If you’re lucky enough to have a second reception room, make the most of the bonus space by creating the perfect spot for the whole family to kick back and have fun together. Whether you’re after a cosy retreat, TV nook, study zone or hobby corner, these beautifully designed dens and family rooms have something for everyone. Click or scroll on to get inspired…
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Bring in built-ins
Make the most of a smaller den by adding fitted storage that utilises your room’s vertical space. Here, cabinetry tucks toys, stationery and art supplies out of sight, while narrow open shelves offer easy access to prized possessions. We love the open back-lit cubbies at the top of the unit – the perfect place to showcase family accolades.
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Create a cosy library
Sometimes you just can’t beat a traditional scheme, like this regal room designed by home construction company Stonewood. Taking inspiration from many a grand, historic property, this cosy library den with its rich wood panelling, coffered ceiling and roaring hearth couldn’t be more inviting. We can just imagine sinking down into a leather armchair with a good book, alongside that crackling fire…
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Make it modular
Instead of filling a snug family space with bulky pieces of furniture, opt for smaller pieces that can be easily manoeuvred for a more flexible layout. This modular sofa breaks down into sectionals that can function as standalone armchairs too.
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Work in wood tones
Wood is the home decorator’s go-to when it comes to creating a homely feel in a family room. For a modern twist, veer away from using a single grain across your space and instead experiment with an array of different tones. This modern farmhouse-inspired scheme by building company Clayton Homes sees grey hues across the walls and floor, while white shiplap offsets the entertainment centre.
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Add novelty seating
Turn up the fun dial in your den with playful seating that children and adults alike will enjoy. A rocking chair is ideal for those with infants, while a swing seat or wow-factor hanging chair suspended from the ceiling are bound to be a big hit with the young and young at heart.
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Let the games begin
If you have the space, why not transform your second reception room into the ultimate games room? As well as sofas and a TV, bring in a games console, plenty of surfaces for activities and crafts, plus table football or a pool table too. This family room designed by The ABL Group includes three ingenious coffee tables with boardgame tabletops.
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Encourage creativity
Not every family room has to revolve around the TV. Design a space that lets their imaginations run wild – this incredible art wall, made from simple white tiles, can be easily wiped clean at the end of each day. Suction storage caddies offer the ideal spot to keep whiteboard pens, while open shelving accommodates toy boxes and homework files.
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Extend outdoors
If you’re short on space in your house, a garden room could provide the perfect den for the whole family to enjoy. Here, whitewashed shiplap walls and ceilings add a cosy but clean feel, while textured rugs, cushions and throws offer an inviting space all year round.
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Build a window seat
Create quiet corners in your family room where you can grab a moment’s peace. Set back from the main space, these window seats make the perfect light-filled reading nooks. Just add a few stylish cushions and thick throws and you’re good to go!
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Channel coastal calm
For a calming, peaceful place to escape to at the end of a long day, design a coastal-themed room that channels the seaside. In this cosy attic den, two-tone walls in refreshing turquoise and white elongate the room, while matching textiles and furnishings carry through the relaxed vibe.
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Ensure storage is accessible
It’s important to make sure your den is designed with the whole family in mind. Lower some of your storage shelves to just below waist height to allow smaller hands access to their favourite books and toys. It’s a great way to make your walls work harder, plus it’ll provide a handy useable surface too.
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Add an Art Deco twist
For an enveloping space that feels indulgent and luxurious, channel the best of the 1920s. This glamorous scheme dazzles with its plush velvet seating, orb lamps, gold-effect side tables and thick-pile rugs, all positioned around a roaring, wood-burning fire. We can’t think of a more sumptuous spot to curl up on a cold night!
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Use the walls wisely
Dens tend to be smaller than your average living room, so use the walls wisely to ensure the space feels intimate rather than cluttered. Start with light, neutral walls and then layer up the storage. Rather than settling for uniform storage solutions, mix large box cubbies with open shelving and shallow picture ledges – it’ll allow you to tailor your storage needs around your furniture without taking up unnecessary space.
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Dare to go dark
Who says small spaces have to be white boxes? Add a modern twist to a traditional country-inspired den by painting the walls a dark and dramatic tone like this rich navy, then pair with a sumptuous leather sofa that melts into the backdrop. The dark hue will envelop the room and create a cosy space to retreat to on a cold day.
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Go with a garage conversion
A garage conversion is a cost-effective way to add a family room to your existing floor plan. Concrete-effect flooring, vertical grey shiplap walls and open wood storage evoke an edgy, industrial feel to the space. Retractable desk lamps mounted behind the sofa are an original touch and offer flexible task lighting – perfect for reading after nightfall.
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Shake up the floor plan
When arranging furniture in your family room, you don’t have to stick to a traditional open floor plan. By centering the sofa in the middle of the room, rather than against the back wall, you can open up more useable space. Here, a desk has been set up behind the sofa, with a large rug anchoring the two functional areas.
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Check it’s child-friendly
As most parents know, giving children a playroom to escape to for their downtime can often be the secret to a happy home. This colourful attic den has plenty to keep the kids occupied, while its clever storage and sleek, modern design make it the perfect place for the whole family to have fun together too.
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Make a bold statement
A second reception room is a great place to have fun and experiment. A dark, jewel-coloured carpet will cocoon the room in a cosy, rich hue, as well as helping to conceal dirt and stains. Carry the vibrant hue through with red cushions and team with a contrasting denim blue sofa and bright white walls for a fresh and invigorating look.
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Admire the view
If you’re working with a slightly larger budget, a floor-to-ceiling glass wall is a great way to transform a den into the ultimate sun trap, especially if your home is blessed with breathtaking views. This natural stone feature wall helps to blur the boundary between the interior and the rugged rock formations of the desert outside – we could gaze at that vista forever!
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Turn up the texture
When it comes to transforming a redundant second reception room into a characterful family room, texture is key. Layer the sofa with cosy throws and cushions, lay area rugs across the floor and introduce tactile features like rattan light shades, woollen wall hangings and plenty of foliage.
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Embrace old school
Ideal for budding young artists, the blackboard in this old-school den is a great way to help hone your little ones’ creativity. You can either hang a wall-mounted board or use blackboard paint to make a bespoke canvas. Create chalk art, draw seasonal messages or even leave reminders for family members. Complete the look with comfortable armchairs and industrial-style table lamps.
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Retreat to the attic
The attic can be a great space to escape to when you need some peace and quiet. Rather than resigning your eaves room to a dusty storage space, create a family-friendly retreat with low seating, toy storage and a craft table. If you have the ceiling height, mount a playful hanging chair in the centre of the room like Upscale Construction has done here.
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Invest in a sofa bed
If the guest room is taken or your floor plan doesn’t include a spare bedroom, it’s a good idea to have an extra sofa bed in the den to accommodate guests. To ensure your makeshift bedroom is ready to spring into action at a moment’s notice, store extra bed linen and towels in an ottoman.
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Install a barn door
If your main living space is open-plan, install a sliding barn door to create a family space that can be zoned off into a separate room when a little privacy is needed. The rustic addition makes a practical room divider solution while imparting plenty of farmhouse charm to your scheme too.
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Choose low-level seating
Take your seating down a level to add a relaxed, casual atmosphere to your den. This low charcoal sofa is streamlined and contemporary, while prairie-style cushions and throws, a cosy neutral carpet and a wood-burning stove add a homely feel to the room.
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Bring in a bar
A den doesn’t have to revolve around the kids – add a little something for the adults too. This home bar area is ideal for entertaining or just mixing up a drink in the evening. Set to the side of the room, it adds a valuable extra function to the space without detracting from the family TV area.
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Put your possessions centre stage
Showcase your family’s personality by putting your prized possessions out on show. From ornaments to books, vases, toys and plants, mix them all together and arrange across open shelving for an eclectic display. A gorgeous gallery wall with mismatched frames will make a stylish accompaniment – just make sure you stick to a cool, neutral colour across your walls to balance out the busyness.
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Define distinct zones
When you’re designing a multipurpose family room, it’s important that separate functional spaces sit in harmony alongside each other. This stylish TV room also accommodates a home office, but the two areas still feel part of one cohesive scheme thanks to some clever design tricks. White floor-to-ceiling built-in units create continuity between both zones, while rustic wooden shiplap carefully defines the different activity spaces.
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Add a warming focal point
The perfect snug family space requires a focal point and it needn’t always be the TV. Here, cosy tartan armchairs, a deep pillowy sofa and a tactile rug frame the star of the show: that spectacular fireplace. What’s more, clever details like the artwork and mantel decorations ensure the eye is immediately drawn to the warming centrepiece.
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Think farmhouse
What could be cosier than a homely farmhouse-style family space? Start with a neutral backdrop then pile on the texture. Layer deep sofas with cushions and throws and bring in rustic wooden furniture, arranging it all around a wood-burning stove. Salvaged furnishings and dried flowers will add the perfect finishing touches.
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