Family Room vs. Living Room: What Sets Them Apart
The family room and living room serve different functions in a home, even if the terms are often used in place of one another. A living room is usually a formal space meant for entertaining guests, while the family room is a more casual area designed for everyday relaxation. From layout and location to style and purpose, several features set these two rooms apart.
Purpose
The living room provides a place to entertain guests on special occasions. The furniture layout encourages conversation and may feature two sofas facing each other or a set of chairs facing the sofa. Modern living rooms often feature a bar cart and cocktail supplies.
The family room, also called a media room, is an everyday space where family members can watch TV, play gaming consoles, or play board games. These kid-friendly rooms house more common items like toys, pet beds, and computers.
Furnishings
Since the living room is used less than the family room, furnishings are often higher-end. Traditionally, living rooms housed formal or white furniture. Today, a living room can have any style of furniture, although it’s usually more expensive than what’s in a family room.
Family rooms provide comfort, and the furnishings reflect that. It’s common to see oversized sofas, recliners, and tables that can handle everyday use. Most family rooms also have a TV.
Location
Most formal living rooms are in the front of the home, while family rooms are in the back of the house, basement, or a second-story loft or spare room. Open-concept homes are better suited for family rooms since the design encourages everyday utilization of shared living/kitchen spaces.
Size
The average living room size in America is 12’ x 18’, or 216 square feet. The average family room size varies by location (i.e., whether it’s in a basement, loft, or spare bedroom) but is often smaller than the living room.
Other Terms for Family and Living Rooms
We know it’s confusing, but aside from the living room and family room, a few more terms might describe one of the spaces in your home.
- Den – A den is a small, private, informal living space that’s closed off from the rest of the house. A den can serve the same purpose as a family room – a place to relax and consume media – or you can use it as an office, gaming space, home library, or playroom.
- Parlor – Parlor is an old-fashioned word for a living room or formal sitting room. Parlors originated in upper-class Victorian-style homes in the 1800s, also known as “receiving rooms.” When guests would visit, homeowners would greet them in their parlor.
- Front Room – The front room is another term for the living room or parlor and refers to the room in the front of the house, where these formal spaces reside.
- Great Room – A great room is a large open space that combines several rooms, such as the living room, dining room, kitchen, or study. Great rooms boast high ceilings and are a feature of open-concept homes.