Parlor spaces, also called reception rooms, have existed because the Victorian period. After the early 1800s, parlor spaces became a component in middle and upper-class American homes. They are natural meeting place for visitors and families to delight in an entertaining afternoon or evening. Because parlors reflect each household’s personality, much idea enters into furnishings and style. Decor, vintage art work, grand pianos, and other ornamental elements, such as sculptures and vases, are commonplace in today’s parlor rooms.

Modern Parlor Rooms Are More Multi-Functional

Unlike the living space, a contemporary parlor may still have durable upright seats rather than sinking couches for lounging. Parlors are typically more low tech than a living or family space, generally without a television as a focal point.

Considering that they typically link to the main entrance, parlors can also work as a waiting room. It works to hold visitors in a parlor to avoid ushering them into a dinner or houseparty that isn’t quite ready. Family pictures may still grace the walls however, these days, noteworthy artwork is normally hung in the interior of your house, where it will be delighted in regularly by the family.

A parlor can be a peaceful place to take calls, read, or work. And, while not their initial function, a large parlor space might even be repurposed as a visitor space, house office, or reading location.

” I’ve dealt with tasks where the parlor is become a library, a small living room and a playroom,” McGinness states. ” In a recent project of mine, in a modern house updated from a colonial, the room that would have been the parlor ended up being a mahjong recreation room.”

Design Ideas for a Parlor Room

When designing a parlor space, Scheck suggests producing a relaxing atmosphere to both welcome guests and build a functional space your family will use. “Think sufficient seating in a variety of textured fabrics with several lighting sources (lamps, sconces, etc) to create a warm ambiance,” she says.

Parlors are also the best chance to go vibrant with paint or use patterned wallpaper. “Some of our preferred ways to achieve this is through color drenching the space, using lacquer paint to develop shine and depth in the space, or wallpapering the ceiling for an unexpected method to make your parlor pop,” Scheck explains.

Because parlors traditionally do not have electronics, including integrated speakers into the ceiling can be an elegant upgrade. Playing music in the background can help visitors set the state of mind for the celebrations to follow.

Is a Parlor Worth It?

If you’re building a new home, possibilities are that a formal parlor isn’t on the top of your essential list. Given that numerous families repurpose the existing parlor areas in older houses, there can be much better uses for the square video footage in a brand-new build.

McGinness says the positive features of a parlor should not be neglected. “Architecturally, they still exist as we take care of older houses, remodel and revamp existing spaces for our modern lives,” she states. Because parlors rarely have innovation, they a blank slate. Maintaining them in their original state can assist a house retain its regal and classic appeal. On the other hand, remodeling them can make for a DIY job that enables a family to leave their individualized mark on the location.

Whether for regular or periodic use, parlors are definitely worth having. Building one where it does not currently exist might be less rewarding.