How to turn your Family Room into a Hangout Place everyone will love
You want your family hangout room to be a cool place that everyone will love. Turning that unused room in your house into the family hangout joint will definitely get you on the shortlist for the parent of the century. However, it will also give you your own little cozy adult area to hang out away from the kids; it’s win-win for everyone involved.
You may think that you don’t have sufficient space or the budget needed to create such an area. However, areas such as attics and basements, which are often ignored and forgotten, are untapped resources for amazing hangouts.
So if you’ve always wanted to create the hangout spot that is the envy of all your friends or you simply are just obsessed with the home you’ve created and want to show it off, here are some tips to help you turn your family room into a hangout everyone will love:
Keep everyone in mind when designing the space
When designing your family room, ensure that you pay attention to everyone’s needs and preferences so that they can feel comfortable and secure. For instance, some people prefer curling up next to others in the confines of a comfortable sofa while others find sitting in close quarters with others too infringing.
Then some prefer sitting on high stools while others would much rather be grounded on a floor poof or pillow. These are some of the things that you have to keep in mind if you want everyone to feel comfortable in the space. If not, you are going to have a hard time convincing people to come over and even harder time convincing them to return for another visit.
Organize your seating around people and not the television
If you want people to actually interact with one another in your family room, consider placing the focus on the people that will be using the seats and chatting. Putting the sitting area away from the TV will encourage your guests to socialize instead of spending time on the phones or staring at the TV screen.
Some would suggest arranging your seating in a circular arrangement. However, don’t feel like you have to do it this way especially if that arrangement does not work for your space. You will also have to pay close attention to the angles of your seating.
Your guests shouldn’t suffer from strained necks or be forced to contort their bodies in uncomfortable positions to have decent conversations. You want them to look back at your hangout fondly and not with regret.
Incorporate accessories that make your family room fun
There is a reason why arcade games and pool tables are extremely popular at fun hangout joints such as bars. Whether it is adding a foosball table, air hockey, a dartboard, or a pinball machine, your family room will be a magnet for some super bored family members looking to have a good time.
Not only will such accessories keep everyone occupied but they will also create the perfect environment for other fun activities to take place. There are going to be a lot of fun noisy events going down in your family room so you might want to think about soundproofing it. And if you are not too keen on lining your walls with soundproof acoustic foam, even adding soft furnishings such as thick cushions and rugs will help to absorb some of the commotion created.
Pick the right fabrics
When picking furniture, it is a good idea to go for neutral choices for the base of your family room. Perhaps you can even layer on the throw pillows in an array of textures and colors so that you can create a space that’s also stylish. The best fabrics to go for are the nubby ones or woven fabrics because they are better at hiding stains and smudges compares to furniture that has smooth finishes.
Have food and snacks at the ready
Whether your family room will host the old or young, your family room will not be too enticing if there is nothing to eat but some stale crackers in the cupboards. Not to worry though- you don’t have to go all out to stock your house with junk or unhealthy food that will only make your family sicker.
The smell of freshly baked brownies, homemade pizza in your oven, and a few other dishes that are easy to prepare will have your family gathered in the room like famished baby birds in their mother’s nest. As a bonus, remember to set up a snack station where you can keep ingredients that your guests can rustle up themselves such as soda, cookies, popcorn, nachos, and more.
Be careful with your square footage
Make an informed decision in advance about how you would like to use your space, as well as what accessories you would like to include. Having a pool table may have been a dream of yours, but it won’t make sense if you don’t have sufficient space to hold it. You want your space to be inviting so be careful not to overpack it with furniture or activities.
Keep in mind that if you intend to add table games in the family room, you will need anywhere from 4 to 6 feet of extra space around them. Otherwise, you risk cramming your guests in a space that’s too small- and nobody wants that.
Final Thoughts
Do you fantasize about creating the perfect space for your family and friends to hand out? Do you daydream about hosting your kids’ or family’s parties with the lights lit low, food, and drinks flowing and delicious food on deck for your guests?
Perhaps you envision your guests having conversations and interactions that involve a mix of intelligent exchanges and lighthearted banter? Maybe you want to start traditions that will be passed on in your family for years to come. Whatever your reasons may be for wanting to design a cool hangout spot, these tips above will help you to transform your space.
