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Original poster

Second living room for teens or dining room?

28 replies

Suttonstracke · 11/09/2022 15:06

Our house has a big living room and a slightly smaller room opposite that we use as a dining room. However, despite having a beautiful table in there, we eat in there maybe once or twice a year and always end up in the kitchen which has space for a table too. Our living room is often taken up with our 12 and 13 DC gaming or watching their shows, and I’m now wondering if it would be a better use of space using the dining room as a second living space with sofa, their consoles etc. But then I worry we’d never see them as they’d always be in there…. But the plus is we could make the living room a lovely adult without all the controllers, wires from their consoles etc.

What would you do?

OP posts:
Original poster
Suttonstracke · 11/09/2022 15:07

12 and 13 year old DC that should say

OP posts:
OldTinHat · 11/09/2022 15:11

They will be in their bedrooms all the time soon so use that room for them - you may have a chance of seeing them once in a while!

justabigdisco · 11/09/2022 15:12

I have a similar set up except our smaller reception room is currently used as a playroom as we eat in the kitchen.

Definitely going to convert it into a teenage den when they are bigger including sofa bed and TV.

Wisteriaroundthedoor · 11/09/2022 15:12

We have always had a second living room and never used the dining room as a dining room. It’s totally worth it. My child never sat in her room, she was always in the play room. She also studied in there. Totally go for the second living room.

iwishiwasafish · 11/09/2022 15:13

Use it for the kids, definitely. Better than them disappearing to their bedrooms. Leave the doors to both rooms open so they are not completely hidden away.

Wisteriaroundthedoor · 11/09/2022 15:13

Oh and we have sofas, tv, coffee table, sound system etc in ours. It’s literally a second living room except all the gaming stuff is in there too.

BarrelOfOtters · 11/09/2022 15:13

Second living room. Trying to persuade dh to do that with ours so I can have it as a snug.

Original poster
Suttonstracke · 11/09/2022 15:14

I think my kids would be wherever the screens are and for now they’re not allowed in their rooms which is why a second living space appeals. The piano and other instruments (which are used) also live in there and we could maybe fit in some storage. It’s such a pretty room with a beautiful table though - it’s just not used!

OP posts:
Comedycook · 11/09/2022 15:15

Definitely the second living room. Our playroom has effectively turned into a second living room. Ds Xbox is in there...often in the evening or weekends he will be in there and/or dd whilst the other TV in living room is available for us.

If your kitchen can accommodate a table I wouldn't bother with a dining room.

Mypy · 11/09/2022 15:16

Turn your living room into a lovely living room and turn your dining room into a lovely dining room where you eat daily.

Original poster
Suttonstracke · 11/09/2022 15:21

@Mypy but then where would the kids and their gaming stuff go?

OP posts:
WavePlant · 11/09/2022 15:23

Separate dining room is quite old fashioned, go for the second living room so you keep the kids downstairs and have the lovely table in the kitchen. Much more social

Comedycook · 11/09/2022 15:24

The families I know with teenage kids and only one living room usually end up putting a TV and console in their kids bedroom otherwise it end up monopolising the living room. This is far from ideal in my opinion though I can see why they do it.

Wisteriaroundthedoor · 11/09/2022 15:28

WavePlant · 11/09/2022 15:23

Separate dining room is quite old fashioned, go for the second living room so you keep the kids downstairs and have the lovely table in the kitchen. Much more social

Agree it’s very dated now unless you live in a massive house.

we have moved several times and always make sure to buy a house with a dining room/second reception and always use it as a living room. We originally started off with s dining table but it was never used and have never looked back. As long as you have space for a kitchen table or dining island there is no need for a separate dining room now for many people.

a friend of mine uses hers as a dining room, it’s seldom used unless she’d guests and it feels quite a quaint concept.

olympicsrock · 11/09/2022 15:29

Second living room for the kids.

GiantTortoise · 11/09/2022 15:32

Second living room. We have one - it used to be the kids playroom when they were little, now it has the Xbox and massive bean bags.

Original poster
Suttonstracke · 11/09/2022 15:35

To be fair the dining room is used, just not for dining. One of my kids has all his school stuff spread out in there and does homework there as well as music practise etc. But yes I agree there’s no need for it when we have a big kitchen table which is much more practical.

OP posts:
Twiglets1 · 11/09/2022 17:28

Suttonstracke · 11/09/2022 15:06

Our house has a big living room and a slightly smaller room opposite that we use as a dining room. However, despite having a beautiful table in there, we eat in there maybe once or twice a year and always end up in the kitchen which has space for a table too. Our living room is often taken up with our 12 and 13 DC gaming or watching their shows, and I’m now wondering if it would be a better use of space using the dining room as a second living space with sofa, their consoles etc. But then I worry we’d never see them as they’d always be in there…. But the plus is we could make the living room a lovely adult without all the controllers, wires from their consoles etc.

What would you do?

We have a second living room (a “snug” ) and it’s been really useful over the years for the kids & their friends- even now they’re adults it’s still useful

Starseeking · 11/09/2022 17:30

A second living room sounds lovely, I'd do that!

Mypy · 11/09/2022 17:30

Suttonstracke · 11/09/2022 15:21

@Mypy but then where would the kids and their gaming stuff go?

Toys, games and all play accoutrements

goldfinchonthelawn · 11/09/2022 17:31

Definitely teen den. I used to love putting my head around the door of the teen den and seeing DC with all their friends heaped on sofas, laughing their heads off and playing piano, singing and putting on silly voices. Happy days.

Mypy · 11/09/2022 17:32

…in their bedrooms!

Redab · 11/09/2022 17:42

We have a seperate dining room and a kitchen big enough to have a sofa and table. When it was just the two of us we kept the dining room but once DC were 7/8 we put a table tennis table in the dining room.
Once they were teens it became a second sitting room for gaming and friends. They had a desk in their bedroom for study as I didn't really want games consoles in bedrooms.
Then when they came home from uni and lived at home for a while it became their study / sitting room.
I say use the rooms you have to the maximum.

Crumpleton · 11/09/2022 17:42

I'd use it as a teen den, but I would stipulate that meals are to be eaten at the kitchen table.
We always ate together daily at the table until the DC moved out it was a chance to keep up with what was going on and have general banter.
Then you can have time to watch TV/read/chat in the other lounge without the noise of the gaming and kids can have their fun without disturbing you.

JustGotToKeepOnKeepingOn · 11/09/2022 17:48

My DD has her own sitting room. It's great. Her friends go in there when they come round. Much better than them being in her bedroom.