Living Room Ideas

The need for a Formal Living Room is a little different than a Formal Dining Room. Do you want one? Do you need one?

A room like this used to be called a parlor, it was for greeting and entertaining formal guests. A place for a young man to wait for his date while being quizzed by the father of the girl!

You definitely need one if you have both Living Room and Family Room furniture.

Houses that have a Formal Living Room now may be used for the same purpose as above, but also might serve as a music room, library, office, or additional space for watching TV or using a computer.

It can also be a good place in addition to a Formal Dining Room for displaying family heirlooms, artwork or items in a display case.

If you need a space like this make certain that it has enough wall space to place all of your furniture or artwork. Is the square footage large enough? Make certain to measure!

The floor covering in this room is also a critical part of the ambiance of the room - is should be carpeted or have decorative rugs that complement the space and furniture so that it becomes a more cozy room, and it is inviting for people to sit in. ---

Or - it will never get used - leading to the wasted space, more expensive square footage house to buy and maintain dilemma.

Finally, what do the windows in the room look out at? The view from this room is also part of the ambiance. If you do not like it the way it currently is when you look at the house, and you like the house overall (it fits your lifestyle & needs), then is there a way to change the view with outdoor gardening, shrubs or a screening lattice?

Often the entry to the house will open directly into or beside the formal living room. How these spaces are arranged and decorated is a major factor in the "feel" of the house to you and your visitors.