How to Create a Multi-purpose Living Room

Creating a home that suits the whole family can feel like a tough job, particularly if your main living areas need to fulfil more than one function. One person’s style is another person’s pet hate, so creating a homely environment that’s well-balanced to everyone’s quirks can be a challenge. But it can be done!

One way to tailor your space to suit the whole family is to create a multi-purpose living room. Get this room right, and it will be somewhere the entire family loves to gather and spend time in in each other’s company.

Here are some tips on how to create your very own multi-purpose living room.

Neutral Colour Scheme

Bold colours tend to cater to an individual style and aesthetic, which means it’s tricky to create a multi-purpose living room if its full of stark shades. A multi-purpose room works much better if it feels like a neutral space, and you can use a neutral colour palette to communicate this.

If you’re re-decorating to create a more family-friendly space, try to get it right first time; this will avoid costly re-thinks and the dreaded discontent with being a homeowner. A neutral colour scheme, while not aesthetically mind-blowing, is more likely to appease everyone than a bold colour palette throughout. Whites, blacks, greys and creams all work well, and you can use accent colours on accessories to liven things up. Introduce neutral colours in a strategic and delicate way, and a multi-purpose living room will be that much easier to create.

Safety Aspects

It goes without saying that children and adults have different needs from a living space. While kids tend to need room to play and run around, adults are looking for a space that allows them to relax and enjoy time with the family. So, how can a living room cater to these widely contrasting demands effectively and with style?

First, you could introduce a round table. This will provide a handy surface for dining, craft sessions and homework, and the absence of sharp corners is a bonus when the kids are running around. Rounder tables are also a good way to reduce the amount of space required for a dining table.

Second, a quality sideboard will work well too; inside you can store all the kids toys, and a TV can be placed on top which removes the need for an extra piece of furniture. This will create some space, remove trip hazards and ensure the living room remains a neutral zone.

Consider safety too if you’re introducing rugs to your living area. Rugs are a great way to add texture and accent colour to a room, but they can slip around and create a trip hazard. Make sure you use a gripper mat to keep things nice and safe.

Cleanliness

When it comes to families, keeping the home clean can feel like an uphill battle, with stains and spillages cropping up at an alarming rate. Obviously we all want to take the strain out of keeping our homes clean, and the choices you make in a multi-purpose living room can really help with this.

For example, you could invest in leather sofas; aesthetically they’re a very adult choice, but they’re also super-easy to keep clean as you can quickly wipe up any spillages. Wooden floors meet the same end too, in that they look really smart but are also quick and easy to clean. When choosing other living room furniture, avoid anything with a surface that marks easily or shows up fingerprints; mirrored units are definitely a no-go in a family space!

What are your tips for creating a multipurpose living room?