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Original poster

People with two living rooms

35 replies

NamedyChangedy · 26/02/2017 16:54

We're getting ready to have an extension done (Victorian terrace side return). The current plan would leave us with a front reception room, as well as a living 'area' as part of the open plan kitchen, which opens on to the garden.

I'm starting to question this - do I really need TWO living rooms for 4 people? We're not the sorts that have formal parties / host the vicar for tea etc, so I'm not sure the front room would ever get used.

Is there anyone that has this layout and can tell me how they actually use their space? Is one more for the kids and the other for adults? And would you recommend having doors adjoining them, or having them completely separate?

OP posts:
wowfudge · 26/02/2017 17:02

We have three! One's a snug/office and the living room leads off it - it means kids don't have to be with the adults, but are close enough to keep an eye on. We watch TV in the living room. We also have a large kitchen with dining room off it which is a big, sociable space. No TV in there. At the moment.

Original poster
NamedyChangedy · 26/02/2017 17:07

Ok so wowfudge say if you're in the kitchen making dinner, do the kids tend to sit in there with you or can you see them in the snug from the kitchen? Just trying to understand the practicalities - perhaps I need to start spying on people with similar layouts!

OP posts:
7to25 · 26/02/2017 17:09

We have three.
Separation is a wonderful thing.

Original poster
NamedyChangedy · 26/02/2017 17:14

You may be right 7to25 - because my DCs are little-ish (6 and 4) I'm assuming I'll always want to keep an eye on them, and vice versa. That may change quite soon...

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RandomMess · 26/02/2017 17:15

What I like is that the DC can have quite a large group of friends around and they can hang out in there rather than a small bedroom - plus that is where the TV/Xbox/Wii is rather than them having TV etc in their bedrooms, we have 3 DC and each has a small room though!

Artandco · 26/02/2017 17:18

Two sounds good

One - open planned for daily use together. Kids play etc, friends over use

Two - tv room, and reading or quiet room. Means one person can watch a film others don't want to, or one child can use to read book quietly whilst other in other room noiser.

WellTidy · 26/02/2017 17:18

We have a grown up sitting room which DH and I use after the DC have gone to bed. One of us also sits there in peace during the day, to make calls etc, if the other is doing something with the DC. We also have a playroom with two sofas in it, high we all spend all day in. I love having the grown up space so that I don't have to look at toys, plastic etc.

highinthesky · 26/02/2017 17:19

I wouldn't want to sit in a kitchen watching TV after any cooking. Smells drive me nuts.

CheeseAtFourpence · 26/02/2017 17:21

We have two (and similar aged DD). We have a lounge/diner and a kitchen/lounge area.

The former has a log burner and we tend to use that more in winter months. We live in the kitchen extension the rest of the year. That one is great for when DD has friends over to play, or when I'm cooking and DD is playing. But also if she goes in the other room I can pretend the Barbie/My Little Pony chaos isn't really happening Grin

Also good for when DH and i don't want to watch the same thing on TV!

ShotgunNotDoingThePans · 26/02/2017 17:21

We do, but our dcs are older (two at uni), and the house we now live live in has big enough bedrooms for tvs etc. In theory the second one could be a bit of a den for tv-watching etc., but it's really only used by DH to listen to his records when I let him. Thinking about it, it's not particularly well-furnished atm (okd uncomfortable sofa), so maybe if it was it'd be used more. If DS1 is at home and his gf is round we often clear off and leave them to watch a film in comfort. If your DCs have small bedrooms tou could maybe set it up as a homeworking 'office' when tney're older.

Fleurchamp · 26/02/2017 17:22

We have what you describe above.

It is lovely having an adult living room which we retreat to away from all the plasic tat toys in the evening.

7to25 · 26/02/2017 17:23

Seven to twenty five are now 13 to 31
I used to hide in the dining room but they always found me.

EatSpamAmandaLamb · 26/02/2017 17:23

We have three. The front sitting room is mainly (but not strictly enforced) adult sitting room. We don't tend to have toys in there, it's tidy and is a lovely place to retire to in the evening with a glass of wine when the DC have gone to bed.

The seating area attached to/next to (not the same room but sort of is in a way) the kitchen tends to double as a playroom. It's where we have the majority of the toy storage, and a TV set up to the kids friendly TV channels/Netflix access.

The snug which leads into the conservatory tends to be a room for solitude. Somewhere to read or take a phone call.

BigBlockofCheese · 26/02/2017 17:29

Two here. Big kitchen/dining/living room extension. Spend most of our time here, sofas have been 'customised' by the dc with a variety of interesting stains. Smaller living room for dh and I to retreat to in the evening that's a cozy grown up room for watching films etc in front of fire that the dc rarely go in so furniture is free of crayons scribble etc

Original poster
NamedyChangedy · 26/02/2017 17:31

OK, it's making more sense to me now, thanks. I think I just haven't had the luxury of an adult-only space so am finding it hard to appreciate. And it will be nice to say 'Shall we retire darling?' in my poshest voice after the kids have gone to bed Grin.

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junebirthdaygirl · 26/02/2017 17:35

We have 2 and its very useful for teenz and now 20 somethings. Never had tvs in rooms. So thsy had friends in sleepovers girlfriends etc. Also we might be watching a different movie. We sould have been lost without it. I would go with interconnecting doors as keeps family together in a sort of way and good for parties.

ScarlettFreestone · 26/02/2017 17:46

We have two. One is a family room and the other is a "good" room. The kids aren't banned from it and do play in there but no toys are stored there and it is always kept tidy.

Where we live is a convenient stopping off place between two cities so we quite often have friends & family drop in at very short notice. It's nice to be able to happily welcome them without rushing round.

DH and I use it in the evenings and it's also great to have somewhere quiet to go with a cuppa when there are loads of kids in the house.

Crumbs1 · 26/02/2017 17:51

We have a snug type sitting room - huge sofas, big log burner, big TV that is used for flopping and is very comfortable. Our summer sitting room is an oak framed very light room that is more spacious so better for book club, drinks parties, post supper coffees etc. It has a hidden to so if the children are home and want to watch different things they can.

Original poster
NamedyChangedy · 26/02/2017 17:56

Gosh Crumbs your house sounds gorgeous!

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yomellamoHelly · 26/02/2017 18:01

Our open plan lounge is where all the consoles etc are. So room can be quite noisy. A second lounge would be a peaceful escape. (Dcs a few years older than yours though.) Dh often needs to escape it all.

OhTheRoses · 26/02/2017 18:05

We have three! One is part of the family arrangement dining/kitchen, etc., one is a formal drawing room, one we call the reading room. When you have teenagers who may wish to snog you may find the arrangement v helpful. Also provides calm when we have a houseful (MIL) at Christmas.

bummymummy77 · 26/02/2017 18:05

We have three. One which has our very naice furniture in, one has the tv and big comfy couch, the other has turned in to ds's playroom, book snug room.

SloanyAnne · 26/02/2017 18:06

We have a T shaped kitchen/dining room with the dining room being the leg of the T. Then we have a square room and a rectanglar room.
Over the years the square room was the playroom and the rectangular room has an office area at 1 end and a TV watching place at the other. It can be reconfigured easily as an adults sit and chat room. That room has always been adult focussed ie no toys to be left around in there.
The playroom has now become a study/second tv/hobby room and is used by adults and teens equally. DC3 has first dibs as his room is only just big enough for a bed and skinny wardrobe.
I've lived in a knock through and I wouldn't do it again.

EyeStye · 26/02/2017 18:07

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Annaa123 · 26/02/2017 18:13

I have a main living room and spare room extension as well, planning on using it as gaming room so I no longer have to put up with FIFA! Also, my dp has to share it with our cats.
We're planning to use our main living room as playroom when our little one arrives