Decorating a great room can be a major challenge

Break the great room into zones to make it more managable

Decorating a great room came seem overwhelming because there is so much space to deal with. How should I arrange the furniture? What color should it be? How do I divide the space into separate areas? These are some of the decisions that must be made when decorating a great room.

What is a great room?

It is a large room usually set off the kitchen area with an open floor plan. Often combining the kitchen, dining, and living areas it is a place where family and friends gather to socialize and enjoy each other's company.

The great room has it's origins from earlier times. In colonial days the home was heated by a large fireplace. Because that was the only heat source, homes had one large room where everyone gathered because that was where it was comfortable. There was either one room or the kitchen with a large room which opened from it that was called the "Keeping Room" in New England and oftentimes called the "Great Room" in other areas of the country.

Today a great room is a wonderful addition to any home. It can reflect the family's personality and lifestyle as no other room is able to do.

When decorating your great room, decide what activities will be conducted there

One of the first steps in decorating a great room is to decide what you want to do in it.

• Will this room be mainly a gathering room for the family?
• Do you want it greared more to formal entertaining?
• Will there be an entertainment center in it?
• Would you prefer a formal dining area?
• Do you want to have a game area?
• If you have children, what are thier ages?
• Do you want them playing there or in their own rooms or play area?
• Is this area mostly for socializing and relaxation?

As you can see, there are as many ways to use a great room as there are lifestyles. Think about what activities you want to conduct in your great room. Remember that because of it's size, it will be noticeable at all time to family and visitors alike.

When you consider the uses of your great room, also consider the upkeep. Because of it's multifunction use, the great room will be getting a lot of traffic and use. Are you willing to constantly vacuum and clear away clutter? When decorating a great room or keeping room, plan your room according to the amount of maintenance you are willing to spend on it.

Zone Your Space

Now that you have some idea of the activities you want to conduct, the next step in decorating a great room is to zone your space. Draw a floor plan of your room and set up areas for separate activites.

Mark off conversation areas, game areas, dining areas, media areas and any other places you want in your great room. If you have room, plan several conversation areas away from the traffic patterns and the entertainment area to provide privacy and to ensure some quiet space for relaxation.

If you have a game area with a pool table, pinball machine, or any other games that involve noise, be sure to set them away into the furthest corner of the room.

By the same measure, a card area should be located in a quiet corner so players can concentrate if there are others using the space at the same time.

When decorating a great room, consider flooring options

One of the best ways to help zone your space is through the use of flooring materials. Once again, consider the upkeep. There will be a lot of traffic in your room. Game playing, TV watching, socializing, will all be conducted there.

Consider each area and activity carefully. Do you really want expensive wall to wall carpeting over the whole room? Wouldn't it make more sense to have tile or wood under a pool table? Soft rugs under a conversation area? Berber carpet if you have children?

If you already have a completely carpeted area, not to worry. Area rugs will come to the rescue. You can zone your space by putting them under conversation areas. You can add runners along the most used traffic areas to help save on wear and tear and also cleaning costs. You can put floorcloths or sisal rugs under the pool table. To learn more about these wonderfully useful rugs check out Choosing and Decorating with Area Rugs

Once you have decided on your zone and flooring you can start thinking about colors.

Some color tips when decorating a great room

Because a great room is so large, it can often appear cold and impersonal. By using colors from the warm spectrum you can help avoid this and warm up the space through visual effect. If you want to use neutral colors such as white and beige, choose shades that have a yellow or red leaning.

The photo to the left shows one corner of a great room. The room is painted in a warm color, and the green while it is basically a cool color, is a yellow green rather than a blue green. The woods are also warm colors leaning towards yellow.

Everything does not have to be all one color, however it does have to flow gracefully. Different areas can be painted in different colors. The color scheme you choose when decorating a great room should be harmonious. If you aren't sure about harmonious color schemes, check out the color link above to learn more or review monochromatic, complementary and analogous color schemes.

One wall could be painted a different color or could be wallpapered in a complementary paper. Painting a different color below the chair rail or adding paper there is another option. If one area is separated by a nook or jut out section, this could be painted in a harmonious color differently from the rest of the room. Just be sure the colors flow easily and are not jarring next to each other.

If you have vaulted ceilings, this not only adds space, but also adds to the perception of coldness in the room. When decorating your great room, ceilings do not have to be painted pure white. Use a tinted neutral or even a barely tinted pastel on the ceiling to bring a feeling of warmth into the room.

Fabrics to Use when Decorating a Great Room

Because of it's size, large bold patterns and floral prints fit right into a great room. Fabric can add great color and style to your great room. The log cabin pictured to the right doesn't have many options for adding color. This is where fabric shines.

Furniture should be large and comfortable upholstered to add charm to the room. Add a plethora of large overstuffed pillows to add more color.

Usually you will find when decorating a great room, that the windows also cover a large area. Again, this is a great way to get color into your room. If you are a sewer, you can coordinate your fabrics throughout the room.

If you don't want the expense of upholstering your furniture, window treatments, pillows and tablecloths can all be coordinated to bring flow when you are decorating your great room.

Lampshades are often overlooked as a source of color. If you have floor or table lamps, check to see if they are in synch with your decorating color scheme.

Again, don't forget area rugs, especially if you have a log cabin without many options for adding color. Area rugs are a great way to add a splash of color and coordinate areas of your great room.

A few last thoughts for decorating a great room

Because of it's size, you will have the opportunity to add a great quantity of lighting in your great room. Overhead lighting with a fan is the usual option. However, consider adding lighting you can control with a dimmer to add ambiance and more control over the room lighting.

Also be sure to use each area at night when you are planning on decorating a great room.

Can you see well enough in the conversation area if you are reading a book? Do you need a lamp on the table by the reading chair? How about the game area? Is the lighting adequate at night? Do you need additional task lighting?

Be sure to investigate and use each area separately to insure adequate light for the activites conducted there.

One final thought when decorating a great room - to really warm up a room - add plants

Nothing says warmth and welcome more than greenery. Large trees and plants really fit well into a great room. If you don't have a green thumb, not to worry. The silk trees and plants available today are so realistic, even when you touch them, you're not sure if they are real.

So don't worry about having to water and feed green plants and the mess that goes along with them. Buy a few large plants when decorating a great room to add some color and warmth to your room, along with some great visual effects.

For information ideas on how to decorate other rooms visit Decorating Rooms in Your Home

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