Betsy Manley

What is a Family Hub Room?

BY BETSY MANLEY

Apparently Google, Pinterest and Houzz have not caught up with the term “family hub room,” so let me educate you on the function and elements of this space and how you likely already have this area in your home.

Instead of wasting valuable square footage on a formal dining room that you rarely use, reimagine this space as a central place for work and play – a place for finishing schoolwork, playing with toys, creating art projects and crafts, wrapping gifts, doing puzzles, folding laundry, studying quietly. Whatever space you feel your home is lacking, whatever season your family is in, this area can be used to meet those needs and to provide beneficial storage solutions.

Many times, removing walls is a solution for families, but I suggest adding walls to close off this area. Many dining rooms are open to the foyer, so consider separating the space with large barn doors or making a hall closet on the entry side and a mudroom area on the family hub side. Is your washer and dryer in the basement or hallway? Consider relocating it so you can have plenty of room to fold clothes. There are many different ways to configure the space to suit your needs.

But this is not just a boring, stark utility area – it is the perfect space for showing loads of personality. Bring in fun lighting, wall displays for the kids’ artwork, hanging folders for papers, wallpaper, a colorful rug, cabinetry, shelves and built-ins, an island with seating or a table for projects. The ideas and possibilities are endless!

You can transform a room into a family hub on a DIYer’s shoestring budget or you can spend $30,000 or more on a fully customized space. Don’t fret about losing your dining room for the sake of resale. As a society, we are becoming less formal, and folks are much more interested in homes that maximize the usability of square footage and make life easier on a day-to-day basis.

Google, please sound the alarm bells and help families understand how beneficial and versatile a family hub room can be in today’s homes.

Family hub rooms transform unused areas like formal dining rooms into much-needed usable space.

Betsy Manley is a proud University of Georgia alumna, who started House Therapy, which brings home makeovers to Acworth. She documents the process and provides tips and tricks along the way.

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