Communal spaces are often hard to come by in the home. Everyone has their bedrooms, and they spend time there. Either that or the home office you were rightly reluctant to install. In fact, it can seem as though you’re all living separate lives. Family? What family?
It’s a sad state of affairs and one that can often be difficult to overcome. But, when you think about it, it’s no surprise. Often, we fail to consider the communal possibility of a room when we decorate. If this is the case in your home, it’s entirely possible that there’s nowhere you could all spend time together.
To overcome the issue, set about creating a communal space for everyone. Often, kitchens become the most communal places in a house. They are the hub and a place where family members most often congregate. But bumping into each other on the way to grab a bag of crisps might not cut it. As such, it’s worth looking elsewhere.
The living room makes the most sense. This is the place you all come to relax. As such, it provides the ideal opportunity to spend time in each other’s company. But, how can you make your living room a communal space? Read on to find out!
Decide decor together
This first step might be tough if you’re used to decorating alone, but it’s necessary. A communal space should be communal from the off. To ensure this becomes everyone’s relaxing place of choice, ask for everyone’s input into the decor. You need this to be a place which suits all your tastes. Otherwise, you may find that your kids retreat to the bedrooms which suit them better.
You don’t have to take the extreme step of letting youngsters help with the decorating. But, asking them for colour suggestions will go a long way. If they enjoy reading, include a bookcase. If they enjoy art, invest in some art prints for your walls. Make sure, too, to incorporate small things which suit you and your partner.
Make space for everyone
Space, or lack of it, can be a real spanner in the communal room works. In fact, it’s often the main reason for house divides. If there’s nowhere large enough for you all to spend time together, is it any wonder you feel you’re living in different houses?
The good news is, it’s possible to make space for everyone, even in the smallest rooms. All you need to do is think outside the box. Clearing the space as much as possible will go a long way. If there’s furniture all over the place, the space will be claustrophobic and unappealing. Solve the issue by getting rid of multiple armchairs, and instead investing in something like these leather corner sofas. Options like these provide extra seating, without taking up excessive space.
Think, too, about clever storage. Keeping the room free of clutter at all times is the only way to ensure a spacious area. Yet, you don’t want to take up extra floor space with big storage units. Instead, use above head shelving options. It’s also worth using space underneath sofas, or other pieces of furniture. Keeping storage boxes here is a sure way to solve the issue.
Take focus away from the television
Creating a room to spend time in together is all well and good. But, it won’t make much difference if you sit in silence and watch television all the time. If that’s all you intend to do, you may as well do so in your respective spaces.
No. The purpose of a communal space is to enjoy each other’s company. As such, it may be worth demoting the role of the television in your living room. Often, our television sets form the centrepiece of the room. They sit in the middle of the space, on imposing cabinets from which there’s no getting away.
Don’t panic and think you have to get rid of that television altogether. You don’t. But it’s worth giving it a lesser position, or investing in a smaller set. Instead, focus on spending time doing activities together, such as playing games or simply talking!
Removing the focus in this way will have a huge difference on the quality of the time you spend together here. It may seem strange at first, but you’ll soon find that you don’t crave the television at all. Once upon a time, families entertained each other. Why not give it a try and see how it goes?
