Living Spaces and Graces

The names we ascribe to things are powerful. In today’s AI world, we can see how each word feeds a seemingly invisible algorithm. Before we look at the interior design and aesthetics of living rooms and family rooms, let’s discuss what I mean when I use the words Living and Family.

Living by dictionary definition means having life; being alive; not dead. To be active or thriving; vigorous; strong. Some synonyms are: glowing, flowing freely, sufficient for existence.

Family is often described as a group of one or two parents and their child or children, living together as a unit. Also, all the descendants of a common ancestor. Nowadays there are many variations and descriptions of family, and this document could not possibly address all those variations. I will leave it in the realm of: making YOUR family room fit YOUR family.

These two words change the function and use of rooms in a house when they are called by those particular names.

Living Room vs Family Room

The living room is a room in a residence used for the social activities of the occupants. The German word lebensraum was the first time this designation was used to describe the meaning of a room: a space required for life, growth, and activity. A living space. It is sometimes defined as a lounge room, sitting room, even a drawing room. A place in the home, filled with specific furniture and objects, conducive to relaxation and socializing. It is a “front” room near the main entrance, precluded by a foyer, to usher your guests directly into a life-giving space.

In my last blog we spoke about the approach to a home, the front door, the foyer and/or vestibule. The living room is quite often the space found in western homes just off the entry, or the next stop after being welcomed in, if you will.

Before we describe it further in physical terms, let’s discuss a bit more about the role of the living room. Again, it is a place to relax, sit, gather, feel comfortable, and engage in conversation. It is a place to truly live.

Our work-a-day lives need a space to reach beyond the constant running around of everyday activities. We all understand the business of daily responsibilities, duties, and routines. Running out the door to work, work-out, take kids to school, head to the office, pick kids up, and start over again the next day. Of course there are the extras, which include running back home to grab what we forgot, changing clothes for the next event, and dashing to the next activity on our list. Over and over, Monday through Friday, often with still more activities on the weekend.

Do we have time, or make time to sit, relax, write and/or read? Do we set apart moments without the phone to talk to our kids, husband, partner or roommate? A true living room makes space for these activities, but we have to make the time for them.

There is an additional description for the family room. It is also a living space but it adds the component of WHO is going to enjoy this space with us. A family room is a living room that is inviting to ALL family members for recreation, unwinding and relaxation. It is specifically designed as a physical, informal gathering place within the household for all members of a family, and yes, this means including children of all ages.

Along with the kitchen, the living room and/or family room is the main common space in most single family homes. Larger homes often have both, with the living room being a more formal setting than the family room.

The family room serves a similar function to a living room: it’s a gathering place to convene and relax together at the end of the day. That said, there are some differences. Family rooms are more relaxed spaces, and tend to be more kid-friendly. Also, ‘family rooms’ are a newer concept that only date back to the mid-century. It is a room in the house used as a center for family activities.

The Perfect Living Room

Nowadays, the living room tends to be a relatively casual gathering space, but still more formal than a family room. In some contemporary homes, the living room is totally relaxed, but in others, especially in the 17th century, living rooms were used as formal display spaces for showcasing wealth while welcoming guests.

In my view, the perfect living room is elegant and inviting, it has a formal undertone, a little museum-like if you will, where every piece of furniture and ornament placement is well thought out. As it is usually visible from the front entrance foyer, it needs to have one WOW element such as a fireplace, a fantastic chandelier, some type of sculpture or other art work displayed in a key location. The furniture needs to be in proportion with the space, so the smaller the space the more lean and minimalistic the furniture needs to be. ‘Less is more’ is still an axiom because WE ALWAYS WANT THE ARCHITECTURE of the House to feel BIGGER than the interior design.

Every displayed object needs to be well thought out in order to become a conversation piece. Neutral colors are recommended for the sofas, adding accent color pieces like pillows, and wall paintings. The furniture layout should be conducive to conversation e.g., two sofas facing each other and sided by two comfortable but elegant chairs. Enough center tables and/or side tables for placing drinks while engaging in conversation. Please remember that L-shaped sofas are perfect in the family room, but not in the more formal living room.

Objects in living rooms can be used to create moments or share interests of the family, to spark deeper communication with guests.

The Perfect Family Room

The key to understanding the design of a family room is to create a space, using your furnishings, where guests of all ages — even pets — feel comfortable and relaxed. It must be suitable for children, teens, young adults, pets, as well as middle-aged adults and elderly guests. In Miami, where I live, families are large, so kitchens and family rooms will regularly include a mix of the occupants described above. The design of the room should include washable/cleanable sofa fabrics and carpets, sturdy materials (often a rustic or natural finish is chosen), easily cleanable, and a television is a must.

I like to add a WFH (work from home) function to a family room: a long, thin desk, similar to a console in proportions, positioned behind a sofa with stools or chairs to accommodate laptops. Also, side tables with adjustable heights, and legs that can slide under the sofa to facilitate working while lounging.

If you cannot have both a living and family room, then the living room should be structured suitably for the whole family! Always remember the words of my favorite Mexican architect Luis Barragan:

The Family Room is everyone’s refuge…make it lovely and comfortable!

Gabriela Liebert