The living room – a multifunctional landing zone for a variety of tasks ranging from book reading, to movie night, to dance parties. Needing so much flexibility in function, living rooms often become spaces that are catchalls for accessories and décor, such as blankets, the popcorn bowl, the macaroni picture frame, and the bowling trophy. But your living room should also be a place to reset, relax, and recharge. So let’s learn how to design the perfect living space.

There’s a lot of thought that goes into designing a new family home, from the design elements to the function. You want to design a home based on how your family functions now, but also look to the future and how your family’s needs will change as the family gets older or larger. With this in mind, I’m going to share 4 tips for designing the perfect custom family home.