Dive Into Next-Level Lounging With A Sunken Living Room
Imagine stepping down into a cozy, intimate space where you can relax, converse, and lounge with friends and family. That's the beauty of a sunken living room. This unique architectural feature creates a lowered lounge area that feels cut off from the rest of the home. Sunken living rooms foster connection through their intimate vibe and ability to delineate a space within open floor plans. From mid-century retro chic to sleek modern elegance, the design options are endless. Ready to take your living room lounging to the next level? Dive in as we explore the allure of sunken living rooms.
What Is a Sunken Living Room?
A sunken living room, also known as a conversation pit, is a living space that is recessed below the main floor level of a home. Unlike a standard living room with one uniform floor height, a sunken living room has an area that is lowered between 12-18 inches below the rest of the floor. This creates a pit or hole effect, hence the alternate name "conversation pit."
Sunken living rooms first became popular in the 1950s and 60s as part of the mid-century modern design movement. Homeowners loved the intimate, cozy feel and ability to delineate the living room within open concept homes. Today, sunken living rooms are back in style thanks to their vintage flair and inviting ambiance that encourages connection.
Benefits of a Sunken Living Room
There are many excellent reasons to consider incorporating a sunken living room in your home design:
- Creates an intimate, cozy atmosphere perfect for conversing or lounging
- Fosters conversation, connection, and quality time between friends and family
- Delineates the living space in an open floor plan
- Adds architectural interest and a focal point to the home
- Feels like a nest or private escape cut off from the rest of the home
The sunken layout inherently brings people together, promoting quality time and conversation. The area feels more secluded and sheltered thanks to the lowered layout defined by steps or subtle railings. It immediately stands out and creates intrigue in an open concept home.
Design Considerations for Sunken Living Rooms
If you're considering adding a sunken living room, there are several important factors to weigh during the design process:
Shape and Layout
Sunken living rooms come in many shapes and sizes. Common configurations include circular, square, rectangular, and freeform layouts. The shape you choose will depend on your space and personal preferences.
You can either build a sunken living room from scratch, which allows full customization, or retrofit an existing living room by lowering part of the floor. The latter is often more cost effective. Some homes also add a subtle raised border around the perimeter of the sunken space to further define it.
Depth and Dimensions
Typical sunken living rooms are lowered between 12-18 inches below the main floor level, but depths can range from a few inches to several feet. Consider the overall proportions of the space when deciding on depth - you don't want the ceiling to feel too low or cramped.
As for width and length, make sure there is adequate square footage for your furniture arrangement and traffic flow. Stairs or built-in ramps will be needed to safely access the sunken lounge.
Flooring
Flooring is an excellent way to define the sunken living room zone. Carpet, tile, wood, concrete, or natural stone can be used within the recessed space. Incorporate inviting textures like a plush area rug. Just ensure the flooring complements the rest of the home and won't pose tripping hazards.
Decorating a Sunken Living Room
When it comes to decorating a sunken living room, play up the cozy, inviting vibe with these tips:
Furniture Arrangement
Sectionals or L-shaped sofas are great for sunken living rooms, maximizing the conversation-friendly seating. Ottomans, benches, and even floor pillows also encourage interaction. Arrange furniture to face each other and the focal point. Swivel chairs let you pivot as needed.
Lighting Tips
A sunken living room needs layers of light: Ambient overhead lighting, task lighting, and accent lighting like wall sconces or pendant lamps. Incorporate natural light through picture windows or skylights to prevent a gloomy cave-like feeling.
Styles and Themes
Play up the nostalgic mid-century roots of sunken living rooms with retro patterns, muted color palettes, and clean lines. But you can also give this classic element a modern, rustic, industrial, or bohemian twist.
Incorporate greenery and plants to liven up the space. Area rugs, throw pillows, and cozy textiles make the sunken pit ultra-comfy. The decor options are endless!
Integrating a Sunken Living Room
To help your sunken living room seamlessly blend with the rest of your home, keep these tips in mind:
Adjoining Spaces
Open concept homes can incorporate a sunken living room that flows right into the kitchen, dining room, or entryway. This allows an uninterrupted sightline.
You can also extend a sunken living room to an outdoor patio or deck, blurring the line between indoor and outdoor lounging areas.
Everyday Use and Maintenance
Vacuuming, cleaning, and accessing a sunken space take a bit more effort than a standard living room. Safety is also a priority, so install sturdy handrails on stairs and light the space well to prevent tripping hazards.
Heating and cooling a sunken area may also require separate vents or fans. But the ambiance and style payoff is worth the extra maintenance!
Should You Get a Sunken Living Room?
Hopefully we've showcased the many perks and design possibilities of sunken living rooms. But is this architectural feature right for your home? Let's recap the key pros and cons:
Pros
- Creates an intimate, inviting lounge area
- Fosters conversation and connection
- Adds architectural interest
- Delineates space in open floor plans
- Endless design possibilities
- More expensive and labor intensive to construct
- Can make furniture arrangement tricky
- Safety hazards like tripping if not well-lit
- Not ideal for mobility-impaired individuals
- Harder to clean and maintain
The best candidates for sunken living rooms are those wanting a conversational focal point in an open concept home. Retro, eclectic, or contemporary designs will benefit most from the wow-factor.
Just weigh the pros, cons, and your overall lifestyle and aesthetic. We hope this deep dive has inspired you to embrace next-level lounging possibilities!