7 Practical Formal Living Room Alternatives
- Kid’s Playroom. One of the most popular alternatives uses for a formal living room is a kid’s playroom. ...
- Library. If you are among the millions of people who love to read for fun, then the idea of turning the formal living room into a library will appeal ...
- Music Room. Music is something that speaks to the hearts of billions of people around the world. ...
- Game Room. Having a free room in your house is something that you can really use to your advantage. ...
- Exercise Room. A much more practical use for the formal living room space would be to create an exercise room. ...
- Home Office. A home office area will give you a room where you can do your work without being interrupted. ...
- Personal Bar. It has been established that using your formal living room to create a space for entertainment purposes is appealing.
Can you turn a formal living room into a bedroom?
With a little bit on renovating, you can turn a formal living room into a first floor bedroom that’s great for guests—or for accessibility if you or a family member have trouble with stairs. In order to be considered a bedroom, a room needs a few essentials, usually a closable door, a window, and a closet.
How to decorate a formal living space?
The idea of storing your favorite crafts or musical instruments in the formal living space is a perfect strategy considering the functionality of the living space. A craft room or a gallery could be set up on a minor scale to occupy your leisure time by bringing in desks, storage drawers, shelves and bookcases to keep a clean environment.
What are the different uses for formal living room designs?
There are many other alternative uses for formal living room designs. Customizing the formal living space in a manner that rejuvenates the aura of the entire household is a personalized decision that could benefit the entire family and help you get more use out of an underutilized space.
Should you convert your formal living space to a home bar?
If the formal living space is used heavily for entertaining adults, converting the space with to a home bar is a perfect choice since entertaining guests often takes place in the living room.
What can I use my formal living room for?
Formal living rooms are traditionally used for entertaining guests....Kid's Playroom. What is this? ... Library. What is this? ... Music Room. What is this? ... Game Room. What is this? ... Exercise Room. What is this? ... Home Office. ... Personal Bar.
What can you do with a formal living room that is not used?
Here are some ideas for turning it into a room that your family can use and enjoy.Turn it into a home office. ... Use it as a playroom. ... Make it a more practical (and more fun) entertaining space. ... Put in an extra bedroom.
What else can you use a formal dining room for?
6 Creative Uses for a Formal Dining RoomUse it as a library. Place shelves or construct built-in shelving around the perimeter of your dining room. ... Use it as an office. ... Use it as a craft room. ... Use it as a schoolwork room. ... Use it as a game room. ... Use it as a music room.
How do I convert a formal living room to an office?
Here's what we have left to do in the Formal Living Room Conversion:Build Walls & Install Door.Paint New Walls to Match House.Remove Carpet & Prepare Subfloor for Built Ins.Install IKEA Cabinet Rail & Hang Cabinets.Replace Light Bulbs with LED retrofit lights.Install Baseboards & Door Casings.Prime & Paint Door/Jamb.More items...•
Are living rooms still relevant?
The traditional living room has transcended generations and cultures and maintained its presence in modern-day residential projects. Whether its an apartment or a private house, projects with large spatial areas allow architects to dedicate a room for the sole purpose of gathering or relaxing.
How do I combine office and living room?
How To Carve Out Office Space In Your Small Living RoomPop it Behind the Couch. ... Create a Makeshift Cubicle. ... Take Up a Whole Wall. ... Make Use of a Nook. ... Wedge it into a Corner. ... Follow the Flow of the Room. ... Put it in Front of a Bookcase. ... Make Use of a Room Break.
What do you do with dining room spaces you don't use?
There are many things you can do! You can make the room into an office or a library while still keeping the dining table. If you want to go the extra mile, you can knock down walls to join the room with the kitchen. Whatever you do, don't let your dining room get overtaken by clutter.
How do you repurpose an unused dining room?
Repurpose the Dining Room into a Game Room For seating, opt for comfy bean bags or even high-performance gaming chairs. Keep old-school board and card games in a storage ottoman, and set up a round dining set where you can enjoy table-top games with the family.
How do you use an empty dining room?
A Dining Room Can Become a Home Office You can style it as you like—if you have the stools or chairs from your unused dining room, you can use them when you have meetings or guests. If your desk and chair only take up a portion of the room, you can set up items like a filing cabinet, calendar, printer, and lamp.
How can I hide my office in my living room?
5 creative ways to hide your home officeCreate a visual boundary. ... Convert a closet or nook. ... Use curtains. ... The space under the staircase. ... Built-in furniture.
How do I turn my living room into a library?
The best way to turn your living room into a home library is by adding floor-to-ceiling bookcases, comfy furniture and of course a lot of books. You want to create the same feel of a library even at home. Designing a space that is quiet and cozy.
Where should a desk be placed in a living room?
Place a desk behind your sofa. If you live in a studio apartment or a home with an open layout plan, Fenimore suggests integrating a desk behind your living room sofa. "It will double as a workspace and sofa table after work hours," she explains.
What do you do with a bonus room?
11 Clever Ways to Use Your Bonus RoomHomework room. If you find that your kids tend to leave papers, binders and textbooks all over the house, your bonus room could be the perfect homework space. ... Home office. ... Yoga studio. ... Library. ... Teen hangout. ... Gaming room. ... Music room. ... Home gym.More items...•
How can I put unused space in my house?
Get in every nook and cranny. ... Utilize underused rooms. ... Double up with a dual-purpose guest bedroom. ... The backyard is her domain with a she shed. ... Making open spaces cohesive. ... Opening up more. ... Relocating furniture. ... Making room for additional storage.More items...•
How do I use extra space in my living room?
10 Ideas to Decorate Empty Living Room CornersEmpty floor corners: illuminate them. ... Corner walls: an opportunity for artwork. ... Alcoves in corners: use them as storage spots. ... Corners with natural light: place some potted greenery. ... High-ceiling corners: try a decorative screen. ... Corners with a view: Ideal for a small workspace.More items...
What do you put in a flex room?
Popular Uses for Flex RoomsHome Office. According to the New York Times, 43% of Americans work remotelyat least some of the time. ... Playroom. Let's face it, kids are inherently messy. ... Media Room. ... Yoga/Exercise Room. ... Music Room. ... Craft Room. ... Extra Living Room. ... Combination Room.
How to entertain in a formal living room?
If you enjoy hosting, then why not turn your formal living room into an entertaining space that’s geared toward fun and not formality? Put in a pool table, poker table, or bar, or rig up the perfect spot for watching Sunday sports, complete with surround sound and a buffet table for snacks. However you like to entertain, you should have ample room to fit in the stuff that doesn’t quite go anywhere else .
How to make a formal living room comfortable?
The furniture in your formal living room should still be usable, even if it isn’t actually getting used all of the time. Ditch the stiff and ornamental fabrics in favor of a comfortable interior for a room that’s a lot more welcoming.
What is a formal living room anyway?
Before we talk solutions, let’s consider what purpose this room is (traditionally) supposed to serve in your home.
What to include in a formal room?
Include a few glamorous touches. You don’t need to go fully utilitarian in your efforts to resist the formality of the space. A few glamorous but tasteful elements can celebrate the origins of what this room is all about, such as a velvet sofa, some gold or brass décor, or a pop of jewel tones.
What does it mean when you fall out of your living room?
The falling out of the formal living room doesn’t mean that we’re entertaining at home any less. Instead, it speaks to changes in how we entertain, with things like game nights and jam sessions replacing post-dinner sips of coffee of Scotch (though certainly you can continue doing those things too).
What do you need for a bedroom?
In order to be considered a bedroom, a room needs a few essentials, usually a closable door, a window, and a closet. This should be easy to achieve with your formal living room, even if you need to bring in a contractor for some of the more technical aspects.
What was the purpose of the second living room after WWII?
Post WWII, however, economic prosperity and changing notions of what families wanted from their homes called for a second living space devoted to leisure, relaxation, and family togetherness. And with the birth of the family room came the more pronounced designation of the formal living room as a showroom instead of a space for TV and playtime.
What is a good alternative to a formal living room?
Kid’s Playroom. One of the most popular alternatives uses for a formal living room is a kid’s playroom. If you have multiple children, then they might wind up testing your patience from time to time.
What is formal living room?
Formal living rooms are traditionally used for entertaining guests. As the name suggests, the room’s style leans toward the formal type and it’s often used to showcase fine furniture pieces. However, with the passing of time and the value of real estate soaring ever higher, the traditional purpose of formal living rooms make it redundant.
What is the white sofa in a living room?
The white sofas complement the light walls and give a sophisticated look to the entire space. With a stylish lighting fixture brightening up the whole room, it offers the perfect spot for family get-togethers. A small wall piece partially divides the room into two parts – one being the sofa side and the other being the dining area.
What color sofas go well with olive green?
If you are looking for the perfect combination of modernism and simplicity, this living room design is the one for you! It features yellow sofas complementing the olive green colored chairs and cushions to give the room a vibrant feel. The sparkling light fixtures hanging from the roof further brighten up the room. The floor is all about basic light-toned tiles that seem to be holding the whole look together. With no furniture except for the sofas, coffee table, and a glass shelf covering one side of the wall, this family room design is ideal for those who do not like stuffy rooms.
Why do we need a playroom?
Building a playroom for your kids is going to give them a fun place to enjoy their playtime. You will be able to outfit the room with many toys and other fun features for them to enjoy. It can be a nice room that your kids will use all the time. The old formal living room may have just been another room to you, but it can mean everything to your children.
What is a game room?
If you are interested in building a room that is purely for your entertainment, then you could make a game room. Game rooms are something that more and more young adults want to have in modern times.
Why is it important to use a music room?
You’ll be able to practice your music without having to worry about disturbing people while they are doing other things. It makes your music more convenient and it will allow you to take the time to continue to improve. This is a use for the room that could make you incredibly happy, so it’s recommended for people who like to play instruments.
What is the highlight of this warm cozy living room?
The highlight of this warm cozy living room is the fireplace that is embedded into a large textured stone structure with a wooden shelf and lit with a spot light mounted on the beige cathedral ceiling. This sets a gorgeous view for the comfortable cushioned sofas complemented by the table lamps.
What is a rustic style living room?
This is a Rustic-style living room with a warm fireplace that is housed within a large stone column that reaches up to the beige cathedral ceiling. This beige ceiling matches with the beige walls adorned with the large wooden beams that match the hardwood flooring.
What color rug goes with a glass coffee table?
This is a small living room that is placed right beside the staircase that has intricately wrought iron railings. The small area is covered with a light gray area rug that goes well with the modern glass coffee table. This sits in the middle of the beige sofa and the two light gray cushioned armchairs.
What is a beige sectional sofa?
Beige leather sectional sofas surround a round glass top coffee table that sits on a vintage rug in this Spanish-style living room. This is paired with a beige panel that houses the fireplace adorned with tiny alcoves with bright tiles inside.
What color is the sofa in Asian style?
This charming Asian-style living room has uniform brown wooden tones on its hardwood flooring, low wooden coffee table and the brown sofa that is paired with it. These brown elements are contrasted by the bright red tones of the pillows and a couple of cushioned sofas flanking the table.
What color sofa goes with light blue?
This shabby-chic living room has an elegant beige sofa and armchair that goes well with its pink and light blue patterned cushions. These are complemented by the light blue walls with subtle intricate details on its finish paired with white low wainscoting a white-mantle fireplace.
What is the fireplace in a modern living room?
The modern fireplace of this living room is inlaid with shiny black tiles that stand out against the light gray walls topped with a wooden floating shelf. This is mirrored by the TV that is also topped with a floating shelf that has decors.
How to convert a living room into a bedroom?
Use Pegboards. Another practical idea to save more space when converting your living room into a bedroom is the use of classic pegboards . There are two typical ways to use pegboards: Divides the space into two distinct rooms. Work as storage walls.
How to create privacy in a room?
Create privacy by dividing the sleeping area from the room
How to maximize space in a small house?
If your small house is with a high ceiling, the best way to maximize the space is to use a loft bed. This transforming furniture set combines a bedroom on top and multiple functional rooms with ready-made furniture on the floor. This way it can meet the variate needs of your daily life and save more floor space as well.
What is a double function in a small house?
When you have a small house, your furniture pieces may have to fulfill a double function. For example, something that works as the bed at night and the sofa during the day.
What is sliding glass room divider?
Sliding glass room divider has lots of benefits: Bring and keep natural light into your home.
What is minimalist living?
The minimalist lifestyle is all about living with only the things you need. This can be a good idea worth considering. Make a list that outlines what you want your space to do and get rid of all of the unnecessary articles and furniture.
Can you separate a bedroom from a living room?
Maybe you have a big apartment with just one room? If you got no walls to separate the bedroom from the living room, the best you can do is not to build a real wall but room dividers, or some sliding doors, can work as you wish.
How to display drinks in a living room?
If you have a spare wall in your living room, you can install a floor-to-ceiling pit stop for drinks, snacks, and sweets. Slide a pretty cabinet up against the wall and install some shelves for tons of storage . Display drinkware, candy jars, and cocktail essentials for a space that satisfies your eyes and your taste buds.
What to do with a bar cart in a living room?
A bar cart that complements your décor so well will find a permanent spot in your living room. When you're hosting guests, fill the shelves with drinks, barware, and an ice bucket. When they clear out, use it as storage for books, knickknacks, and picture frames.
What to do with an awkward nook?
Every home has that awkward nook that seems to serve no purpose. A fresh coat of paint, a new set of drinking glasses, and a collection of drinks will give this underserved space a whole new function.
Where to place a bar cart?
Position a pretty bar cart in the corner of your living room, and roll it out when guests pile in. Keep it stocked with gilded barware, gorgeous glasses, wine options, and sparkling mixers. Fresh flowers are a nice finishing touch.
Can you go to a bar haunt without a bar stool?
No bar haunt is complete without a set of barstools.
Can a tray table be used as a bar cart?
As you've already learned, a foldable tray table can act as a temporary bar cart; but this mini tray setup sparked a new idea for us. Even the most cramped apartment can surely accommodate a single floating shelf. Visualize this tray without the legs and you have the world's smallest fully stocked bar.
Ideas 1: how to divide living room into bedroom
The easiest idea is to partition your living room into bedroom using these sliding room dividers. The benefit of using sliders is that you can always slide it open if you want a bigger living room space. At night, you can slide the divider back for some privacy. The ease of choosing the options is what made sliders an attractive idea.
Ideas 2: converting living room into bedroom using dual functional furniture
There are some many innovative dual function furniture being designed currently. One of them is this kind of desk to bed furniture which can instantly convert a living room, or other spaces, into a bedroom. This idea is great for dorms or singles.
Ideas 3: split living room into bedroom using height
Most folks think of splinting a room into two vertically but few think of doing it horizontally. The disadvantage of using the form for turning a small living room into bed is that the spaces can really cramp. If you have high roof, doing it horizontally will make the whole space feels more bigger. One idea of doing it is shown in the image above.
Ideas 4: how to divide living room into bedroom
Using a room divider like that a TV console is an easy way to split a living room into bedroom. The above example is for a living room and kitchen but you can easily image how it can be used for the living room/bedroom combo as well.
Ideas 5: use the wall space as bedroom
This is for those whose small houses have thicker walls. In such cases, you can set up a bedroom within the wall space to reduce the clutter on the living room itself.
What is a formal dining room?
You have a "formal dining room", which is small and gets no use until the holidays, at which time you try to cram way too many people into way too small a space at way too tiny a table. And you have a formal living room, which gets ignored because you likely have a family room or TV room where you spend most of your time when you're actually home ...
Do you eat dinner in a living room?
And you have a formal living room, which gets ignored because you likely have a family room or TV room where you spend most of your time when you're actually home and not working or running around, and that's where you eat dinner...sitting on the floor in front of the TV (OK, maybe you're not like us and you don't eat while sitting on the floor. That's not important though).
