15 Comfortable Family Rooms

Wisconsin homeowners built vintage charm into their vacation home by using local building materials. Stones excavated from the property were used to construct the fireplace, and all the timber used—in beams, walls, exposed rafters and interior walls—was harvested within 30 miles of the home.

The airy sunroom in this Des Moines home pulls double duty as a family room, with a TV, a game table for chess and a desk for homework. The blues and greens that thread through the rest of the house show up here as well. Wall color: Benjamin Moore Georgian Green HC-115.

Pegged, mortise-and-tenon joinery connects the interior of this Ohio home to barns of the past.

White paint updates stock built-in cabinetry in this suburban family room. The color not only lightens the room it also makes the fireplace area more of a focal point, especially with the addition of a black-and-white piece of art.

Mixing shapes, sizes, styles, fabrics and finishes creates a fresh look in the open family room. The varied patterns on the sofa, chairs and ottoman work together thanks to a shared blue scheme.

Built-in custom cabinetry above and beside the fireplace hides the TV and any clutter. The soothing color scheme includes grays, tans, creams and wood tones under a wood ceiling. An open table serves as a desk and divides the kitchen area from this sophisticated family room.

Stone walls, beamed ceilings and slate flooring transformed a former two-car garage into a knockout family room. Four roomy woven wicker chairs create a conversation area. The TV is inside the antique armoire.

A balanced arrangement works especially well when you have a direct view toward a fireplace. Here, the bookcases, sofas and even the jars on the mantel are all placed symmetrically. The painted bookcase backs pick up the color of the green mantel jars.

A large sectional offers seating for the whole family in this TV room (the entertainment center is along the opposite wall). An equally big coffee table accommodates entertaining, games or stacks of magazines. On the walls, sizable nature prints reflect the scale of the furniture.

Oversize rural antiques, such as the tobacco basket, pitchfork and folded quilt, emphasize the country feel in this family room. Built-in bookcases and a ledge behind the sofa add interesting display and storage space. Leather swivel chairs can face the conversation area or turn to face the TV (the entertainment center is across from the sofa). Ottomans can be used as seating or foot rests.

This garden basement family room benefits from the warm tones of wood, leather and grayish-blue upholstery and paint. Electronics are hidden in the armoire. Deep windowsills show off a collection of old wood wheels and machine parts; shades darken the room for movie watching. Same-style sofas are upholstered in two different fabrics with flip-flopped pillows.

Large windows, paneling and a coffered ceiling make this casual room seem like anything but a typical basement. The colors of leaves and wood define the decor of this space. Two seating areas allow family and guests to gather either around the fireplace or a home theater. See the next slide for the theater area.

Rich brown walls, a lime-green-painted TV/armoire and an oversize piece of art make this room memorable. Slipcovers on seating can be easily removed for cleaning. To divide the room from the neighboring kitchen, the homeowners built a long bookcase topped with interior windows.

One distinctive item, such as a piece of art, rug or pillow, can influence an entire room's color scheme. Here, the painting over the mantel inspired the color choices. A wall of white built-in cabinetry hides the TV and clutter for a serene vibe.

A neutral color palette allows the floor-to-ceiling stone fireplace to be a focal point without overwhelming this room. The large square leather ottoman serves as a coffee table, while the muted striped rug adds a touch of pattern.