Why the living room is the new heart of the home

July 23, 2019

Why the living room is the new heart of the home (and how you can make yours special)

3 MIN. READ

Historically, the kitchen was the heart of the family home, a place for family and friends to cook, eat, entertain and relax. Recently, however, the living room has slowly but surely become the focal point of most homes.

Much as with kitchens and dining rooms of old, we now eat, work and relax in our living rooms. The reason for the room's rising popularity can be attributed to many factors, from changing tastes and lifestyle trends to the state of the housing market. Here, we'll cover how the living room became the heart of the home, and how you can make yours an ideal space for interacting with family and friends.

How the living room became the new heart of home life

According to a survey, only one in 10 people reported that the kitchen was where they spent the most time. In contrast, four-fifths of respondents reported that they spent the most time in their living rooms, and a third of them reported that the dining room was the least-used room in their house.

That isn't an isolated trend either, for another survey of 3,000 people found that more than half spent more time in their living room than anywhere else in their living space. The living room is particularly popular with middle-aged and older homeowners, while millennials are more evenly split between the kitchen and the living room which may be due to the level of connectivity they have on smaller electronics like phones and tablets.

The reason for the rising popularity of living rooms and the plummeting choice of dining rooms can be attributed to two major factors. First, the living room offers access to electronics or devices such as TV’s, and second, tradition and the housing market at large have changed rapidly.

While it was once customary to enjoy a meal in the dining room, today families may prefer the comfort of living room couches and a good show while eating. In addition, the rising cost of living is encouraging homeowners to use the living room as a space for eating, yoga, watching TV, entertaining, working and more.

The trend has solidified the living room as a multi-purpose space for many, increasing its value in comparison with dedicated spaces such as dining rooms or kitchens.

Making your living room the heart of your home

If you intend to make your living room the center of your living space, you should be stylish about it. Here are a few recommendations:

• Decide what you want your living room to be. Will it double as a workspace? If so, a collapsible or multi-use work desk may be a worthy investment. On the other hand, maybe you want it to be your entertainment center, in which case investing in extra chairs or an expandable table may be well worth your time.

• Make it comfy. You can't go wrong with more-muted color schemes that revolve around beiges or blues, both of which are psychologically calming. It's also worth investing in a good sofa (which should be backed up against a wall or a cabinet to maximize space) and some chairs you'll feel comfortable sitting in for long periods.

• Invest in a compartmentalized TV. It's great having a TV in the living room, but it's also great to have dedicated family time. If the living room is where your family and friends congregate, investing in a TV that isn't the center of attention all the time will minimize distractions and maximize the quality time you spend with those you care about.

If you're searching for furniture and appliances that'll set your living room apart from the rest, visit the website of Queen City Audio Video Appliances.