If the pandemic has taught us anything, it is to value each moment we spend with our loved ones, especially our family.
However, even our best laid plans for family bonding may get derailed by the demands on our time and attention by responsibilities at work, in school and also in the community.
While the pandemic has forced us to adapt to a new way of living by converting rooms in our house to enable us to work and learn at home, we also need to remember that the home is primarily a place for the family.
The home should therefore have a designated space that foster family togetherness and bonding.
If the past few months have seen you painstakingly rearranging and buying furniture and accessories to convert existing spaces into your home office, a study area for the kids and even a home gym, then the same effort should be expended in building a space where the family can comfortably spend time together.
How about transitioning your living room into a family room?
These room concepts may seem interchangeable, the core purpose of these spaces differ significantly. Living rooms are display spaces with a more formal atmosphere for welcoming and entertaining guests during special occasions, while family rooms are more casual spaces for household members to convene and relax together.
Let’s face it: our living rooms will not – and should not – see much use for parties and gatherings for the foreseeable future due to the need for physical distancing.
Now then is the best time to convert that space into one that’s more suited for family. It won’t necessarily require a massive overhaul, just a few adjustments and rethinking on the purpose and use of some of the room’s elements.
Seating
If seating in a formal living room is geared towards having a good conversation rolling, in a family room, it is more concerned about accommodating all family members to come together to engage in activities.
Multi-seater sofas that can comfortably fit family members who want to watch TV together or just hang out will work best in a family room.
Additional seating such as benches, ottomans and throw pillows will allow more household members to join in on the fun.
Tables
In a formal living room, the center or coffee table anchors the other furniture in the room by being a focal point while also holding refreshments and reading materials. In a family room, it serves as the surface on which the family can engage in joint activities such as board games and puzzles.
Entertainment Center
In some homes, a separate media room is set up to house a large-screen TV and a sound system to make for a superb movie or video game time. However, a media center may be seamlessly integrated into the family room through a TV stand that also houses a gaming console, TV set-top box and other gadgets for the family’s communal entertainment.
Storage and Organization
As the family room is meant to accommodate family members, it should also have a system to house the items that that the family uses while in it.
It would be best for the family room to have shelves and cabinets that can store books, writing materials and games, as well as baskets and trays to organize these items.
So are you ready to glow up your living room space into a family room?
You can shop for your family room essentials at AllHome, the modern Filipino families’ go-to place when it comes to building or renovating their homes. It operates through three types of store formats – large mall-based stores, free-standing stores, and smaller specialty stores – across 52 outlets nationwide to make the home improvement experience more accessible.
Shop online at allhome.com.ph or download the AllHome PH app on Google Play Store and Apple App Store to your mobile phone to enjoy AllHome’s huge selection of original and top-quality items, fast delivery timelines and easy payment options.
Product images taken from allhome.com.ph with permission.
Photo credits: Spacejoy, David Libeert, Yehleen Gaffney, Minh Pham and Jane Duursma on Unsplash
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