Do you know where your children are? If you create a welcoming space filled with comfortable pieces from Star Furniture for your kids and their friends, the answer will usually be “at home.” Whether you’ve always dreamed of having a home that’s a lively center for community or you’re looking to balance safety and independence for your older children and teenagers, designing a ‘hangout house’ is a great solution. These homes are the go-to destination when your kids and their friends are looking for a space to socialize – and sometimes even study. Having this kind of space helps your kids develop their independence and have a sense of freedom while also having trusted adults around if they need them.
A hangout house to call their own will encourage your kids to spend more time with their friends and build those relationships at a time when loneliness and isolation are major concerns. Ultimately, designing this type of home is about intentionally creating community. Welcoming your kids’ friends without being overbearing makes your house a place where they’ll want to spend more time. Your attitude and approach are the most important, but thoughtful design helps set the tone. Creating a fun and functional space that balances access to the rest of the house with privacy lets you support your kids by becoming their social destination.
So, you want to be THE neighborhood destination for your kids and their friends? Start with these tips from the design experts at Star Furniture and you’ll be on your way to hangout house status in no time!
Make it Fun
A hangout house is a space for kids to have fun together, and the design should reflect that. Some attention to your entryway and the outside of your house can help create a welcoming feel from the first moment your kids and their friends arrive. If you have a front porch, add a porch swing to offer an option outdoor hangout space. These details send the message to neighbors and guests that you’re eager to socialize and welcome them into your home. When it comes to paint and rug colors in the entryway, warmer tones tend to feel especially welcoming for visiting friends.
In the hangout space itself, make sure to get your child or teen’s input. They’re more likely to use it if it reflects their own personality. This is also a great opportunity for kids to start developing and exploring their own decor and interior design tastes. Bold paint colors and accent walls are a great way to make the space feel fun while being relatively easy to update as your child’s preferences change. Shop together for posters and wall art that highlight your child’s favorite music, movies and tv shows. If you opt for a neutral paint color, add pops of color elsewhere, like a patterned rug or playful pouf.
Yes, your kids deserve a well-designed, designated space to spend time. However, you’ll want to avoid any furniture pieces that make the space feel too precious. A hangout house won’t feel relaxing if kids are worried about staining upholstery or breaking fragile decor. Look for washable rugs and couches in easy-to-clean fabrics, and avoid glass coffee tables that attract smudges and fingerprints.
Make it Private
Older kids and teens both want and need their own space. Keeping this in mind, look for a space where your kids and their friends can enjoy some privacy and independence. Depending on the size and layout of your home, you may need to get creative to find the ideal spot for your designated hangout space.
If you have a playroom your kids used when they were younger, repurposing this room is a natural choice. A finished basement, or part of one, is also a great choice since being on a different floor gives kids and teens plenty of privacy. Many households have formal dining rooms that they use rarely, if ever. If you’re one of them, consider repurposing this room into a hangout space that will see much more traffic. An infrequently used guest room can also work well. Swapping a traditional bed for a Murphy bed can give kids and teens space to gather while keeping the room available for overnight guests when you have them.
Designing a hangout house doesn’t require an extra room in the home. If you don’t have the extra space, making your child’s room more hangout-friendly is also a great solution. Adding more seating is usually the most important design update here. Depending on the size of the room, you might be able to add a small couch or armchair. A compact ottoman or bedroom bench is a space-saving option that usually offers additional storage. If you don’t have much extra space for new furniture, kids are often happy to sit on the floor. Add a thick and comfortable rug and plenty of throw pillows or poufs to make this a comfortable choice.
If you designed your child’s bedroom when they were younger and haven’t updated it since, turning it into a hangout space is a good opportunity for a refresh. New paint, pillows, and wall art can help turn the room into a space your child is happy to welcome their friends into.
Designating a specific hangout space isn’t just about privacy. It also helps control clutter since your children and their guests will have a place to leave their belongings. Keeping everything contained in one room or area means the kids can be as messy or tidy as they’d like within their own space. Ideally, this will reduce conflict over leaving a mess in shared parts of the house.
Make it Accessible
Privacy is great, but your kids shouldn’t feel cut off from the rest of the household. Growing kids and teens usually have big appetites, so snacks are a great way to bring them out of their separate space. Easy access to a selection of snacks makes kids feel welcome, and visits to the kitchen are a good time to check in without invading the designated hangout area.
You’ll want to think about both the snacks themselves and the dining space you offer. Depending on your preferences, you might invite visiting kids to stay for dinner, serve homemade baked goods, or let your kids serve themselves from the kitchen. Designating a bin or shelf for snacks can be an easy way to let your kids eat as much as they’d like without accidentally depleting your dinner ingredients.
Especially if you’d rather keep food out of the hangout space, be sure to offer a comfortable and casual place to eat. Lining your kitchen island with bar stools creates a convenient spot for snacks and quick meals. A breakfast nook in or near your kitchen can double as a place for teens to snack. If you’ll be using your kitchen table, make sure the chairs are comfortable, and add seat cushions if they aren’t.
Make it Functional
Each friend group and individual kid is unique, so consider how your kids and teens like to spend their time and choose furniture accordingly. Like with decor, try to make this a collaborative process with your kids. They’re the experts when it comes to what features their friends are most likely to use. You’ll also need to consider the size of your space. If you have a large finished basement, you might be able to offer several areas with furniture for different activities. In a smaller space, you’ll need to be strategic about choosing furniture that works for multiple purposes.
Seating is always a good place to start. Ideally, offer a mix of seating, from big comfy sectional sofas to smaller chairs that are easy to move around. This gives the group a natural spot to gather and relax along with the flexibility to adjust the setting arrangements as needed.
If your kids enjoy watching movies, TV shows, or sports with their friends, consider setting up a home theater. First, set up either a projector and screen or a regular TV, then add lots of seating. Depending on the room, you might choose one or two sofas, a row of armchairs, or a set of reclining home theater seats.
Check out these options for a functional hangout house, depending on your child’s hobbies:
- If your teens love video games, gaming chairs and multiple screens will be the highlight of the space.
- For kids who love music, consider investing in great speakers or a sound system.
- Children who like to do homework together will appreciate study-friendly furniture, like a writing desk with drawers for writing utensils and notebooks.
- Friends who study as a group might like a large whiteboard or chalkboard or a wall with chalkboard paint.
Regardless of their specific interests, today’s kids and teens almost certainly care about gadgets and wifi access. Make sure the wifi signal is strong in the room they’ll be using and add a wifi extender if it isn’t. The room should have plenty of outlets for everyone to charge phones and other devices as needed.
Flexible lighting is also important when designing a hangout house. Especially in a space like a finished basement that doesn’t get natural light, offer enough lights to keep the space from feeling gloomy. Opt for multiple lamps, a mix of overhead and task lighting fixtures, and dimmer switches to give the kids plenty of lighting options. Kids should be able to easily switch between bright lighting for homework and low lighting for watching a movie.
Make it Parent-Friendly
The most important thing about a hangout house is creating community. If you’re taking the time to design an intentional space for your kids to spend time with their friends, you probably care about building strong relationships, both for your kids and yourself. Making other parents feel welcome in your home helps create and strengthen your friendships.
Until you have teenagers who drive, parents will usually be picking their kids up when they’re done hanging out at your house. Offering a cup of coffee and having a comfortable spot to sit down and chat for a few minutes can go a long way toward making your home feel like a social hub for you as well as your kids. Whether you opt for stylish and comfortable stools at your kitchen island or a sofa across from a coffee table, thoughtful design choices can help you form and nourish parent friendships.
Hosting informal gatherings of both parents and kids is also a great way to create community and reinforce the idea that your home is a welcoming place. A backyard fire pit is an easy excuse to have people over in a relaxed and cozy atmosphere that’s fun for all ages. Make your living room or other entertaining spaces as welcoming for other adults as the hangout space is for the kids using similar ideas. Provide plenty of comfortable seating that suits the type of gathering, and choose decor that reflects your own personality and preferences.
Design a Kid-Friendly Hangout House with Star Furniture
Making your home into a place where your kids can comfortably hangout with their friends lets them be independent in a safe and encouraging space. By designing a hangout house, you’re signaling to your child that their creativity and expressiveness matter! An inspired and open-minded approach makes this kind of design possible, but so does the right furniture. Whether you’re designing a room from scratch or updating an outdated space, Star Furniture has the stylish and functional selection you’re looking for. Start shopping with us today!
If you liked this blog, check out this one about how to start out on your redecorating project.