How to Decorate a Home Family Room

Family room decor

If the kitchen is the heart of the home, consider the family room the brain--the headquarters of the household. People gather, work, entertain, study and even sleep in the family room. This room's décor needs to reflect the activities that happen there. Regardless of your personal style, a family room should be inviting, comfortable and accommodate all inhabitants of the house.

Things You'll Need

• Paint
• Fabric
• Pillows
• Artwork
• Drapes
• Rug

Instructions

1. 

   Choose a style that reflects your lifestyle.

   Choose a style. Select a theme that reflects the way you live. Consider mid-century modern, transitional or Zen themes if you have kids. Those themes feature furniture with smooth or rounded edges and easy-to-clean surfaces. Contemporary, traditional or classic themes often include glass, antiques or porcelain.

2. 

   A color scheme makes design decisions easier.

   Select a color scheme. Use a favorite fabric print, painting or natural surroundings as inspiration. Bold contrasts, such as baby blue with chocolate brown or red and black, lend themselves to modern or contemporary designs. Neutrals and earth tones work with any scheme. Take a sample of your color scheme with you as you shop for paint, fabric, rugs and accessories.

3. 

   Paint transforms a room.

   Paint the walls. Painting walls is an inexpensive way to transform a space. Use an eggshell finish in a family room for easier cleanup. A high-gloss finish reflects too much light and exposes imperfections on the wall. If you can't decide between two or three colors, purchase a quart of each, paint a 4 x 4 section of each on the wall and make a decision the following day.

4. 

   A fireplace as focal point

   Arrange the furniture. Select a point of interest in the room. Use a fireplace, large-screen television or large window with a scenic view. If the room presents no obvious focal point, create one. Possible focal points include an interesting rug, a large painting or an antique. Address the largest wall first. Bookshelves or wall units work best on large walls and can be used to create a focal point. Place a sofa facing the focal point. Arrange accent or occasional chairs near the sofa, close enough for a small group of people to have a conversation; the chairs can then be moved away to create a separate space for family members when they need it. Use a cocktail table or two small accent tables in the middle; these also can be moved to create a separate area as desired.

5. 

   Window treatments offer depth and warmth.

   Decorate the windows. Dress windows with fabric treatments that include colors from the color scheme. Go with pleated drapes for a more formal feel. Swags and valances add texture and depth.

6. 

   Group accessories in threes.

   Layer the room with accessories. Arrange vases, pottery and other table top art in groupings of threes. Hang wall art no more than eight inches above furniture. Make sure the wall art is at least half as long as the furniture it hangs over but not longer. Choose pillows and a rug that complement the colors in your chosen color scheme.

Tips & Warnings

• Place a large sofa against the wall.

• Hang art at eye level.

• Add a chenille throw with the room's color scheme for warmth and texture.

• Mix wood finishes with metal and glass for an eclectic look.

• When grouping accessories, create a triangle. Make sure the tallest object is twice the size of the second tallest and the third object is half the size of the middle object.

References

• Family room design ideas
• Turn a bedroom into a family room
• Selecting paint finishes