Kid and Budget Friendly Family Room

I designed a gorgeous living room a couple of years ago for my clients. It's a bit formal, but perfect for entertaining family and friends. They needed a separate room to watch TV as a family, and for the kids to hang out with their friends. The idea was to turn a nearby bonus room that was being used as a play area into a family room. It needed to be casual, comfortable, kid friendly and on a slight budget in case something were to get damaged. The initial plan was to include a play area, but since kids grow up fast they decided to just make it a family room that will accommodate the kids as they grow into teens. 

My plan was to find an affordable leather sectional to fit this large family, but it also needed to be durable. Many leathers are soft and distress over time. I focused on finding one that did not scratch easily. I also added washable pillow covers and an affordable rug in case it were to get damaged. The colors of the sofa and rug needed to be on the dark side as well. I lightened the look by keeping the walls and pillow covers light. The curtains are custom, but the solid fabric is affordable. Instead of adding a panel for each window, I only added them to the ends. I also saved on the cost of hardware by not having the rod extend the length of the windows. A leading edge of trim was added to give the room a custom feel. The clients also requested a wood coffee table instead of an ottoman for the kids projects and toys. The dark finish will help disguise any coloring mistakes. I also kept the accessories for the table to a minimum so the kids could easily slide the tray over for more room. The older kids will appreciate the modern accessories when they hang out with their friends. 

Some of the toys were moved to the kids' rooms, but storage was needed for the rest. There is a cabinet behind the sofa, and I designed a built-in for the TV with closed storage. The custom cabinet and lighting were splurges, but these are items that will increase the value of the home and unlikely to be replaced for a very long time. 

There is a sofa table behind the sectional to place drinks on and for lamps. It also breaks up the open space of the windows since there are only curtains on the ends. I didn't think to move the play set outside before photos!

I love how this family room turned out. It's casual, comfortable and fits the entire family. Would you ever guess it was completed on a budget?

SHOP

Exact Art-Gray, Gold

Exact Pillows-Leopard, Stripes