Home design- Is it a good idea to do away with formal Living Rm

[Anonymous]

We are in the design phase for building our home. Our teenage kids think it is dumb to have a formal living room. So we are having a nice size library with a seating area. We are using the space initially allocated for Library for a bedroom. We are also building an elevator shaft. So would it look silly to have a bedroom in the first floor when we are doing the shaft for elevator as well. What other purpose can be for that space? I have thought of study for the teens, media ? play area? Please share your thoughts on this.
TIA

[Anonymous]

I think a bedroom on the first floor is a good idea - for older relatives visiting etc.

You can always make it into a den at some point for your kids, if you need to. Its just about furniture and decor nothing structural.

[Anonymous]

I think so, but I also dislike formal dining rooms.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't buy a house without a formal living room, well unless it was tiny. Really, teenagers deciding??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't buy a house without a formal living room, well unless it was tiny. Really, teenagers deciding??

That was my reaction as well....who cares what the kids think, in 2 years they will decide that they did want the formal living room after all.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't purchase a house without a living room. Something to consider if you plan on selling at some point since I'm sure others feel similarly. If you plan on staying there forever not such a big deal....but still wouldn't base design choices off of the kids opinions.

[Anonymous]

How big is this house. If you are over a certain size, formal living room, dining room and library or office are required

[Anonymous]

I do not like a formal living room and would definitely buy a house without one. My current home has one and its vacant. I'm not buying furniture for some room we'll never use. I'm turning ours into a playroom. A first floor office would also be a good idea.
I'm mid thirties FWIW.

[Anonymous]

We designed a mini living room. Essentially a sitting area/library off the main entrance. It has French doors that can be left open. Works for us.

[Anonymous]

Our "living room" is the kids' play room. After they grow up, it'll be our library/reading room. We're casual so guests just hang out in our family room + kitchen (open plan).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We designed a mini living room. Essentially a sitting area/library off the main entrance. It has French doors that can be left open. Works for us.

I like this best.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't purchase a house without a living room. Something to consider if you plan on selling at some point since I'm sure others feel similarly. If you plan on staying there forever not such a big deal....but still wouldn't base design choices off of the kids opinions.

I agree.

We actually use our formal living room quite a bit.

And kids, especially teens, do not have good life perspective on something like this.

Let their input be focused on things that are easy to change, like paint/curtains in their rooms, or foosball vs air hockey table.

[Anonymous]

Building a house is a big investment. I'd consider a smaller sitting area/room and larger, open place great room/family room space. I wouldn't eliminate a living room altogether unless it would easily be converted back at resale time.