So there are a few rooms in most suburban homes that don’t get used very often. These include a formal living room or dining room or any other room you aren’t using that often. This post is all about looking at how you use your spaces, and making sure that you are getting as much as possible out of your house.
First off, do you have a formal living room? You know the type – a piano, nice couches, maybe a painting or two, but you never actually go in the room? You could be doing so much more with the space. There are two solutions: you either get more utility out of what you have got in the room, or you change the room itself. The first one is easier.
It probably means not keeping the room for super special occasions. If, for instance, you have a piano in your formal living room, you could have some friends over to play music. This doesn’t mean that you have to serve Doritos around your expensive couches, but it probably does mean you’ve got to use the room more frequently than the occasional dinner party.
Having more parties- not just the stodgy dinner kind – is a great way to get more utility out of your infrequently-used spaces. The tip to have a music jam session is just one of the ways to do that. If you don’t use your dining room very often, how about you hold a lazy man’s potluck? That’s where you and each guest you invite go to a favorite restaurant and get a favorite dish.
You will have a very interesting dinner, I promise – you can even go themed, like everyone brings their favorite Vietnamese dish, Italian dish, or whatever. Or have a fondue party – you get a fondue set and some delicious cheese. Pretty simple stuff. You can throw a Monte Carlo themed party, where you dress up and play casino games. In this case, the stodginess is a plus.
No matter which room it is that you aren’t using fully, you can come up with a way to use it more. But if throwing themed parties and playing instruments doesn’t cut it, don’t be afraid to totally change the room. It’s your house, and if you want a game room instead of a formal living room, go for it! (I wrote a post about decorating game rooms, which you can check out here.)
What do you think of this advice? Let me know! Until next time, happy decorating / party planning!
Image Source: flickr.com/photos/christopher_barson/3686948446/
See also:
- Home Trends: The Disappearing Dining Room
- Tips for a Great Game Room
- Season’s Cleanings: 4 Tips to Spruce Up Your Space
- Spring Sport Spectacular!
- Hit or Miss: Design Television Shows
- This Scary House: Why It Goes Bump in the Night
- Living Big in a Small Space
- Seasonal Highlight: Space Heaters
- Trick or Treat: How to Throw a Halloween Party
About brendan
