What makes a living room different from the den is how a living room is open for public use and a den is not. In choosing between a living room and a den, one of the greatest considerations is the availability of space. They may come with similarities but when evaluated thoroughly, you can easily identify which is which. Having a living room is a non-negotiable space at home. It is the frontline of the house where guests are catered to and where the household shares space. On the other hand, a den is like a second living room often placed in the house designated for private activities and such. To further know how different they are from one another, we evaluated both according to function, design, formality, location, and flexibility.
Living Room
The living room is the best communal space at home where the household spends most of its time. The term may be quite misleading considering that is not the space where you live your life on a daily basis. It is a room designed for both entertainment and formal occasions. In the earlier days, the living room is mainly for hanging around. It is a space expected to be harmonious and elegant fitting to the personality and taste of the user. In designing a living room, functionality remains to be the first factor to be taken into consideration. If we keep on misunderstanding a living room and a den, the design of the space will not be as accurate as it should be.
Function
Form follows function. It will always be the case. The function of the living room depends on the activities of the household. Most of the common activities include napping, sitting, resting, watching television, or reading. Once the function of the living room is defined, you will know what furnishings to dominate the space with. It would be best to make room for other activities too. Determining the function of the space will help in making the space more functional for the household and guests. Apart from identifying the function, one should be well-acquainted with the spaces it is about to cover. As the public space for hanging out and catering to guests, the living room works well in bringing the people together in an open and airy space.
Design
The standard design of a living room is having a seating area surrounding a table or a fireplace. It is what makes a living room a living room. Without this furniture, you will question whether or not a space is a living room. It is a space mostly about exhibiting the character and personality of the household. Its design reflects the taste and preferences of those who are living under the same roof. It may be quite difficult to identify the difference between the living room and a den but the vibe and environment will never lie. The living room is where you will see an exhibit of collectibles, interests, and even photographs. The design makes the space feels more like home. By the sight of the living room, you can already know that it is a living space for lounging and resting. It all depends on the design and vibe of the space.
Formality
When it comes to the formality of the space, living rooms are more formal than dens. Since they are the frontline of the house, it is required to be all tidied up and organized at all times. The space should always be prepared to house guests, parties, and dinners. It is a space coordinated to the kitchen and the dining area. If a house is given both a living room and a den, a living room is desired to be formal in design. There is path and order in the design with the way they blend well with the entirety of the living room.
Location
Photo from WayfairLocation-wise, the living room is accessible as soon as you step into the foyer of the house. They can be seen easily and one can easily identify that the living room is the space for housing guests. As the first space seen inside the house, it should be welcoming and inviting when it comes to the vibe of the environment. It establishes the functionality of the space. More than just being accessible to the guests, the living room is an open space for the household too. Basic activities such as reading, lounging, and talking can be done. It may be an ideal location for all the other activities but the living room’s order and organization must remain maintained.
Flexibility
In terms of flexibility, living rooms are responsible for a variety of duties. At times, they can also be used as a guest bedroom, dining room, and even study area. Compared to having a den, a living room has enough room for other activities and it is the ideal space to do tasks more comfortably. It may seem to be the best space to work on these activities but apparently, it is also the reason why it is the most cluttered space. Having a cluttered and messy space is not the best way to entertain the guests and household. Thus, ensure that it is maintained as much as it is used on a daily basis.
Den
By the sound of it, a den is often an enclosed space where the family gathers and spends time together without the need of engaging to the other space of the house. Most houses have a den located in the basement where it is beyond the natural ground line. In others, It is commonly mistaken as a living room because of its similarities in terms of the furniture and uses the space is accompanied with. A den is a space that is built and composed of furniture that allows the household to do whatever interests them. Whether it be in terms of entertainment, relaxation, or even gathering, whatever floats the boat of the household.
Function
A den serves multiple functions. It can be a man cave, private study, entertainment room, or just a simple private room for gatherings. In some cases, it can also be a room for guests to lounge and sleep when they have no more room to crash. It attends to the other needs of the household for activities that can be rather than at home than heading outdoors. It may be often mistaken as a living room but its fundamental difference is how a den serves its privacy to the other spaces of the house. It is all about having room for more personal and confidential pressing matters to attend to.
Design
The design of a den is more flexible as compared to the living room. The living room design has a standard layout of having a couch, coffee table, side table, and lampshades. On the other hand, a den is designed on a more personal note. The space can work with different types of furniture often found in a bedroom, living room, entertainment room, and even kitchen. It is a space that the household will find amusing to spend time in considering how it is composed of the most interesting elements the household is found of. The den is like an activity area where personal and family matters can be attended to.
Formality
A den is more relaxed and free-flowing. There is no such thing as design standards in order to justify that a specific space is a den. It is more like a comfortable room where all the other activities for personal time and attending to personal affairs are housed. This is an ideal space for closed-door conversations considering how a living room is a public communal space acting as the core of the house. It is a more casual space that provides a sufficient area to think, relax or be productive.
Location
The location of the den is rather hidden than exposed. It is any room at home, small or big, that has enough room for a variety of activities. A den may be located alongside the kitchen and the living room. In some cases, it is located in the basement for a more acoustic-friendly space to house activities. Compared to the living room, a den is not the first thing you see as you enter the house. In fact, they are often for personal use. Thus, its location should be somewhere private and not that accessible to the guests. It is a public space but is mostly exclusive to the household.
Flexibility
In terms of flexibility, we can conclude that a den permits more activities than a living room. Its designation is not just a living space but as well as a personal space shared by the entire household. Having dens at home is ideal in order to allow the household to have a safe space in times when guests are around for a party or dinner. It should always be the household’s welfare to be the first priority in designing and designating spaces for a house.
