By Rosemary Sadez Friedmann
Scripps Howard News Service
The famous American architect Louis Sullivan is identified with the quote "Form follows function." And if ever there were a room to which this admonition should adhere, it is the family room.
What you do in the family room, simply stated, should dictate how you furnish it. And with this, space planning is the key, more so than decorating.
If watching television is your main activity in this room, you will need to arrange the seating within convenient viewing distance from the television. Rule of thumb is a minimum of six feet and a maximum of 12 feet of space from the TV to the seats. The seats must be comfortable, too, and you need enough seating to accommodate your entire family as well as a few occasional friends.
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Consider, too, the placement of windows. Do they produce glare on the television at certain times of the day? If so, proper window coverings need to be applied. Perhaps shades that block the sun but not the view will do the trick.
The floor also needs to be acknowledged. Do you like sitting on it? If so, cushion your tush with well-padded, quality carpet. If your family has dancing parties, perhaps one portion of the room should remain uncarpeted for smoother sashaying.
If a perfect sound system is your passion, you probably already are well versed on speaker placement. Plan for the allocation of these speakers so they are aesthetically pleasing as well as functional. Be sure, for example, your music isn't bouncing off two glass walls.
And allow storage/shelf space for storing CDs and DVDs.
This room is where your family's personality should shine. If there is a collector among you, display the treasures in this room. If a painter or a photographer graces your group, an art gallery approach is ideal. If you have a kinship with country Western, hang the farm tools on the family room walls.
Color has a great effect on mood. If the family room will be daytime-oriented, color it bright and lively. If the ambience is geared toward evening use, a warmer palette is appropriate.
The family room usually is where casual living takes place. Taking it easy is the name of the game, so opt for fabrics and finishes that require minimum care. Furniture fabrics should be treated with a stain-resistant coating. Also, select a cloth that complements the décor in the rest of the house yet hides the inevitable fingerprints, spills and heavy use. A patterned fabric is usually a good choice; the mishaps tend to become camouflaged in the design.
Table finishes should repel moisture so you don't have to worry about the sweating glass or the spilled wine. Rounded or waterfall edges on tables are well-received in this room. They give a softened look even as they eliminate the painful encounter you might experience if you bump against a sharp-cornered table.
Paneled, papered or textured walls are excellent in this room; all create a richness and warmth that will welcome you every time you enter. Here again, think practical. If you have pets, will they scratch the walls if they are textured in a certain way? Cats love to pull at strings, so don't paper the wall with grass cloth if you suspect your cat might think it is its job to scratch at it.
Overall, this room is where family and friends should feel "at home."
● Rosemary Sadez Friedmann is an interior designer.