Giving Your Family Room a Makeover for 2020

Whether you call it a family room, den, or recreation room, the place where you hang out with family for TV watching and playing games is important. This is the space where you can go after a long day of work and school and just spend time together. Family rooms can often be a little cluttered and messy, often due to toys and the multi-purpose nature of the room, but you can make them over simply and cheaply. Here are some ideas to brighten up your family room in 2020.

Choose bright colors and patterns

Because your family room is an informal space, you can focus on fun rather than trying to make this room stylish or Pinterest-worthy. Choose a color to suit the room based on how much light it gets, perhaps opting for a bright feature wall and more neutral tones on the other walls. You could even go for something unusual like patterned wallpaper or a mural. Practical flooring such as wood or vinyl is usually best for this kind of space, as it’s easier to clean spilled drinks and various messes. However, some colorful rugs could also work if you don’t have the budget to change the flooring right now. Rugs are inexpensive and easier to clean than carpeting, plus you can move them around whenever you get bored of the layout. 

Find informal furniture

Furniture in a family room needs to be informal and easy to clean, and it should be set up in a way that you can play board games together or watch TV. Many people choose a low coffee table, then look for the best bean bag chair so there’s comfortable, shareable seats that are easy to move around. In general, furniture should be kept to a minimum, as this gives more space for play, and you might prefer things that are close to the ground if you have small kids, as they won’t need to climb on couches and potentially injure themselves. 

Add plenty of storage space

Family rooms often look a little messy or cluttered simply because they tend to be the place where toys, board games and lots of little things are kept. No doubt when you’ve been unable to find a place for something you’ve thought ‘I’ll just toss it in the family room for now!’ Unfortunately, your family room can then end up looking more like a garage than a cozy family space.

Firstly, have a big declutter, throw a garage sale or donate any toys that kids have grown out of. This will give you more space to work with. You could then add some shelving that’s designed for toys, such as cube storage, which is good for keeping the little parts of toys together. 

Keep your TV and consoles stored neatly

If you have a lot of gaming consoles or a big TV, it’s easy to end up with a room covered in wires. Simply adding an entertainment unit can make a big difference to the space, instantly making it look neater and more contemporary. Building a simple console gaming shelf can be a good way to manage all your gaming systems, and means you aren’t tripping over trailing wires. If you’re into gaming, it’s also a good way to show off your collection. Why not set up an area for gaming tournaments? Simply add some beanbags and you’ve got a space where you’ll want to play for hours. 

Install a play table

Are kids leaving their toys all over the floor? Consider buying a play table, or using a coffee table with sides, for them to play with toy trucks, trains or dolls. This will stop you from stepping on the little pieces like LEGO or vacuuming them up, so it’s worth an investment if you have the space.

Divide a large room into sections

Some family rooms are large, open plan spaces, but they lack any organization or just look badly laid out. If you’re not using the room to its full potential, work on the layout to make sure you’re making the most of the space. Consider dividing the room into sections, this works especially well if you have kids of different ages. You can have a corner for toys and imaginative play, an area for consoles with big bean bag chairs, and maybe a home cinema with reclining chairs. This means everyone can feel that they have their own space.

Work on the lighting

If not properly lit, a room will soon look dull and dingy, but add proper lighting and suddenly it looks better than ever. Learn how to light a room properly, and make sure there are no dark corners, which instantly make a room look small and claustrophobic. Pick wall-mounted lights rather than floor or table lamps, both of which can get knocked over when kids play too rough. Lighting is inexpensive and easy to install, so if you’re looking for quick wins when it comes to renovating a room, then this is one to consider. 

Let the kids get creative

The family room is perhaps one of the most relaxed spaces in the house, so why not let the kids get creative? Whether it’s letting them hand paint on the walls or letting them spruce up old furniture with a handful of glitter, there are lots of fun ways to make your family room just a little more special and unique. 

Family rooms can often get cluttered and look dated, so in 2020, why not give yours a well-deserved makeover. Renovating your family room is inexpensive and fun project for all ages, and it’s the kind of project where everyone can give their input. When planning a family room, you should think about practicalities and comfort, as well as style, swapping couches for bean bag chairs and boxes of clutter for neat storage solutions. In 2020, make it a new year’s resolution to bring this often-underrated room back to life.