According to LTS Builders, northeastern Pennsylvania's largest custom-home builder, many family room trends that you see today began about 30 years ago. A sunken family room can visually separate the family room from an adjoining kitchen or dining area, while leaving the overall area open for interaction. Family room design trends also are a function of who will live in the home. That's usually because the Mom wants to be able to see her young children, especially while preparing meals. But that is not always the case when parents have teenage children.
Many parents opt for a family room that is completely or partially separated from the eating area.
This allows each room to be used for different things at the same time, and it eliminates noise and smells, like burning wood or food, that easily travel in open spaces. As an empty-nester myself, I enjoy burning candles and having the smell permeate the house, thanks to an open floor plan. For buyers moving into their second or third new home, a family room that is designed differently from the last house is usually desired, unless the family has children whose needs may dictate otherwise. Whether it is big toys or equipment, new home owners have lots of things, besides furniture, to put into the busiest room in the home. Some buyers want a computer in the family room for games for children or for surfing the Web.