Family Room Design Plans
Did you ever have a room that you just couldn’t figure out?
It stumped you six ways to Sunday?
You’ve tried different furniture, different furniture arrangements, and different decor, but it still doesn’t feel right.
Yes?
Well…that is our family room for me. The space is long and narrow at 20′ x 13′ with only one natural light source at the end of the room through a sliding door to our balcony. I feel like I’m always fighting the size and shape of this room made more complicated by the 3 doors and an off center fireplace. The space needs to be multi-functional, seat numerous people for movie nights, leave floor space for playing, and have some versatile storage — all without any major renovations. I know…I’m not asking for the moon or anything! LOL
This is our main family hangout spot and our toddler’s playroom. It is where we watch TV in the evenings, gather for play time, and often eat breakfast or snacks. I’ve always wanted this space to be cosy and casual with strong preppy vibes and Chinoiserie chic blue and white. But over the past year or two, I’ve grown more and more unhappy with the layout, furniture, and well…everything!
I’m finally giving this room the full makeover it deserves! You might remember I did a little refresh for this space back in 2021, changing the curtains, art, and making a few furniture swaps for a brighter more colorful room. BUT that refresh didn’t fully achieve the look and feel I want in this family oriented casual space. Now four years later with a toddler running about it’s time for this room to transform!
Here’s what’s NOT working:
The pastels and icy blue walls (SW Tradewind Blue – I do love it and our master has this color) aren’t giving me the cozy vibes I want. I’m craving warmer, richer tones.
I tried to make use of the length of the room with a long sectional and the TV placed at one end of the space, which works fairly well for a family of 3, but that layout doesn’t seat enough people when we have guests. I am also struggling to incorporate a small dining area with this configuration now that we have a toddler who needs floor space!
One of the toughest parts of designing a family room is figuring out an optimal layout that prioritizes watching TV, but doesn’t make the whole room about that either. It’s such a funny little paradox that I know many of us struggle with, especially in older homes with closed floor plans and smaller rooms.
Could we put the TV over the fireplace? Yes, we could…but both my hubby and I hate that look. We want the fireplace to be its own special zone and not have to compete with the TV. And the challenges just keep increasing….Good thing I like a tricky enigma!
Here’s my solution:
I’ve been noodling on these challenges for the past two years, and finally like bolt of lightning a new floor plan came to me out of the blue one evening while we were watching TV. I realized I need to move the TV to the wall opposite the fireplace, so the two main focal points of the room mirror each other! This will open up the floor for multiple seating options all within view of the TV and the fireplace. Plus it opens up the wall where the TV hung to become the dining zone with banquette style seating.
Can I get a hallelujah?!?!
In terms of the family room decoration, I want to lean into the country cottage, English library, old world European vibe. Think warm woods with patina, rich reds and browns, velvety caramel, preppy plaids, historic florals, and plush furniture. I want the family room to feel cozy, lived in, and casual but with an elevated look and touches of sophistication. The best way to achieve this is to bring in more warm tones, luxurious texture, and rich pattern.
The New Family Room Design Idea
Sources (includes affiliates): Red Jacobean Floral – Unknown (similar here and here) | Tree of Life Floral Fabric Agra by Jean Monro (similar here)| Red, Green, Blue Vintage Plaid – Unknown (similar here) | Foliage Pillow | Willow Boughs Wallpaper | Interior Define Rose Chaise Sectional in Fawn Velvet | Floor Lamp with Red Shade | Pair of Vintage Sherrill Swivel Chairs (get a similar look with these or these) | Barley Twist Accent Table | Blue Settee | French Style Marble Table | Blue & White Stool | Hutch
Do you see it? A warm, rich, cozy family room that feels straight out of an English cottage?
The best part about this design….I’ve already acquired 80% of everything pictured! I made three key decisions that really speed up the design process:
No. 1 The wallpaper – Willow Boughs Wallpaper from Clarke & Clarke in mineral. This paper is a classic pattern from William Morris, and I love how playful yet elegant it feels. It lets me keep blue and white as the base for the room, while adding dimension and a little touch of taupe to the walls.
No. 2 The sofa – I ordered an Interior Define Rose chaise sectional with English roll arms in fawn velvet for a classic but plush lounging area. I love this traditional arm with the tight back. It feels so tailored but casually elegant. The dark camel velvet is exactly what I was looking for to bring warmth and coziness to the room.
No. 3 The curtains – Found on Facebook Marketplace for a steal! They are custom drapes in a beautiful rich red, navy, green floral with a thread of gold shimmer. I haven’t been able to identify the fabric, so if you recognize it, please let me know. The pattern is actually rather small scale, which will balance with the wallpaper nicely.
After finding the curtains, everything really started falling into place. I scored a pair of Sherrill swivel armchairs on Facebook Marketplace (I’m leaving the red and brown upholstery for now), a Tudor/barley twist style coffee table, and a wingback settee for the dining area (not pictured in the design board, but I plan to re-upholster the settee in a similar blue fabric). I also scored a gorgeous French bakery table with marble top that I’ll use in front of the settee!
Some devoted online searching lead me to this room’s hero fabric – Agra Red on Maize by Jean Monro – I just happened upon a discounted yard on Etsy, and snapped it up immediately because I love the Tree of Life motif and the colors in this design are PERFECT! I plan to stretch this yard into 3 or 4 pillows.
The New Family Room Design Layout
I used Spoak to map out the furniture layout and ensure this new configuration would work. It is a very user friendly online design software that lets you easily import products from around the web. As I mentioned I’m moving the TV to the wall opposite the fireplace and plan on having cabinets and shelving built around it.
The settee and table will go on the wall where the TV was, and the main seating area moves to the left of the fireplace. This will make the seating area very cozy and close, but I think that’s a good thing.
This layout almost divides the room into two zones: dining on one end and lounging on the other, but the room is 20′, so I think it will work. There will be plenty of toy storage with the cabinetry under the TV and open floor space in front of it and the fireplace for playing.
Design Still in Progress
Remember I said only 80% of the decor and design was complete! I’ve got to find/purchase a bookcase or hutch for the corner by the sliding door. Some endless Googling led me to a beautiful site of online Amish furniture, and I’ve fallen deeply in love with the Ava open hutch (pictured in the mood board), if only it was in budget! I want something that fits the English country vibes and looks a bit like a Welsh dresser. It needs to have open shelving up top for display with closed cabinetry below.
I’m also struggling to figure out how I will orient our beautiful Heriz rug. It’s a great rug for James to play on and the design and colors are perfect for the new design scheme, so I’m debating leaving it in front of the fireplace, but then I feel like I will want something within the sectional/chair seating area. But what? We are finally moving forward on hardwood floors in here, and hopefully in the new year can have those installed.
The lamp situation is also a bit hazy with this new design. The floor plan doesn’t have much room for end tables and lamps, so I’m thinking I’ll put a floor lamp in the seating area and try to add lighting to the cabinetry around the TV. We already have sconces on either side of the fireplace and an overhead light, but I’m totally on team lamp and hate to use the overhead.
Whew! If you’ve made it this far in my rambling plans for our family room design, thank you for hearing me out! I hope I’ve inspired you to tackle that difficult room in your own home that you’ve struggled to decorate. Sometimes you have to totally rethink a space to make it work!
I’m so excited to start making the changes in this room, and to see these gorgeous fabrics as finished pieces!
