The Point Of Two Rooms?

[big rockpile]

Ok our house has Regular Front Room and a Room that was a Garage converted to a Bedroom,we converted it to a Family Room.

Ok really enjoy it,problem is I feel we have a wasted room.Ok how do you justify or make use of a Front Room and Family Room?

big rockpile

[Common Tator]

Our house in the burbs has a living room, which holds the fancy furniture and was kept clean for company, and the family room, where we lived, and could relax.

I think in the old days, the fancy room was the parlor.

[arcticow]

I know why there was a front room, or parlor, but I also know they seldom got used. Except to hold the tree and presents at Christmas. Back when folks really visited, they usually ended up in the kitchen or on the porch.

[emdeengee]

No room is wasted. Enjoy it on special occasions. Perhaps some day you will need to convert it to a bedroom. My parents did this when my Dad could no longer climb stairs.

[julieq]

We've had formal living rooms in the past, but right now we just have one big family/living room and it's great. No need for formal furniture as our entire home is very 'user friendly'!

[Harry Chickpea]

One room is "off-limits" to electronics and modern stuff except the keyboard piano.

[Catalytic]

When we had two living rooms, the kids got one and hubby and I got the other!

[good2beus]

Same here, Harry. Front room (Living Room) is more for visitors, stays clean, the nicer furniture - no electronics, not even tv. The family room is where the recliners are, tv, computer desk, pellet stove - it's where the family gathers, and relaxes. It gets a little messier in there, but it's ok. If company comes, the front room is always presentable!

[Raven12]

Technically, it is considered a wasted room. That is one of the changes that builders are making to new home designs.

[mamakatinmd]

We turned what would have been the "fancy" extra wasted living room into a library. Shelves on all the walls to hold books and family games. A table set up in there for puzzles. Like others no tv or electronics. Some comfy chairs for reading. It's a really nice quiet time room that gets much more use.

[mabeane]

We took the wall down and made a "great room". It heats so much easier.

[HOTW]

living room is for living -if I had a family rom it would be where we all had "projects" crafts, puzzles etc.

[Horseyrider]

We have an old house that has separate living room, dining room, kitchen, familyroom, library, and laundry room all on one floor. (Bedrooms are upstairs.) The familyroom has the TV, fireplace, rustic decor that matches the old house, and comfy leather furniture. The livingroom has a more formal look appropriate to the period, with antique porcelains, mahogany furniture, and gold leaf, with French cottage sort of upholstered stuff. The stereo is in there (discreetly, it's a Bose with tiny speakers hidden away in five places), so we use it for music and reading.

When we entertain, people are everywhere. There are no rooms off limits to anyone. My grandsons have always been trustworthy, even with very valuable heirlooms. When they spend the night they sleep in the livingroom. I tell them that someday that stuff will probably be theirs, so to please take care.

I love having the different rooms. Each has a distinct personality, and their mood meshes with mine at different times.

[Red Elm]

Our family room was off of the kitchen. The Mrs. and I changed it into a 12x12 pantry full of cabinets and counter top off of the kitchen.

[hippygirl]

We have a den and LR...I don't even have furniture in the LR! TOTAL waste of space, IMO.

[Ruby]

Do your wife or you sew or do any kind of crafts. That's what I would use the extra room for.

[julieq]

Originally Posted by Ruby

Do your wife or you sew or do any kind of crafts. That's what I would use the extra room for.

'Sew' funny! In our new home here our living/family room is sort of one big room in an L shape. I've got dibs by some big windows in the back part of the L to create a sewing center with bookcases to the side. Looks right out on our goat pens, with the horse pasture beyond and mountains towards Sun Valley in the distance.

I've already got my old Singer treadle machine parked there to one side (lest anyone think it's anything besides a future sewing area!) Perfect!

[Old John]

We have a strange 2 story Home. The walk-out basement, 1st floor with the foyer/main entrance has a bedroom, kitchen/laundry, bath, and family room, Oh and a junk room-utilities room. We rarely use the family room, except when neighbors drop by for a short visit. And we use the little bedroom as a catch-all/guest room.

The 2nd floor, main floor has a great room,with dining nook, master bedroom, small bedroom, bath, and small kitchen.
The Dogs have the small bedroom, on 2nd floor. We have the master bedroom. We use the great room a lot, and the dining nook is the computer corner. The kitchen is like a wide hall to walk through to get outdoors, in back of the house. I hate the kitchen, there's no place for a table.
There is an add-on 12x12' room on the back, that was a hot tub room. DSW now uses that as her studio, for her easels, oil paintings, framing table and racks.
The whole strange place is 1950 sq. ft. Kinda neat, though.

[kimmom2five]

I got a cheap baby grand piano for the living room, which is the first room you see when you come into the house. Eventually I would like a couple of comfortable chairs and a chess table to go there also.

[mamita]

when we lived in the big house and had both rooms, the livingroom was my 'pretty' room. no toys..no electronics..always looked perfect. nice for shoving people in to if we had pop in company, like I was always that neat. LOL the family room was where we gathered and so comfy. now if I ever had another large house (which I won't at this point in my life), I'd not want some big formal diningroom. that really seems a waste for just a couple holiday dinners. I'd have one large open floor plan only.