Family Room Decorating Trends

Combined living spaces and great rooms have been all the rage in the homes built within the past 10 years.  But where are we going with the décor?

Bigger isn’t necessarily better…

With the housing market taking a downward turn, families are realizing that bigger homes with bigger rooms aren't necessarily better.  Expect to see the vast open spaces of the combined living areas decorated in zoned areas with smaller groupings of task and use oriented groupings. 

The combined family room, kitchen and den will start taking on more personal, private spaces, with a homework/computer area, television area, play area and eating area.

Back to Nature

With the eco-friendly trend reaching into interior décor, look for more natural surroundings, including:

  • Sisal and jute rugs,
  • Bamboo flooring,
  • Organic fabrics and
  • Environmentally conscious furnishings.

Color

Colors are going the natural route, but not necessarily neutral – the Pantone Color Institute's color of the year is a hot yellow called Mimosa and is brightening family rooms in the form of an accent color with a more natural background. 

Instead of more neutral furnishings and bold wall colors, the trend is towards more neutral backgrounds and hotter furnishings.

Metallics

With all the natural textures, metallic finishes are peeking into the family room.  To get the trendy metallic look, buy a few accessories such as:

  • A large aluminum bowl, recycled of course, as an accessory;
  • Drapes in a glitzy, shimmery fabric bring the look to a family room looking for a low budget update; and
  • Metallic faux finishes.

Casual Elegance

Today’s family rooms are oh-so livable and comfortable, but they aren’t sacrificing style and elegance, just getting the look for less.  Decorators are going for opulence in shapes and fabrics for a more comfortable look with less of a "look but don’t touch" décor.  Look for curvier furniture with more elaborate shapes to bring elegance to more neutral backgrounds.

Mix and Match

Today’s furnishings are going from matching three piece sets of a sofa, loveseat and armchair to complementary pieces, making it easier to change décor without replacing all of the matching pieces.  Look for furnishings that coordinate more subtly than matching upholstery, through lines, woods or shapes.

So, how can you update your family room to keep up with the trends?  Choose classics for the furnishings and change paint colors and accessories to get updated style on a budget.