Families spend umpteen hours in their family rooms each year playing games, watching movies and celebrating holidays. But what does this space say about your family? Could it use a makeover? Here are our how-to tips for redecorating your family room in a weekend.
Anita Lang, principal designer of Interior Motives, shares fun ideas for redecorating your family room in a weekend, whether your style is playful or sophisticated.
STEP 1: THINK ABOUT HOW THE SPACE IS USED
For kids, Lang recommends buying kid-sized furniture. “Kids gravitate to smaller furniture; they know it’s their space,” she says. Check out Pottery Barn Kids for playful options.
Lang also suggests making the space interactive by using steel metal plates as a wainscot so kids can hang up their artwork with magnets. You can also hang a piece of sheet metal as the family message board.
STEP 2: CUT THE CLUTTER
Clutter is the nemesis of a chic family room. Lang advises using fewer small accessories and more large-scale decorations for a clean, fresh style. Use this design litmus test when adding an accessory: “Do we really need it?” If the look doesn’t require that extra piece, scrap it. “The trick in design is to know when to edit,” explains Lang.
She also says the room should have negative space. “Can you look around the room and find a nice quiet place to rest your eyes?” Empty walls can work well, so don’t shy away from them.
STEP 3: COMBINE SMALLER ITEMS
Compile your smaller picture frames and paint them the same color to unify the design. Affix them in one grouping and hang on the wall. Your clutter just turned into a work of art!
STEP 4: SEARCH OUT EXTRA STORAGE OPPORTUNITIES
Lack of space is a never-ending issue. Invest in fashionable furniture that doubles as storage, such as ottomans that open or a big chest for kids’ toys and games. This allows you to quickly conceal the mess next time you have guests over.
STEP 5: ALTER THE COLOR
“Design always impacts your emotional state,” says Lang, which is why she recommends painting walls as an easy way to update your family room. Focus on cool versus warm colors. Cool colors — greens and blues — make a space feel fresh and calming, which may tone down your family’s energy level. Need some revitalization? Look for warmer colors — reds, yellows, corals and oranges — to activate your space.
STEP 6: MOVE FURNITURE AROUND
Is your furniture up against a wall? Float it in the center of the room on the diagonal. Lang says it’s simple: “Pull furniture into the center of the room [and] throw an area rug underneath to ground it. Because you’re reading more open space around the furniture, this makes the room feel larger.” Light a sofa table for a dramatic accent.
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