By Allison Sulman
As a millennial, I am always amazed about how different the layout of my home is compared to my parents’. Their classic 1970s suburban home (which they still live in) is the furthest thing from an open concept–it’s comprised of many small rooms that are wonderful for containing pets and small children, but don’t offer the same natural light and the illusion of space as my 1990s open concept home.
Among the many rooms on their main floor are the living room, the kitchen, the dining room and the den, also known as the family room. While the living room is a formal, immaculate and china-filled space with perfect vacuum lines on the carpet and no TV in sight, the family room is the exact opposite. It’s a welcoming, informal room where we went to relax, play video games, watch movies and just be a family. Because I work at Tepperman’s and I live and breathe home furnishings, I became curious about the names we as Canadians use to describe the rooms in our homes. Would you be surprised to know that the simple family room represents social change and that its origins are rooted in the evolution of the modern North American family?
The Idea of the Family Room
It wasn’t until the end of World War II, when veterans returned home and the economy prospered that families began to seek a more welcoming, comfortable place in their home to spend time together. This booming middle class wanted to be casual and parents wanted a space where they could spend time with their children (imagine that!). Magazines began touting the family room as a novel idea for a room that allowed families to connect and relax.
In the 1950s, the middle class continued to grow and having a family room became the embodiment of style and class. This led to the separation of the living room and family room: the former being a place to have a drink and admire the china, and the latter became a home’s symbolic “living centre” where families could kick off their shoes, get comfortable and do some actual living.
Today's Family Room
With the emergence of the TV and technology in the latter part of the 20th century into the early aughts, the family room evolved once more. Now, relaxation comes with multiple screens and constant consumption of all types of media. Starting in 2020, the family room evolved once again and became even more multi-purpose than ever before. Mine’s a yoga studio, play room, theatre, office and even a guest room at times.
With home design constantly evolving and floor plans becoming more and more open, the lines have become blurred between family rooms and living rooms. Whether you call it a living room, family room, rec room, den, TV room or simply a “room,” make it a space that fits your family’s lifestyle and needs, and fill it with comfortable, stylish furniture that you can enjoy for years to come.
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