With the holidays just around the corner, we’re highlighting the area of your Trumark home where extended family will catch up, presents will be unwrapped, and memories will be made. We’re talking about the great room. The central hub to any at-home gathering, this is where the magic happens. As you prepare for the months ahead, you will want to start with this bright and airy space. In need of inspiration? Read on for tips and tricks on how to tap into the greatness of your great room.

Invite your guests to sit down and relax in an intimate space. While it is tempting to push your furniture against the wall, consider a floating space plan, like the one seen here in Residence 2 at Origin at The Collective in Manteca, CA. Position your seating around a focal point, such as a fireplace or large window. The close arrangement will provide the idyllic setting for family and friends to share stories over appetizers, cocktails, or coffee.

The key to the perfect great room layout is separating spaces according to their different functions. A strategically placed sofa will divide the area into seating, eating, and cooking areas. This design in Plan 2 at the Arbors at Edencrest in Escondido, CA accomplishes just that. Here, the sofa faces away from the kitchen, allowing for people to pass behind it to the kitchen area or make their way to the backyard. With this setup, your guests can travel with ease, adding an uninterrupted flow to your party.

Let a common color, texture, or wood type bring together all parts of your great room. In Plan 3 at Navarra at Rancho Palma in San Bernardino, CA, tawny natural weaving is seen in every part of the room. This homogenous look carries your eyes through different areas of the space, making it appear even larger. Your guests will appreciate the theming as it will allow them to see this part of your home as a whole, so they can easily identify where they want to gravitate to next.

Open up your space by literally opening up your space. Position your indoor furniture in coordination with your patio furniture for a polished approach to indoor/outdoor living. As exemplified in Plan 3 at Harmony in Sunnyvale, CA, this space plan connects the great room to the great outdoors. That’s the best part about California living, the ability to slide open the door to create more space for your gathering.

Varying hues of cream, white, beige, and taupe make this home’s great room at The Strand at Loch Lomond Marina in San Rafael, CA even greater. A soft palette is ideal for visually expanding the space available in a room. Using neutral colors throughout your home makes planning for parties and the holidays easier because it operates as a blank canvas. When you begin to add in seasonal decor, you’ll find that almost nothing will clash with your space’s usual look.

Now that you’ve got all the inspiration you need to live Tru in your great room, we would love to see what you do with your space! Get featured on our social media by uploading your photo on Instagram and using the hashtag #LiveTru.

Trumark is now serving the state of Colorado, so your home sweet home search just got bigger. Discover just how great great rooms can be by visiting our website to find your dream home.