How to Build a Family Room
You can build a family room without too much difficulty, if you have adequate space. You can make the room as simple or as lavish as you wish. Design a room that can be enhanced over time. Your budget is the starting point. Stretch that budget by using any building materials you already have. You can design and build a family room for as little as a few hundred dollars, or you can easily spend several thousand dollars. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Sketch pad
- Pencils
- Graph paper
- Drywall
- Joint compound
- Wood strips
- Nails
- Light fixtures
- Tile flooring
- Wood flooring
- Shelving materials
Instructions
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1
Make sketches of walls, window coverings, light fixture placement and furniture placement. Makes notes about wallpaper, plaster work or special painting techniques you plan to use. Design one wall to serve as the room's focal point. This wall might be behind your TV entertainment center. Or, a focal point wall might feature artwork, a row of windows or a fireplace. Sketch your furniture into the pictures to work with the focal-point wall in terms of spacing and expected traffic flow in the room.
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2
Clear the room of all furniture or clutter. To remodel an existing room or build a new one, do the ceiling first. Install a textured ceiling of stippled joint compound, a new flat drywall ceiling, or a dropped ceiling of metal and fiberboard. Install overhead light fixtures after the ceiling is finished.
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3
Paint the walls or install drywall. Install high-quality crown molding around the perimeter of the ceiling to add structural appeal. Nice walls provide a background "canvas" for your artwork, book shelves and furniture. Neutral colors will work best in most situations. Install blinds or window coverings that will look stylish for several years.
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4
Install flooring of sheet vinyl, wood, tile or indoor/outdoor carpeting. If you can't afford a wood or tile floor right away, install inexpensive linoleum or carpet. Add better flooring as your budget permits.
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Create a room that functions well for your family activities. Space furniture to bring people together in conversation, for entertainment or to play games.
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Tips & Warnings
Consider painting over old paneling or replacing it with drywall. Build shelves for books and art objects. Add recycled stained or painted bookcases to save money. If there is no fireplace or heat pump, include a freestanding electric heater or wall electric heater.
Review your family's lifestyle to make sure you will use your family room. Plenty of families build additional space onto their homes that they neglect to use. If you build a room in a distant corner of the basement or over garage space that is unheated, your family might not find it appealing. If possible, build a family room that is fairly close to the kitchen.
