Second living room for teens or dining room?

[Suttonstracke]

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?

@Mypy we don’t want any screens in their bedrooms.

You have sold it to me everyone! Sounds like a solid idea. Will start hunting for some second hand sofas and start planning. Thanks all x

We have a second lounge and it's been an absolute godsend with teenagers. DS1 (18) regularly has his mates over, and I really like the fact they feel comfortable as they aren't encroaching into the rest of the families space. Wish we'd freed up the space earlier!