Ideas for Designing & Decorating the Perfect Great Room for Your Home
We’ve all heard that kitchens and bathrooms are the most important rooms when you’re building a house. That’s certainly true in some ways. But most of us will spend the lion’s share of our time in a different room of the house: the great room.
Sometimes called the “family room,” the “living room,” or the “gathering room,” the great room is perhaps the most lived-in room of the whole house. It’s where the kids watch TV, where you sit to catch up with friends, and where you snuggle in for a movie night.
The great room sets the tone for your entire living space. When family and friends enter your home, the great room forms their first impressions. It also plays a significant role in setting the mood when you return home from a long day. With these considerations, your great room should be inviting, comforting, and full of personal touches. In other words, your home should feel like home!
Designing a beautiful great room involves thoughtful design and personalization. As your premier Des Moines custom home builders, KRM Custom Homes has strategies to help your great room live up to its name. Let’s take a look at our top tips.
Ways to Make Your Great Room Functional
A great room needs to be a versatile and multi-functional space. It can serve as a reading nook, an entertainment area, and a living space all at once. That’s a lot of pressure for one room!
A functional great room requires thoughtful planning and strategic design. You can make this easier by defining your great room’s purpose and outlining its primary functions. Understanding the room’s intention helps guide the overall design.
Some owners divide the great room into distinct zones based on intended activities. Others choose versatile furniture that’s easily rearrangeable to accommodate changing needs. Sectional sofas, movable coffee tables, and multipurpose furniture allow you to adapt the layout as needed.
How to Create a Focal Point
Every well-designed room has a focal point. A focal point can be anything from a cozy fireplace to a window with a beautiful view. These are elements that tie a room together while establishing its theme.
Depending on your tastes, you may prefer a focal point that draws interest in a bolder way. In this case, choose a focal point that adds contrast and starts conversations. For example, an intricate coffee table or luxurious vintage sofa instantly grabs attention. These pieces showcase your style and make a striking statement.
At the end of the day, your focal point can be anything that draws focus and anchors the room. It should be something you love and want to show off.
Follow Your Personal Style
Your personal style is a unique expression of who you are. Embrace it and let it guide your decisions. Whether you’re drawn to contemporary, traditional, or eclectic aesthetics, staying true to your tastes ensures the room feels like it’s yours.
Design styles provide a great framework, but don’t be afraid to adapt them to your taste. Mix and match elements from different themes to create a look that feels uniquely yours. It’s all about crafting a space that makes you happy and aligns with your vision of comfort and beauty. If a certain color, pattern, or piece of furniture feels right to you, go with it!
Infuse your room with personally significant mementos. Heirlooms, travel souvenirs, and handmade pieces add layers of meaning to your space. They contribute to the overall design while telling a story about your life and experiences.
Add Textures & Patterns With Your Great Room Decor
Adding textures and patterns to your great room will bring visual interest, warmth, and personality. You can do this in a variety of ways, so let your imagination run wild.
Introduce a variety of textiles such as throw pillows, blankets, and rugs. Consider combining smooth fabrics with more tactile ones for some visually appealing contrast.
Add depth and texture to your floor by layering rugs. Mix and match complementary rugs of varying textures and patterns. This technique draws attention to different areas of the great room while enhancing visual appeal.
If you’re a fan of patterns, don’t be afraid to mix them up. Just be sure to keep a cohesive look by maintaining a consistent color palette. You can avoid visual overload by combining larger patterns with smaller ones. For example, pair a bold geometric rug with subtle striped throw pillows.
The key to adding texture and pattern is balance. Don’t overwhelm the room with too many competing patterns or textures. Start with a base and gradually layer additional elements.It may take time to achieve the look you’re going for, and that’s okay. When you build your home, you have a whole lifetime to play around with new decor and ideas.
Brighten It Up With Large Windows & a Vaulted Ceiling
Adding oversized windows can create a feeling of openness. This works especially well if your great room has a vaulted ceiling. A taller ceiling means you can put in taller windows, which will draw your eye up. More windows also mean tons of natural light, and we all know how perfectly cozy it is to curl up in a pool of sunshine and blankets!
If you don’t have a vaulted ceiling, think about incorporating one into your custom home design. Vaulted ceilings add dimension to a room by drawing your eye upward. They can also make a room feel more open and spacious, which are both good things.
Creative Ideas for Your Fireplace
If you’re lucky, your great room includes a fireplace. Whether it is gas or wood-burning, a fireplace is usually the focal point of the great room. Fireplaces have come a long way from plain old brick. Today, the options are nearly endless, and we love to make a bold statement with the fireplace. Here are our top creative fireplace ideas:
Mix Textures
One of our favorite fireplaces in a KRM home used simple oversized Carrara tile with wood details and mirrors. The wood tones added warmth and softened the modern feel, while the straight lines and mirrors added modern touches to create an overall effect that was striking!
Skip Symmetry
To really add drama to your room, add an asymmetrical fireplace. You can play with the lines and the proportions, like ditching the plain square mantle for something angular. This option is sure to create buzz when you have guests.
Try Tile
We are seeing so many tile fireplaces right now. It’s such a fun way to add personality and pizzazz to your great room. There are so many wonderful options, with each adding dimension, color, and shape to your fireplace. Tile fireplaces are truly a one-of-a-kind statement piece in your home.
If you are going for more of a farmhouse feel throughout your home, a fireplace can carry this theme through into the great room. Try a wooden mantle with white brick or shiplap for the perfect modern/cozy combo. You can also add patterned tile to the mix for a little bit of extra pop while still staying true to the farmhouse aesthetic.
Surround It With Shelving
Another way to personalize your great room is through shelves and built-ins. A fireplace works beautifully as the centerpiece to built-in cabinets, providing a visual frame plus plenty of useful storage for games, books, and movies.
Ready to Make Your Great Room Truly Great? Work With Iowa’s Trusted Custom Home Builders
Your great room is a hub for shared experiences and a place where memories are created and cherished. It should be a warm, inviting place where people enjoy spending their time. A thoughtfully curated great room makes you and your loved ones feel comfortable and happy.
There are so many opportunities to make your great room truly worth its title. At KRM Custom Homes, we build homes that last a lifetime. Interested in even more home inspiration? Visit our website gallery here.
Our team is committed to your well-being, and we’re here every step of the way. Contact us today for advice and guidance in your home-building journey.
