Difference Between Living Room and Family Room

The main difference between living room and family room is that living room, which is the most spacious, is situated at the heart of the house whereas the family room, often situated next to the kitchen, serves as the family space entirely for the family members for relaxation and recreation.

Both these spaces are important areas in a house. People often overlap these two terms in their usage and consider both these as the same place. However, these two indicate two different places, serving two distinct purposes.

Key Areas Covered

1. What is a Living Room 
     – Definition, Location, Function, Design
2. What is a Family Room
     – Definition, Location, Function, Design
3. Difference Between Living Room and Family Room
    – Comparison of Key Differences

Key Terms

Architecture, Family, Family Room, Home, Living Room

What is a Living Room

Living room is a room in a house for general everyday use. With the absence of the parlour in the most modern architecture, living room may also function as a reception room for guests. Therefore, this is the place used mainly for welcoming guests, sitting and having a chat with friends and family members. People also use this space to watch TV and for other similar entertainment activities. It’s a comfortable space but is also somewhat formal.

This room is often situated at the middle of a house, occupying the front portion of the architecture of the house. It is considerably large and is often furnished with a sofa, chairs, occasional tables, coffee tables, bookshelves, electric lamps, rugs, or other furniture. In addition, there are other entertainment devices such as DVD players, TV, and computers in some houses. However, the living room is always more spacious and thus always has space for more furniture and equipment.

Furthermore, along with the furnishing, the living room is decorated with all sorts of nice artwork to give more or less a classical outlook.

Figure 01: Living Room

Sometimes this part connects the dining room of the house. Moreover, this room is also known as the ‘front room’ as well.

What is Family Room

Family room is usually the room that is located adjacent to the kitchen. A family room is more informal and often serves as a multipurpose space. Therefore, people also often use it as a home office whenever they need to take care of some work-related issues.

Thus, unlike a living room, the whole purpose of the family room is to make place for the family members to gather, do their own activities, and enjoy their own personal time. Thus, it becomes more informal and versatile in comparison to a living room. Thus, couches, sofas, recliners become necessary items in this space.

Figure 2: Family Room

This room is located away from the main entrance of the house and is often adjacent to the kitchen.  In some houses, this has become the part of the kitchen itself. Moreover, this room can also have doors that lead to the backyard, terrace or garden.

Difference Between Living Room and Family Room

Definition

Living room the room in a house that is used for relaxing in and entertaining guests while family room is the space used exclusively for the family members to spend time together.

Location

Living room is situated at the heart of the house, or in the center, in the front region of the house (sometimes this will lead to the dining room as well) while the living room is usually  situated next to the kitchen.

Purpose

The main purpose of the living room is to relax and to socialize while the main purpose of the family room is relaxation and recreation of family members only.

Formality

Living room is more formal in comparison to family room, which is quite informal and used solely for the time between family members.

Furnishing

Living room is highly furnished with sofas, and other entertainment equipment such as a TV and sometimes even a computer while family room may be furnished with couches, sofas, and recliners.

Decors

Living room décor usually focuses more on design and style and less on function. As for the accent details, they are often decorated with artwork and other less-personalized elements while family room usually focuses more on the family history where family photographs, heirlooms are used as decors instead.

Synonyms

Living room is also known by the names, front room, lounge room, sitting room while family room is also known by the terms such as rumpus room, game room, playroom, den, etc.

Conclusion

Both living room and family room are significant places in a house. Some people use these terms interchangeably despite the differences they carry on their own. The difference between living room and family room is that living room, which is the most spacious, is situated at the heart of the house whereas the family room, often situated next to the kitchen serves as the family space entirely for the family members for relaxation and recreation.

Reference:

1. “Living Room.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 16 June 2018, Available here.
2. “Family Room.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 15 June 2018, Available here.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Living Living Room Living Room Interior Interior” (CC0) via Max Pixel
2.”Family-room-700″ By Andwhatsnext at the English Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia