 Put Fun
Back
in the
Family
Room
Give your den its due.
by Anne Moore
photography by Vernon Wentz
Is your den dark? Has your family room got you frazzled? Is it time to spruce up that special space? Advice from remodeling experts can help.
Want to know how to make the family room your favorite room in the house? We turned to two local remodeling companies to ask what they suggest when beginning a remodeling project in the den or family room. They provided an abundance of helpful ideas to help put the fun back in the family room.
If you’re on a tight budget, little things like changing the appearance of the flooring can make a dramatic difference. You might add a new area rug. Nicole Brenner, interior designer at Casa Linda Remodeling, suggests you might remove the carpet and stain the underlying cement. Changes to lamps, windows and art work are effective as well. Throw some new pillows on the couch and paint the walls and you can have a whole new look for a minimal amount of time and money. Bryan Smith of Vision Design & Build likes to use contrasting paint colors on the wall or add a chair rail for some nice results. Or add some faux-finishes or other special decorative paint techniques. Use a lighter shade of paint on a low ceiling to open up the room, and use paint that’s a couple of shades darker on a big, cavernous ceiling to bring the room in.
The experts at Casa Linda Remodeling say that sometimes an old fireplace is removed and the space is used as an alcove for reading, or for a place for a table and chairs, where kids can do homework, parents can pay bills and families can play games. Or if you choose not to remove the fireplace, adding a mantel or changing the one that is there can also create a whole new look in that area.
You might just want to accomplish the feel of more space. Consider adding cabinets to hide the clutter. A ceiling fan or two could look good and can help you save money on air conditioning bills. For effect, change or add lighting fixtures.
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