2 wingback chairs with a table in between, etc. we have a dining room adjacent to it that's smaller, and we tried switching the 2 rooms' functions, and the sizes were better, but the flow was all wrong - it meant we had to walk from the kitchen thru the office to get to the dining room, so that didn't work out for us, but it might for you. think about switching another room with this one, and then repurposing the other room. for example, if your wife's objection to the pool table is because it's the first room guests would see, then maybe turn that formal room into your family room, and use your family room (which might be more hidden toward the back of the house) for the pool table or office.