The Oregon Women's Report - Women's News from Oregon

Our family room is a busy place, but our livingroom is never used. Yet, it meets all the qualifications you’ve listed. When there is a more formal area set apart from the family activity center in a home, it seems there has to be a concerted effort made to “include it into the family” no matter how inviting or comfortable it is. Am I right, or is there yet more to it?

I grew up in a rural community where formal living rooms simply weren’t a part of the home structure. It has been hard for me to even use our formal livingroom, now that I’ve moved to the more urban, big city area. Just doesn’t seem to come natural. So, are you saying maybe I should make my living room a second informal area to fit our personalities? I hadn’t even considered that!

Enjoyed this article very much, but what happened to Tuesday’s fitness guru, Olivia? I’m hooked on her sitting on my shoulder and whispering in my ear…”keep fit, keep fit”. She hasn’t left us has she?

I know I have to much clutter in my house, but it’s a bit hard to let go of the memories attached to many of the items. Other than that I think I’ve done pretty good. Thanks for the reminder.

Marie, I was at an exercise conference in Seattle for three days and was given the option of taking a week off writing. I enjoyed this one, too. I’m in the process of doing some downsizing and de-cluttering in my house so this is very helpful Never fear, I will be back on your shoulder next Tuesday whispering in your ear with some great info I gleaned from the exercise conference! Thanks for asking.
I am not leaving you. I have much more to share with you all.

I laughed at the “conducive for conversation” question. I mean what is a living room for but to live. I suppose too many people invite others over to their house to talk about how wonderful their decor is. I think not. Make one’s home a home.

Hi Kay,

I’m just reading your comments as I was out of town. Your question about your living room is a constant concern for most clients. Not seeing the room makes it difficult to address your challenge but here goes…

Most living rooms that I see are a bit too formal which is not inviting. To warm a room up include texture. Lay a throw on the sofa with pillows that have texture. An area rug under a coffee table can provide more texture. Angle furniture pieces. Add greenery which brings in more texture. Add fresh flowers in a vase, stack books around on tables etc. Also, so not neglect lighting. Most rooms can handle 5 sources of light at different levels. Hope that helps.

Jan

Hi Leona,

Sorry but I have been out of town but did want to address your comment.

With space at a premium, it is always a good idea to re-think the purpose of your room and it may be that you use it differently. Most living rooms are “pass throughs” which is a shame. I don’t know what activities you are involved in but I had one client that we put a pool table in the living room and made it a wonderful area for entertaining in a very casual manner. Another time I made a family room into a formal dining room for a client because that was what was needed for their lifestyle. I have made living rooms into libraries which can be very functional with a comfortable chair and ottoman and a large table for work on projects. Think about re-puposing that area.

Jan

Hi Dona,

Sorry for the delay I was out of town and just read your comment.
I know the clutter thing very well. I too can become a victim of clutter but I have some good advice for you. This concept comes from “Feng Shui” and it has helped me get rid of “stuff”.

The concept is: Everything that surrounds us IE: table, chair, plates, books etc if it were seen through a high powered microscope would reveal movement. Meaning everything has energy. It is critical to surround ourselves with positive energy. If we love the things around us they provide positive energy. Things we hold onto that we don’t love provide negative energy. Clutter creates stress because most of it is meaningless and therefore drains us of energy.
That philosophy makes sense to me and I don’t hold onto something unless it has meaning and I love it. Hope that helps.

Jan

Hi Jaasmine,

Sorry for the delay in answering your comment, I have been out of the country.

I loved your remark “Make one’s home a home”. That is the goal but what I meant about the room being “conducive for conversation” was more about furniture arrangement. Too many living rooms have traffic patterns through the conversation area or the seating pieces are more than 4-6 ft apart. Many of the living rooms I see in my work are certainly not for living but rather a showplace that sits empty unless someone cuts through to another room. With space at such a premium I encourage clients to re-purpose the room. That has been
very successful for many busy families.

Jan