THE art of conversation seems to be dying. With everyone focusing on the technology of texting, cellphones and emails we are ironically less and less plugged into the human race. Conversation, especially within a family unit, offers so many opportunities for molding young minds and connecting with others. Life lessons are learned, ideas are exchanged and social skills are honed. Face-to-face conversation is important and necessary.
Once everyone is out the door on their way to school or work you have no power over how they communicate in the world. At home, though, you can create inviting conversational areas that will induce casual conversation and time spent with family.
The seating area needs to be comfy and casual. The living room pictured here has a great conversational vignette. The furniture is invitingly cosy, which is important to make people want to hang for awhile and talk. (While the white upholstery is pretty I'd opt for something more family friendly.) Lots of toss cushions and furniture throws add to the homey atmosphere. An ultra plush area rug definitely invites one to kick off their shoes and stick around a while.
There are lots of choices in sectionals that allow you to rearrange the seating configuration so that everyone has a cosy spot to sit and talk. The furniture arrangement needs to induce conversation so all pieces need to face each other in a casual, non-interrogational manner. One long sofa along a wall facing out into the room or facing another wall won't cut it. Opt for smaller pieces, like loveseats and armchairs that will allow an intimate conversational grouping. Think about the people that will be using this furniture. Teenagers, for instance, might be more comfy sitting on the floor on a large floor cushion or lying on a chaise at the end of the sofa while conversing with others. Grandma might enjoy an ottoman on which to elevate her feet and so on.
Along with physical comfort, the area must be visually appealing. Even the most luxurious sofa isn't going to make a dark, cold basement appealing. This visual appeal will be based on your style and tastes but a casual space will usually win out over a stuffy, formal setting when it comes to family conversation. As in our feature photo, accessories like wicker accents, fresh flowers and stylish vases are attractive but not distractive. The lovely blue Dulux Australia wall colour is reminiscent of denim which is definitely a casual, comfy choice. Blue is also a calming colour which is conducive to a relaxed atmosphere. Stay away from busy wallpaper or contrasting geometric designs that may cause visual distraction and subliminal agitation.
Scented candles can be a nice touch, especially if they are reminiscent of the comforts of home. Cinnamon spice, apple pie, cookie or coffee scented candles can be very inviting. Stay away from anything with a strong floral scent so as not to overpower the senses and possibly cause allergy irritation.
As hard as it might be, the conversation area should be devoid of distractions like television, cellphones and computers. We are so used to outside noise it's hard to get used to complete silence. Soft background music from a CD can fill the voice and be enjoyable but just be sure the stereo doesn't become a bone of contention for type of music being played. If you can foresee this being a problem then leave it out of the equation. A gentle water fountain would be a nice relaxing sound if the space seems too quiet.
If it helps to have a reason to gather the family together then a good old fashioned board game or card game might do the trick.
Conversation groupings don't necessarily have to be in a living room or den. A dining table or kitchen table can be a good place to sit and talk over coffee and cake. In the master bedroom two comfortable tub chairs and a small table set in a corner can be a great place to touch base at the end of the day. Wherever your family seems to naturally gather is probably a good place to start.
connieoliver@shaw.ca
