Family Room Remodeling Tips

Increasingly the term "family room" is interchangeable with "great room" and "living room." To make yours really great for living, consider these remodeling tips put together by PSNC Energy. Change the look and feel of your family room with new flooring. Don't just replace carpeting with wood floors or ceramic tile. Be creative and mix and match materials. Use the materials to distinguish different areas of your family room, like ceramic tile in the bar area and plush carpeting near the entertainment center. Remember, radiant floor heating isn't just for bathrooms. Keep feet toasty warm with an energy-efficient, natural gas radiant heat system. Why just change the color of your walls when you can change the materials on them? For a twist on 60s paneling, install wood pieces on a wall in a unique pattern. Use corrugated steel as wall covering with real texture. If structurally feasible, cut out niches in walls and line them with granite, glass or wood. Make sure your family room is wired to take advantage of current and emerging technologies. At the very least, set it up to handle the demands of home theater, computers, CD players, and multiple telephone lines. Anticipating the locations of the equipment will help you provide sufficient circuits, minimize visible wiring and position electrical outlets and phone jacks. (And when you buy new appliances for use in your family room, make sure they're Energy Star labeled for energy efficiency.) Maximize storage with built-ins, shelves and cabinets to keep books, magazines, tapes, CDs, board games, and toys out of sight but within reach. If space is tight, find furniture pieces with storage potential, such as a coffee table with a shelf below or a chest that can serve as a footrest and a storage unit. Make your family room a true entertainment center. Don't just go for the big screen TV. Add game tables (particularly those that can serve multiple purposes with removable covers). Set up zones for various activities. Include a desk where homework or crafts can be worked on. Set up exercise equipment – you'll be sure to use it if it's in a space you see and use every day. Include a ballet bar or a space in which to practice a musical instrument. Where people gather, food follows, so provide convenient access to food and beverages. If the kitchen isn't close, consider equipping your family room with a bar sink, microwave oven, and small refrigerator. Seek out natural light. If possible install skylights or add windows. Even if the family room is in the basement, egress windows can funnel in sunlight. Install ENERGY STAR labeled fixtures. Or, replace existing bulbs with compact fluorescent light bulbs that burn less hot than halogens or incandescent bulbs and use less energy to operate. A natural gas fireplace creates ambiance and a visual center of attention for your family room. Choose a mantle design or built-ins that allow you to display collectibles, books or art. Two-way fireplaces between a family room and another space enable you to spread the ambiance throughout your home. If you have a formal living room adjacent to your family room, consider combining the spaces. About Four Brothers Painting Co: Four Brothers painting is based in Charlotte, NC. 24 hour service available. Licensed, Bonded & Insured Serving surrounding counties since 2005. Locally Owned and Operated by Four Brothers. Best prices in town and guaranteed!