Your Family Home's Guide to a Sanity-Saving Living Room
How to design or rearrange a living area that the whole clan will love
Kids tend to gravitate towards the action, which means at home they’ll inevitably want to be wherever you are. This can be a pain if you have a thousand things to do before the day’s out and a small person in tow. As you’re most likely to be in the living spaces more than anywhere else in the home, you can guarantee that’s where your pint-sized person will want to be, too.
The best solution for keeping them at bay while you finish off that looming task is to consider your child and their needs when designing your living area. This means ensuring they can entertain themselves while you keep one eye on the ball and the other on them. Consider having a designated space for the kids within the main family room, with some of their favourite things on hand so they can keep amused. To appease your own ideals of order, a few sanity-saving measures are also a must. Here are a some ideas to get you started.
The best solution for keeping them at bay while you finish off that looming task is to consider your child and their needs when designing your living area. This means ensuring they can entertain themselves while you keep one eye on the ball and the other on them. Consider having a designated space for the kids within the main family room, with some of their favourite things on hand so they can keep amused. To appease your own ideals of order, a few sanity-saving measures are also a must. Here are a some ideas to get you started.
Clear the air
For a truly calming interior, include indoor plants to purify the air, such as this Strelitzia nicolai, better known as the giant bird of paradise. Studies have shown that plants can dramatically improve indoor air quality by ‘breathing in’ carbon dioxide and ‘breathing out’ oxygen. They also play an important role in eliminating harmful VOCs (volatile organic compounds) that are emitted from furniture, paints and computers. For living areas, choose plants that can tolerate shade – think potted palms, maidenhair ferns, orchids and peace lilies.
Health benefits of house plants
For a truly calming interior, include indoor plants to purify the air, such as this Strelitzia nicolai, better known as the giant bird of paradise. Studies have shown that plants can dramatically improve indoor air quality by ‘breathing in’ carbon dioxide and ‘breathing out’ oxygen. They also play an important role in eliminating harmful VOCs (volatile organic compounds) that are emitted from furniture, paints and computers. For living areas, choose plants that can tolerate shade – think potted palms, maidenhair ferns, orchids and peace lilies.
Health benefits of house plants
Integrate storage
Whatever the size or personal style of your room, having practical storage is a must. Include plenty of it to stash away your pint-sized-people’s toys at the end of a day’s play. In this inner-Sydney home, the minimalist ledge that runs the length of this wall hides a plethora of everyday things in a series of pull-out drawers.
Storage solutions to hide clutter
Whatever the size or personal style of your room, having practical storage is a must. Include plenty of it to stash away your pint-sized-people’s toys at the end of a day’s play. In this inner-Sydney home, the minimalist ledge that runs the length of this wall hides a plethora of everyday things in a series of pull-out drawers.
Storage solutions to hide clutter
Squash and squeeze
Invest in plenty of seating to minimise the pushing and shoving that comes with a robust household. This large lounge can easily accommodate the average Aussie family while still leaving plenty of space for guests. It could limit getting cosy on the couch though, which could be a good thing?
Custom-built couches
Invest in plenty of seating to minimise the pushing and shoving that comes with a robust household. This large lounge can easily accommodate the average Aussie family while still leaving plenty of space for guests. It could limit getting cosy on the couch though, which could be a good thing?
Custom-built couches
Watch out for space invaders
Incorporate the kids’ playthings into your living zones. It can be as simple as a toy box in a corner or a few of their books on the shelves. In this eclectic home in Adelaide, a dollhouse takes pride of place in the informal lounge room, while open shelves keep the kids’ things on hand (and make packing up easier). On the far side of the room, just out of frame in this image, is a child-size toy kitchen and doll’s cradle complete with dollies.
Incorporate the kids’ playthings into your living zones. It can be as simple as a toy box in a corner or a few of their books on the shelves. In this eclectic home in Adelaide, a dollhouse takes pride of place in the informal lounge room, while open shelves keep the kids’ things on hand (and make packing up easier). On the far side of the room, just out of frame in this image, is a child-size toy kitchen and doll’s cradle complete with dollies.
Design a room with a view
Create a space with clear sight lines so you can watch your kids while they play. Having multiple living areas is also fantastic for when guests drop by. It means the adults can entertain themselves while the mob of kids occupy a different area of the house. On weekdays, keeping kids busy in communal areas also means you can still run the household while also keeping an eye on them.
Create a space with clear sight lines so you can watch your kids while they play. Having multiple living areas is also fantastic for when guests drop by. It means the adults can entertain themselves while the mob of kids occupy a different area of the house. On weekdays, keeping kids busy in communal areas also means you can still run the household while also keeping an eye on them.
Keep screens out of sight
Help to keep kids’ screen time to a minimum by keeping the TV out of sight and out of mind. If you’d rather not move it to another room entirely, stowing it behind sliding cabinetry is a good option. The twin-panelled joinery of this cabinet in Cottesloe closes to look like a textured artwork.
Spot the television
Help to keep kids’ screen time to a minimum by keeping the TV out of sight and out of mind. If you’d rather not move it to another room entirely, stowing it behind sliding cabinetry is a good option. The twin-panelled joinery of this cabinet in Cottesloe closes to look like a textured artwork.
Spot the television
Invite the outdoors in
A trick to instantly expand on your available living space is to open it up onto an inviting outdoor area. In this roomy Queenslander, the spacious living room, which is home to only a TV and two beanbags, backs onto an expansive deck. This informal layout presents the family with plenty of options for how they choose to use the space. On warm days, it makes them more inclined to head outside to play or relax.
A trick to instantly expand on your available living space is to open it up onto an inviting outdoor area. In this roomy Queenslander, the spacious living room, which is home to only a TV and two beanbags, backs onto an expansive deck. This informal layout presents the family with plenty of options for how they choose to use the space. On warm days, it makes them more inclined to head outside to play or relax.
Designate seating
Factor in some ‘my’, ‘yours’ and ‘theirs’ chairs so every member of the family has a comfy spot to head to. This Perth household have opted for a leather rocker to cater for their youngster. Budget options abound, too. Head to your local department store for one of the flip-out foam sofa models. These double as great sleepover beds for small guests and even as portable beds when camping.
Factor in some ‘my’, ‘yours’ and ‘theirs’ chairs so every member of the family has a comfy spot to head to. This Perth household have opted for a leather rocker to cater for their youngster. Budget options abound, too. Head to your local department store for one of the flip-out foam sofa models. These double as great sleepover beds for small guests and even as portable beds when camping.
Create an activity area
Create a nook for family fun times. This stepped living space naturally provides a cosy area ideal for Friday night board games or curling up with a book on the weekends. The open-plan design means you can still be part of the board game action, even while racing to grab a drink from the kitchen or calling out your moves while whipping up dessert.
Home design ideas to bring family together
Create a nook for family fun times. This stepped living space naturally provides a cosy area ideal for Friday night board games or curling up with a book on the weekends. The open-plan design means you can still be part of the board game action, even while racing to grab a drink from the kitchen or calling out your moves while whipping up dessert.
Home design ideas to bring family together
Factor in dirt
To keep smudge marks at bay, consider choosing hard-wearing floors, such as the beautiful parquetry in this Melbourne home. Polished surfaces will make it easier to mop up spills and clean up crumbs. Another option is to decorate with dark-coloured rugs. There are two in this setting, layered on top of one another for visual effect.
TELL US
How have you arranged your living areas to suit your family? Share your ideas in the Comments section.
MORE
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Your Family Home’s Guide to a Well-Organised Entrance
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To keep smudge marks at bay, consider choosing hard-wearing floors, such as the beautiful parquetry in this Melbourne home. Polished surfaces will make it easier to mop up spills and clean up crumbs. Another option is to decorate with dark-coloured rugs. There are two in this setting, layered on top of one another for visual effect.
TELL US
How have you arranged your living areas to suit your family? Share your ideas in the Comments section.
MORE
15 Playful Updates for Family Rooms
Your Family Home’s Guide to a Well-Organised Entrance
Living Room Styling Tricks Anyone Can Do
Set aside some space for the smaller members of the family. When mentally mapping out your living area, consider including a spot for each little person. A pint-sized chair or two pulled up at the family coffee table can be a great place for cultivating craft or drawing projects. Keeping kids busy in communal areas means you’re less likely to be stuck supervising in a playroom when you could be keeping on top of your life’s admin.
Kid-friendly living rooms