Perhaps it was the Patriots having a simply horrible, terrible, no-good, very bad day, but it felt good to sink into the couch on Sunday and Pretend TB12 was someone else. (Maybe Eli!?) If you've been reading along over the last 8 years you likely know that I'm someone who lives for the outdoors. That said, there's nothing I love more after a day on the slopes or in the woods than a hot shower and plopping down on the couch for some racing, football or UFC. I'm easy to please. Today we're going to talk a bit about a shift in the housing arena and where we're choosing to plop!

We've talked about the disappearance (or obsolescence) of the formal dining room. Kitchen bars and more casual dining settings are taking over for their convenience and wide ranging utility. Now it seems we're doubling down on the living room. One of the reasons for this is truly based on the fading dining room. For many busy families (like ours growing up) there's simply no practical time for the family to sit down and dine together. The shift is moving towards a more comfortable space where, after all of the day's craziness has subsided, the family can re-connect.

For a short time I lived with 2 other friends in a shared home. One of my favorite features of that place was the fact that there were 2 living rooms. The home was a split-level ranch so upstairs, off the kitchen and dining room, was a room with a couch, a couple chairs and a stereo. At least once a week the three of us would end up in that room, scotch in hand, and just relax with some music and chat about our lives. Two of us were business owners. The other guy was getting ready to move to San Francisco for a new job. There was never a shortage of topics to talk about. The absence of a television was simply sublime.

Downstairs in that house was a large screen TV and a big wrap-around couch. Next to the couch were 2 comfy chairs and an exercise bike. This was the place where we would watch movies, catch up on our favorite Netflix shows, play guitar or just hang out. It was cooler in the summertime, darker for watching movies and generally a welcome respite from the world. Little did we know we were enjoying the fruits of a growing trend.

Today many homes are being built with this sort of dual-lounging areas lifestyle in mind. Lots of homes, including where we currently live, have a "sitting room" or more formal living room and a "lounging room" for the more serious relaxing (and watching of stuff). The sitting room is really designed for guests and being able to enjoy conversation with friends and family. There is no television and the seating is specifically designed for making eye contact with your friends and engaging in conversation. The "lazy lounge" is meant for shutting off the world and simply being a bump on a log. I think we can all appreciate that!

One very interesting trend being seen in the new construction realm is the shrinking of bedroom sizes. It seems that folks designing and building their own homes are realizing if they minimize the utility of the bedroom (and focus on the "sleep" part) they can expand the home in other areas and make room for a lounge-type area for the whole family to enjoy. Kids (and adults!) don't need to be holed up in their rooms staring at their screens by themselves all night. These people are realizing that even if they are just watching Seinfeld reruns, at least the family is together.

"The size of these lazy rooms is insignificant when it comes to their value and utility," notes Badger Peabody & Smith Realty (formerly Badger Realty) owner, Andy Smith. "Converting a small bedroom with plenty of comfy seating can be just as relaxing and comforting as a large living room," he added.

This is also a space where you can be a bit more creative with the décor. If you have kids, feel free to encourage their input on the design, color, decorations, etc. for this room. You want everyone to feel welcome here and getting everyone's input is a great idea. If it is just you and your partner, this room can also be a sidestep from the overall home's theme. Remember that this is a room just for you. Since it is your escape from the world, don't consider the world's opinion of how you've set it up.

I love the idea of a second living room and I simply adore the idea of a living area with no TV. If this is something you think you would enjoy, take a look around the house and see where you could incorporate your very own lazy living lounge. Maybe it's time to kick that college graduate out so you can create your oasis. Happy lounging!