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.

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 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.

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).

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 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.

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

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 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.

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

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

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.

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