Unused room

JoyfulMom · 02-04-2015, 08:48 AM

So...this is weird. For the last three years or so, we haven't really used the living room. Except for Christmas. Yes. Weird. Everyone here spends time in the kitchen or in their own rooms. Dh and I have chairs and a tv in our bedroom. So we congregate there. We usually use the living room to put up the tree and then on Christmas morning it is used. Other than that, no. It's very small, 9x12, so not much space.

My kitchen is super cramped and I feel like we can't turn around in there as it is. I'm considering just making the living room into a dining room. What do you all think? We dont entertain and when someone does stop by, we sit at the table.
Here's a pic of my sad living room.

Amy
Happy & blessed wife for 24 yrs.
Joyful mom to five girls, and one boy.

Aerynne · 02-04-2015, 08:57 AM

I think that would work if you're not using your living room.

Would knocking down a wall and making the whole thing into one large room work? I love houses with a kitchen/dining/family room.

marbles · 02-04-2015, 08:59 AM

There's a blog that's not active anymore but they turned their living room into a dining room. Young House Love, I don't have the link it might just be younghouselove .com but I don't know. You should look over there if you're not sure it can work. Is the couch the only furniture in the room? I have a friend who has a living room that looks very similar and they use theirs as a sort of office.

ValiantJoy07 · 02-04-2015, 09:00 AM

I was wondering that

as well, a way to make it more "open concept" to the kitchen at all possible?

JoyfulMom · 02-04-2015, 09:27 AM

Dh says its a retaining wall (I think that's what he called it?) so we couldn't knock it out. That was my first thought. He wants to turn it into a bedroom. We don't need another bedroom.
I need s p a c e. I feel cramped and it stresses me out when everyone is at home on the weekends. (College kids and sometimes their friends + everyone that still lives at home.

I will look for the blog you mentioned. It's sad to me. We have FOUR tvs. It stupid really. When #4 came along he would not sleep with out tv (still won't). When he was diagnosed with autism, I understood why he never slept with out it. So, it's a bad habit we can't get rid of. I've tried everything. He will not sleep with out it. If I get up and turn it off while he's sleeping, I get up to find he got up and turned it back on during the night. So, each of the bedrooms have a tv now.

I told Dh last week that I wish we could go back to the way things were before autism. It changed everything. That sounds bad when I read it. What I mean is, I wish I knew how to parent differently back then. We knew nothing about autism and what we were creating by giving in. We didn't have anyone to guide us KWIM? I feel like we are just a weird family that no one gets.

Amy
Happy & blessed wife for 24 yrs.
Joyful mom to five girls, and one boy.

mamacat · 02-04-2015, 09:37 AM

So right now the table where you eat is either in the kitchen or ust off the kitchen in a nook? I would totally make that your dining room then and leave the piano in there too.If there is an alcove off the kitchen where table is now you culd even move the sofa there to make an area for reading or whatever

JoyfulMom · 02-04-2015, 09:46 AM

Had to get on the desktop so I can participate better.

The living room has:
the sofa, a coffee table, a small table and chair set for the little kids (they rarely use it, so I'm considering getting rid of it), a piano, a book shelf and another little shelf that holds a tv for the wii.

The table is in my small kitchen and takes up most of the space in the kitchen. Once it's clean, I'll try to remember to snap a pic and share.

sara1215 · 02-04-2015, 10:02 AM

That seems like it would make a perfect dining room!

mamacat · 02-04-2015, 10:23 AM

Would most def move the table in there then and just take out the sofa and coffee table and the little table if you dont use it.Is there a wall in itchen where little table cpuld go in case kids want to be in there while you are?

JoyfulMom · 02-04-2015, 11:05 AM

Pretty sure it's a go, now that I feel better about not having an actual living room.

Yes, the kid sizes table can go on the kitchen for the littles.

Amy
Happy & blessed wife for 24 yrs.
Joyful mom to five girls, and one boy.

---------- Post added at 12:05 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:42 AM ----------

The dining area of the kitchen.

Amy
Happy & blessed wife for 24 yrs.
Joyful mom to five girls, and one boy.

purple_kangaroo · 02-06-2015, 12:26 AM

Hubby and I were just talking about how we never use our dining room and don't envision ever actually using it to eat in on a regular basis (we have a giant dining table in our kitchen, that's not over carpet). So we want to make our dining room into a sitting room/living area. LOL.

twoplustwo · 02-06-2015, 07:21 AM

I would totally turn your living room into a dining room! Plus thats so easy - if you end up not liking it, its easy to go back. Doo it! Do it today! (Unless you already did it yesterday!)

mamacat · 02-06-2015, 08:35 AM

From looking at size of table seems like may even be able to leave couch in that other room and get rid of coffee table?Is that white appliance in one corner a freezer?

marbles · 02-06-2015, 08:44 AM

I think that will look great! You could switch them even, put the couch in the kitchen

oh unless that's a door?

JoyfulMom · 02-06-2015, 08:56 AM

We haven't done it yet (I'm having a fibromyalgia flare

)
Yes that's a freezer.

Amy
Happy & blessed wife for 24 yrs.
Joyful mom to five girls, and one boy.

02-04-2015, 08:48 AM	#1
JoyfulMom Rose Bouquet Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Mississippi Posts: 550	Unused room So...this is weird. For the last three years or so, we haven't really used the living room. Except for Christmas. Yes. Weird. Everyone here spends time in the kitchen or in their own rooms. Dh and I have chairs and a tv in our bedroom. So we congregate there. We usually use the living room to put up the tree and then on Christmas morning it is used. Other than that, no. It's very small, 9x12, so not much space. My kitchen is super cramped and I feel like we can't turn around in there as it is. I'm considering just making the living room into a dining room. What do you all think? We dont entertain and when someone does stop by, we sit at the table. Here's a pic of my sad living room. Amy Happy & blessed wife for 24 yrs. Joyful mom to five girls, and one boy. __________________ Amy, wife to awesome hubby since 1991. ~A Joyful Mom to six blessings~ Shelby~21 Breanna~18 Madison~16 Christopher~12 Emma Grace~10 Jenna Kate~7

02-04-2015, 08:57 AM	#2
Aerynne Rose Garden Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 27,359	Re: Unused room I think that would work if you're not using your living room. Would knocking down a wall and making the whole thing into one large room work? I love houses with a kitchen/dining/family room. __________________ Erin born of water and of the Spirit 4/96 married 5/02 Mama to: 2004 2007 2010 2012 2017 2019 Jan 2, 2024 And many I hope to hold in heaven one day

02-04-2015, 08:59 AM	#3
marbles Rose Garden Our Family Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: South Carolina Posts: 5,047	Re: Unused room There's a blog that's not active anymore but they turned their living room into a dining room. Young House Love, I don't have the link it might just be younghouselove .com but I don't know. You should look over there if you're not sure it can work. Is the couch the only furniture in the room? I have a friend who has a living room that looks very similar and they use theirs as a sort of office. __________________ Mary K wife to Daniel for 16 years mom to 13 year old the Girl and 11 year old the Boy and 8 year old Tiny Almost always posting from my phone.

02-04-2015, 09:27 AM	#5
JoyfulMom Rose Bouquet Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Mississippi Posts: 550	Unused room Dh says its a retaining wall (I think that's what he called it?) so we couldn't knock it out. That was my first thought. He wants to turn it into a bedroom. We don't need another bedroom. I need s p a c e. I feel cramped and it stresses me out when everyone is at home on the weekends. (College kids and sometimes their friends + everyone that still lives at home. I will look for the blog you mentioned. It's sad to me. We have FOUR tvs. It stupid really. When #4 came along he would not sleep with out tv (still won't). When he was diagnosed with autism, I understood why he never slept with out it. So, it's a bad habit we can't get rid of. I've tried everything. He will not sleep with out it. If I get up and turn it off while he's sleeping, I get up to find he got up and turned it back on during the night. So, each of the bedrooms have a tv now. I told Dh last week that I wish we could go back to the way things were before autism. It changed everything. That sounds bad when I read it. What I mean is, I wish I knew how to parent differently back then. We knew nothing about autism and what we were creating by giving in. We didn't have anyone to guide us KWIM? I feel like we are just a weird family that no one gets. Amy Happy & blessed wife for 24 yrs. Joyful mom to five girls, and one boy. __________________ Amy, wife to awesome hubby since 1991. ~A Joyful Mom to six blessings~ Shelby~21 Breanna~18 Madison~16 Christopher~12 Emma Grace~10 Jenna Kate~7 Last edited by JoyfulMom; 02-04-2015 at 09:48 AM. Reason: for typos and adding content

02-04-2015, 09:37 AM	#6
mamacat Rose Garden Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 26,473	Re: Unused room So right now the table where you eat is either in the kitchen or ust off the kitchen in a nook? I would totally make that your dining room then and leave the piano in there too.If there is an alcove off the kitchen where table is now you culd even move the sofa there to make an area for reading or whatever __________________ ~Catherine~ Mama to 5: C W C J S And Grandma to 3: A ,K and baby C

02-04-2015, 09:00 AM	#4
ValiantJoy07 Rose Garden "Take Joy Home, And make a place in thy great heart for her...Joy is the grace we say to God." ~Jean Ingelow~ Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: The Forest Posts: 16,337	Re: Unused room I was wondering that as well, a way to make it more "open concept" to the kitchen at all possible? __________________ Hannah Joy Intuitive People Loving Introvert Married since '05 to Ryan software and web applications developer. Homeschooling Mama to my 5 Joys... dd1 RJ (12/07), dd2 AJ (08/09), dd3 PJ (01/12), ds1 Ziggy (09/15), ds2 Sunny (05/18) Enjoying a Healing Diet to manage SPD and other health challenges. Sorry for the typos and sloppy grammar I don't have a good excuse anymore.

02-04-2015, 09:46 AM	#7
JoyfulMom Rose Bouquet Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Mississippi Posts: 550	Re: Unused room Had to get on the desktop so I can participate better. The living room has: the sofa, a coffee table, a small table and chair set for the little kids (they rarely use it, so I'm considering getting rid of it), a piano, a book shelf and another little shelf that holds a tv for the wii. The table is in my small kitchen and takes up most of the space in the kitchen. Once it's clean, I'll try to remember to snap a pic and share. __________________ Amy, wife to awesome hubby since 1991. ~A Joyful Mom to six blessings~ Shelby~21 Breanna~18 Madison~16 Christopher~12 Emma Grace~10 Jenna Kate~7 Last edited by JoyfulMom; 02-04-2015 at 09:49 AM.

02-04-2015, 10:02 AM	#8
sara1215 Rose Blossom This is my story Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Michigan Posts: 203	Re: Unused room That seems like it would make a perfect dining room! __________________ Sara (36) , Wife to Nick , mom to Ainsley Joy (2/22/09) and Raegan Victoria (1/15/12) TTC one more blessing if it is in God's plan

02-04-2015, 10:23 AM	#9
mamacat Rose Garden Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 26,473	Re: Unused room Would most def move the table in there then and just take out the sofa and coffee table and the little table if you dont use it.Is there a wall in itchen where little table cpuld go in case kids want to be in there while you are? __________________ ~Catherine~ Mama to 5: C W C J S And Grandma to 3: A ,K and baby C

02-04-2015, 11:05 AM	#10
JoyfulMom Rose Bouquet Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Mississippi Posts: 550	Re: Unused room Pretty sure it's a go, now that I feel better about not having an actual living room. Yes, the kid sizes table can go on the kitchen for the littles. Amy Happy & blessed wife for 24 yrs. Joyful mom to five girls, and one boy. ---------- Post added at 12:05 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:42 AM ---------- The dining area of the kitchen. Amy Happy & blessed wife for 24 yrs. Joyful mom to five girls, and one boy. __________________ Amy, wife to awesome hubby since 1991. ~A Joyful Mom to six blessings~ Shelby~21 Breanna~18 Madison~16 Christopher~12 Emma Grace~10 Jenna Kate~7

02-06-2015, 12:26 AM	#11
purple_kangaroo Rose Garden Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Pacific Northwest Posts: 4,621	Re: Unused room Hubby and I were just talking about how we never use our dining room and don't envision ever actually using it to eat in on a regular basis (we have a giant dining table in our kitchen, that's not over carpet). So we want to make our dining room into a sitting room/living area. LOL. __________________ Purple_Kangaroo Seeking truth and understanding. I have 4 precious children: A (born Feb 2001), M (June 2002), E (Aug 2005) and N (Dec 2013). AMEN!

02-06-2015, 07:21 AM	#12
twoplustwo Moderator Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 6,533	Re: Unused room I would totally turn your living room into a dining room! Plus thats so easy - if you end up not liking it, its easy to go back. Doo it! Do it today! (Unless you already did it yesterday!) __________________ ESFJ DYT 3/2, Enneagram 9w8 married to My Guy (2003) mom to: Cherished (dd, 12/2005) Warrior (ds, 07/2007) saved & baptized (2004) Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Matthew 16:16

02-06-2015, 08:35 AM	#13
mamacat Rose Garden Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 26,473	Re: Unused room From looking at size of table seems like may even be able to leave couch in that other room and get rid of coffee table?Is that white appliance in one corner a freezer? __________________ ~Catherine~ Mama to 5: C W C J S And Grandma to 3: A ,K and baby C

02-06-2015, 08:44 AM	#14
marbles Rose Garden Our Family Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: South Carolina Posts: 5,047	Re: Unused room I think that will look great! You could switch them even, put the couch in the kitchen oh unless that's a door? __________________ Mary K wife to Daniel for 16 years mom to 13 year old the Girl and 11 year old the Boy and 8 year old Tiny Almost always posting from my phone.

02-06-2015, 08:56 AM	#15
JoyfulMom Rose Bouquet Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Mississippi Posts: 550	Re: Unused room We haven't done it yet (I'm having a fibromyalgia flare ) Yes that's a freezer. Amy Happy & blessed wife for 24 yrs. Joyful mom to five girls, and one boy. __________________ Amy, wife to awesome hubby since 1991. ~A Joyful Mom to six blessings~ Shelby~21 Breanna~18 Madison~16 Christopher~12 Emma Grace~10 Jenna Kate~7

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