If you have young children, you are never alone. You get it. Sometimes you retreat into the bathroom for a few moments of quality time. While you are in this stage of parenting, you might think there will never be peace. Rest assured, everything will change, and then it will change again and again. If you are looking for ways to bring more family time and togetherness into your home, look no further. Continue reading to learn some practical tips that will help you create an environment that is inviting for everyone.
Make the Lounge More Comfortable
If you have a lounge or living room in your home, you have the perfect place in which you can create a cosy and comfy room that begs for more family time. Look for large, soft, and expansive sofas at Shawcross Furniture. Select one that everyone in your family can pile onto and fit comfortably together. Add an array of soft pillows and a basket of snuggle-worthy blankets nearby, and you are ready for a family movie night or a good story together.
Place a sideboard or shelf nearby with a variety of puzzles, card games, and board games. Add a coffee table where you can play the games or assemble the puzzles. Place a TV in the room along with an end table on each side of the sofa. Now you are all set to cue up a movie or have an epic family game night.
Leave Your Bedroom Door Open When You Are Awake
There is something about teenagers that practically draws them to your room in the late hours of the evening, just as you are getting ready to go to bed. This is not the time to say goodnight. This is actually the perfect time (for them) to talk. Splash some cold water on your face, sit up, and get ready to listen and hear what they are willing to share.
Make your bedroom more inviting and encourage conversation by getting a bigger bed, for starters. Your teenagers no longer sneak into your bed at night or crawl in before the sun comes up, but they just might hop on in the late hours of the day to sit and talk. Another option is to invest in a comfortable settee or armchair for them to lounge on while you catch up on their lives. You can use it as a place to read your latest book, too. Add a few pillows and a blanket, and you never know where the conversation will take you.
Create a Fun Zone in the Basement
While not as common in many homes, if you do happen to have an older home with a basement, you should consider turning it into a fun zone for your family and friends. It is relatively easy and will bring a lot of fun into your home. As your kids get older, it is always nice to invite their friends over so you can get to know them better and learn about the people your kids are spending so much time with. Making your home a go-to destination almost guarantees you an opportunity to meet these elusive teens.
Place a sofa in the basement, along with a TV. Add a few ottomans or bean bag chairs for extra seating. Invest in some fun additions to keep everyone entertained and busy. Some great suggestions include: a gaming system with extra controllers and chargers, a basketball arcade game, a foosball table, an air hockey table, and a billiards table. A wall-mounted ring toss game and a dartboard with a solid backboard will round it all off.
Bring Everyone Together in the Kitchen
The kitchen is one of the best places for family time. Even if you do not have a lot of extra space, do your best to make it inviting and welcoming. Your kids will remember the fun moments, not necessarily the cramped spaces.
If you have an island, this is the perfect place to bring people together. Add some barstools so people can congregate here. You can cook together, or your kids can do their homework on one side of the island while you cook on the other. This will create moments of togetherness and encourage conversations naturally. If you do not have an island but have space for one, you can install one or opt for a small cafe-style bar height table with stools instead. The table can serve the same purpose that a traditional island does.
Should your kitchen happen to have a dining area or breakfast nook, this will become an ideal place to spend time together beyond the meals you already eat with one another as a family. If you have the space, store a few board games or family trivia question decks nearby. Feel free to linger after an evening meal or on a weekend when breakfast is not rushed. Sit and talk or clear the dishes and tackle a puzzle as a family.
Have More Fun in the Back Garden
While not technically a room in your home, your back garden is a great space to enjoy family time. Start by assessing the area. Spend some time, as a family, cleaning it all up. Weed the flower beds, trim the hedgerows, and fix the fence and gate. If you do not have a fence, now might be the best time to consider installing one. It keeps everyone and everything contained while giving you privacy in your own yard.
Next, add a sitting area. If you have a deck or a patio, simply place an outdoor table or an outdoor sofa and chair set here. Otherwise, you can always install a patio or build a deck to increase your property value and maximise your use of the space. Once everything is set, add a pergola or shade sail for shade, hang some string or fairy lights, and you are all set for family fun.
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Now that you have some tips on how to invite more family time into the different rooms in your home, it is time to take action. Find the right furniture to fit your space, gather your board games, and let the fun begin.