UPSTAIRS, DOWNSTAIRS

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. 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,

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A formal living room was originally made for entertaining, and now it’s another room to help show a home’s style.

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watch television or surf the web.

Some critics of formal living spaces argue that these designations are outdated, as people are interacting differently and more casually than before. These spaces have been described these as “entertaining areas” that are nowadays used more for decoration than functional rooms.

You can now entertain where and how you choose. If your lifestyle lends itself to inviting a few people over to casually gather, then you can make use of less formally designed rooms.

But people in favor of maintaining these rooms say that they should be reimagined instead of removed. Designer Erin Gates, author of the book, “The Elements of Family Style,” suggests ideas like adding a bar to a living room to enhance the social experience. Having a small art gallery of personal or prized works of arts can also ignite conversation in the room.

The social effects of the current pandemic have been a factor to changes in how some rooms in a home are used, especially as some people are still working remotely. Living rooms are optimal to repurpose into an office space, even if it is in a small section of the room. Dining rooms can be used for sanitization, especially if it is adjacent to the kitchen, or for dedicated work areas and more. p

“Having a small art gallery of personal or prized works of arts can also ignite conversation in the room.”

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