Living Rooms - Dead Space or Useful Space? (floor, couch, furniture)

[jbgusa]

In our 1800 square foot house, the living room takes up about 1/3 of the ground floor. We entertain about once or twice a year. A guest has slept on the couch about six times a year. Why have a living room rather than expanded den/entertainment center?

[Rickcin]

Today people live in houses where they use living rooms, or you can call them family rooms unless you have a huge home and wish to have a Formal Living room.

Having 1/3 of an 1800 sf house that you call a Living Room and only use on occasion, is a waste as far as I’m concerned. Similar to some of the old Italian traditions of have a showcase first floor, with slip covers on the furniture and they live in the basement. Get with it❗️

[Diana Holbrook]

You are living with limitations I don't understand. My suggestion would be to use the living room if you want!

[jacqueg]

Originally Posted by jbgusa

In our 1800 square foot house, the living room takes up about 1/3 of the ground floor. We entertain about once or twice a year. A guest has slept on the couch about six times a year. Why have a living room rather than expanded den/entertainment center?

Excuse me, did your house come with a list of activities that were either required or forbidden in your "living room"?

If I lived in a house with a great view from the "living room", I'd think hard and long about using it as my sleeping room and using the so-called "bedrooms" as storage and/or hobby rooms. In fact, I've done exactly that, and I've known other people to do it too. It's your house, use the space as you please.

[silibran]

Figure out a way to use your living room.

I’ve often thought that I could turn a smaller living room into a home office. I thought I might have to do this when we moved in 2012, but the house we bought has only one living space.

You could turn it into a library, with a good stereo, a comfy chair and a desk. Be creative.

[jbgusa]

Originally Posted by Rickcin

Today people live in houses where they use living rooms, or you can call them family rooms unless you have a huge home and wish to have a Formal Living room.

Having 1/3 of an 1800 sf house that you call a Living Room and only use on occasion, is a waste as far as I’m concerned. Similar to some of the old Italian traditions of have a showcase first floor, with slip covers on the furniture and they live in the basement. Get with it❗️

1/3 of the ground floor but it really makes you wonder. About 1/8 of the usable space in the house.

[jbgusa]

Originally Posted by jacqueg

Excuse me, did your house come with a list of activities that were either required or forbidden in your "living room"?

If I lived in a house with a great view from the "living room", I'd think hard and long about using it as my sleeping room and using the so-called "bedrooms" as storage and/or hobby rooms. In fact, I've done exactly that, and I've known other people to do it too. It's your house, use the space as you please.

Converting it to a bedroom might create some c/o issues with the municipality. Good suggestion though and thanks.

[Rickcin]

The room name is meaningless, it becomes whatever the decorating and furnishings are.

No CO issues, you can make every room a bedroom if you wish! The only concern regarding the municipality is the bedroom listing of the house, rooms with closets as the number of listed bedrooms must meet certain constraints with the BOH if you have a septic system on your property.

[Quietude]

A common area is never a waste, at least for a couple or family.

Two, as is all to common, can be excessive unless you have four or five in the household with different leisure time habits.

[TMSRetired]

I don't have a den or entertainment/media room so my living room is the center of all activities.
I guess it all boils down to how many extra rooms you have besides a living room.