Creating a Den out of a Formal Dining Room
This article was written by Jeanelle Deppner and provided by http://www.walldecorandhomeaccents.com/, a site featuring unique candle wall sconces and wall art.
Many homes are now designed with a large eat-in dining area for modern families and a formal dining room is quickly becoming wasted space that acts more like a storage room for unused clutter than a place for family gatherings. Converting this room to a den and capitalizing on this unused space can create a whole new family environment that makes perfect sense.
The sort of den you establish will differ depending upon the needs of your individual family. After all, the proximity and flow many dining rooms share with the living room and kitchen will give you unlimited options. Some ideas include a place to watch sports or play games for amusement, or just a casual area to congregate before mealtime. Whichever one you choose, how you decorate the space will be directly related to how you intend to use it.
The Pursuit of Amusement
If you wish to use this room more like a family room, you will want to pull in large furniture pieces that are soft and cushy, fitted with a resilient fabric like microsuede to handle day-to-day use. The room can be changed into a billiard room, a video gaming center, or a low key place to hang out and watch television shows and videos. Purchasing a television console or media cabinet will help with organization, and keep the chords and plugs well hidden.
A Welcome, Inviting Area
If there is a fireplace in your new den, use it as a center point and build the rest of your room around it. Go with more intimate seating like wide angled chairs; choose petite side and end tables, and finish off with large floor cushions to set the tone. Pull in a full sized, plush area rug, and draw from a subdued neutral color pallet that includes gentle hues of blues and greens. Consider an area for the family to bond and interact, such as a game table; add some functional lighting, and watch your den become a welcome refuge from the outside world.
Rest and Relaxation room
If you enjoy company and entertaining, you will need plenty of places to sit so a larger number of people can visit comfortably. To pursue this option, arrange your furniture into friendly clusters, fill the walls with elongated bench seating and choose ottomans for dual purpose: They can be used with a tray for drinks or stand in as extra seating. Set aside one wall to highlight your family heritage. Use pictures and art work to add style, and install artistic lighting to set and inspire a pleasant mood.
If the space permits, you may want to take the suggestions above, and mix and match the different purposes and styles to suit your needs. A couch with sideboard, specially placed groupings of furniture, area rugs to define certain spaces, and bookcases are all tools you can use to create visual boundaries for the areas without erecting actual walls.
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