Question: We just finished a home addition that we love. Our new family room is bright, airy with great windows and open to the kitchen. But I can't figure out how to arrange the furniture so it's comfortable to watch TV and have guests over. It works for the kids, who use the floor to play and watch TV on floor cushions. After they go to bed, my husband and I like to hang out in this room, and the arrangement is not cozy for two people. The same is true when we have guests; the seating is too far apart for conversation. Should we get rid of the love seat and add a chair? I think we need more storage and a different TV cabinet.

Our original plan was a new sectional sofa with built-in cabinets along one wall. Unfortunately, budget reality hit, and we know the idea is few years away. Could you recommend a new arrangement, and if need be, a few new pieces?

Beth Davenport
San Francisco

Answer:Fortunately, your dilemma has an easy solution. The dimension of your new family room lends itself to handling large pieces of furniture that will make your life a lot more comfortable.

Let's start with the wall unit, because it anchors the room and provides storage for the children's toys and games, the TV and electronic components. To keep the cost of the piece manageable, purchase modular units instead of a custom-built unit. The modular units, when combined, will have all the elements you want. These modules should include lower-level, closed storage for the children's stuff, open shelving for the TV, and shelves that can hold books and decorative objects to make the room more personal.

A multi-functional family room A long, modular storage unit holds children's stuff, the TV and its components, and personal items. Square ottomans can be used by the kids, or as seating for guests. With a recliner, the corner becomes a reading nook or place for conversation.

There are a wide variety of units to choose from, depending on your decorating style and taste. Ikea, the Container Store, Room and Board, West Elm, Restoration Hardware and Pottery Barn are just a few examples of stores that sell modular units. Prices range considerably, so do some research first. You can also find many well-priced modular units online.

Before shopping, know your wall dimensions, both width and height, the size of the television that works best for the distance to the sofa, and the amount of storage space that you need. We live in earthquake territory, so be sure to properly anchor all the units to wall studs.

Now for the sofa. In the proposed floor plan, I've shown one that's 7-by-3 feet. If having a spare guest bed could be useful, the sofa could be a sleeper sofa, just in case. Select a sofa fabric that can withstand the children's peanut butter and jelly sandwiches but that also looks elegant when guests visit. Microfiber, also known as Ultrasuede, would be ideal. A neutral color like brown or taupe will give you maximum decorating flexibility.

In front of the sofa is a coffee table. This could be a piece with storage drawers built into it.

On the other side of the coffee table is a pair of ottomans. At 18 inches square, they're the right size for the children to use as seats or as building blocks for a fort. Adults can use them as "occasional" seating opposite the sofa. These should be colorful elements to add visual interest to the room, perhaps red to complement the taupe sofa. Again, make sure the fabric can stand up to the various uses.

Now for the reading chair; it's in the corner near the wall unit. I suggest it be a reclining chair so you have a cozy place to curl up with a good book. From here it's also easy to have a conversation with someone sitting on the sofa. Use a textured fabric on this piece.

Next to the recliner is a small end table to hold a wine glass and, slightly behind it is an arched floor lamp to illuminate your book. Put a lap robe over the arm of the chair: It can be used to keep you warm on a rainy evening.

Tie the space together with a colorful area rug made of a durable fiber that can handle the children's traffic.

On either end of the sofa is a lamp on an end table to provide illumination and more storage. For the wall that has the exterior door and its sidelights, use a combination of drapes that pick up the tone of the sofa, but that have a detail to make them interesting (perhaps a red border along the edges), and natural fiber shades.

One stationary drapery panel on either side of the windows will make the room appear taller. Use drapery rods that complement the overall style that you've chosen for your new family room.

Over the windows and door, use natural fiber shades that roll down from the top. Smith and Noble is a vendor I recommend; they're well priced, available online, and are very helpful with preparing the order.

For the two high windows on the wall over the sofa, use the same natural fiber shades inside mounted in the casings.

If you want, paint the walls of the room a toasty, warm color that will unite everything and make the whole space feel as if it was planned this way from the start of the project.

 

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