Living rooms/dens/family rooms

I grew up in a home that had a formal living room (which some call a "Do not touch" room) and our new home has a formal living room as well. It will be the last room we do in the new house as we have no furniture for one and it is at the bottom of the priority list. We lived in a split so we also had a separate den/family room where the family watched TV.

While looking for pictures for "Family Rooms", I've noticed that the distinction between family rooms and formal living rooms is clear - family rooms seems to have TVs and entertainment equipment while living rooms do not.

In addition the family rooms I am seeing (and I am NOT looking at high end Architectural Digest decor) are so far from family/kid friendly, it makes me wonder if the designers have ever met a child in their lives. The rooms look so cold and stark rather than warm and friendly. The sofas/couches/sectionals are blech - a family should be able to lie down on a couch in a family room as opposed to a formal living room sofa which, in my experience, had a completely different kind of feel.

Abby and Zippy will have toys in the family room to some extent, but as they get older and more independent their play space will be in the basement once it gets gutted and redone.

In any case, as I ramble on, could you please post pictures of your formal LIVING rooms. I'd also like to see your TRUE (kid friendly yet semi-grown-up) FAMILY rooms.

Thanks for reading!

Re: Living rooms/dens/family rooms

Well, you saw my formal living room...(where we had all the tables set up for Samantha's party)

Completely empty... we're hare 5 years and are actually furnishing it before arrives. It will be that... formal, no TV, etc...

Not sure if you saw our den. I actually really love that room, even though it's a bit "dated" it has a cozy family feel to it. We actually don't spend much time there with Samantha since we have the playroom off the kitchen.

Then there is the finished basement, which I had intended the kids to spend most of their time, but these days I'd rather not go up and down the stairs. I assume as they get older, they will be down there more, and the play room will become an "I don't know what kind of room this is...."

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Growing up, I had a "don't go in that room and touch anything or breathe in there, either" room. It was pretty formal.

We also had a playroom (family room) where we generally hung out.

It now is a playroom for my son, so he has his toys all over when my parents watch him.

My mom has a very country style...tons of chests made out of wicker, etc...and that helps hid the toys!

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Here's our formal living room.



And our den/family room. This is from when it was first painted. On the opposite wall we have a large entertainment center and in the corner we have a toy box and a small table and chairs.

Eventually all of the toys will be moved down to the basement/playroom once we get a couch down there.

Message edited 5/22/2010 8:09:21 PM.

Re: Living rooms/dens/family rooms

Just an idea for you now before you get furniture- use the living room as a play room till the kids are old enough to be in the basement alone - might be an eaiser use of the house

i know not what you are looking for - we have two winfg chairs and a small couch in my parents house - it is a room for reading and relaxing near fireplace

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Here are some photos of my family room... it is located right off the kitchen. I still am not done with the room yet. We need to put up crown molding, paint the window and slider, position the art above the couch better, have a mantle made for the fireplace and I need to do something with the tv wall. I think it works well for our 2 year old dd and 2 large dogs. The toy chest and basket seem to help keep the toys somewhat organized







Now here is the formal living room, and I hate it. We never use it because I just can't figure it out. I also am changing my mind about the green walls and I think want to repaint them a light cream. My dh also moved the old tv in there and it looks awful. If I ever get it right, it won't house any of dd's toys and I would love an Armour with doors to hide a small tv.

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we have 2 living rooms...

the downstairs living room would be considered our "formal" living room but we kept it pretty casual b/c i didn't want a room that we couldn't use...we have a sectional, coffee table and a tv in there and our dining table is adjacent to it....it's a good area for entertaining and we do spend time watching TV in there if we don't feel like going upstairs...

upstairs in our loft we have another "living room" but it's more of a den/hangout for us...the couches are biggger, we watch movies up there, we have our video game consoles up there and when we have kids that's where we'll probably try to keep their toys so that the downstairs living area stays neat and tidy...

i have pics in my album of both areas...