THE REAL ESTATE JOURNAL
UPSTAIRS, DOWNSTAIRS | FORMAL LIVING SPACES
3
A second look: Formal living spaces With changes in trends and lifestyles, and the growing need to make the most of what we have, formal spaces aren’t used the same way they were before. The designation of such spaces — like living rooms and dining rooms — are still in use today.
Formal living areas like living rooms and dining rooms are not quite what they used to be.
However, the functionality of these spaces has since been fused with other parts of a home, making them seem almost unrecognizable as their own spaces. The original purpose of a living room was to have a space where family, friends and guests can
socialize. If anyone wanted to eat, they had to go to the dining room. While this distinction has an air of authenticity, these designations are not seriously observed these days. In modern times, this functional distinction is rarely seen. Some homeowners opt to
expand their kitchen into their dining room, so that people can eat while in or near the kitchen. Others may combine the dining room and living room as one space where someone can lounge, eat, continued on page 5
