The family room is where the family sits out, has fun and unwinds. So it has to be a very special place, right? Needless to say, your family room – or den – reflects the personality of what your family is like and, ultimately, who you are.

First things first, you have to look at the room’s location. A lot of air and sunshine for the family should top the priority list. A dingy, miserable hole is no good, believe me, as it only serves to dampen your family’s morale.

Now for the C word. Now what’s that? C is for comfort. So before you start buying nick-knacks and other things for your la chambre de la famille, make sure that the couch you buy at that furniture outlet round the corner or the nearest shopping mall is comfortable.

If you have small children you might go for something that’s both frilly and bouncy apart from being really really comfy.

And stain-resistant as well. Why so, you may well ask. That’s because a healthy, happy family eats not just in the dining room.

Recall the number of times that you have reached out for the packet of chips while watching TV. You’re your nook so that everyone can eat and drink together.

Which means that your couch has to be durable as well as easy to wipe clean. Also ensure that your carpets are of a relatively dark color so that the stains won’t reveal themselves.

You might want to get creative with the floor space of your family den by designating certain ‘utility’ areas. A small chair and table in a neglected corner with a tiny table lamp adds to the warmth of the room and also serves as a nice games’ spot for your children.

An easy chair or a rocking chair is great for the bookworm of the family. Also make sure you have placemats to store in your drawers (buy large and ‘roomy’ ones) so that you can pull them up next to your coffee table for an impromptu meal.

Since TV viewing is among the more popular activities in the family, make sure that you have a cabinet – preferably placed in the center of the room – large enough to store the myriad DVDs and videos that your children like to watch.

You might also consider investing in a CD album – available in a Chinese shop for as little as $25 – to store all the CDs and DVDs so that the remaining space may be conserved for larger, more cumbersome items like the DVD player and video games.

If your room is large enough, you can even think of accommodating a mini fridge in which you can stock juices and other beverages, particularly for a hot day.

Finally, you might want to add that ‘homely’ touch by swathing your walls with warm and colorful wall-paper. A family room is also the place to hang up your family photographs. Have fun!