Family room FAQ

It's challenging to think of all the keys to creating a great family room. Our frequently asked questions give you common sense answers and may even help you identify new considerations.

How do we organize the family room with a growing family and keep it enjoyable for everyone? How can we breathe new life into our current family room? Are there secrets to keeping a family room clean? All these questions are asked frequently. Here's helpful information for these questions and more.

Provide seating options to comfortably fit children and adults of differing age and size ranges. Use dedicated areas and make storage space available for each family member's activity gear. Display often-used items and keep a master list of occasional use items in deeper storage.

Good organization requires seasonal reviews. Sort toys, packing up outgrown ones, and discarding worn ones. Evaluate favorite family activities in the past six months and make adjustments to meet changing needs and interests - if trumpet lessons replaced soccer practice, dedicated space for music practice.

Look at the activities your family already enjoys in the room. Keep everything that works with those activities and arrange for optimum function. Then either dispose of the unused items or remove to another location in the home. Pick a new direction for the color scheme. a new accent color can link contrasting accessories successfully. Next look for items that will enhance activities or add new capabilities.

Vacuum regularly to keep flooring, rugs and carpeting in top condition. Professionally clean carpets three to four times per year with a dry system to prolong carpet pad life. Use dust mops with disposable covers along tops of baseboards, walls, crown molding, and in corners to remove dust and cobwebs. Clean ceiling fan blades weekly to avoid build up that drifts down when fans are started.