How Smartphones have Altered the Optimal Design for Your Living Room

The go-to room in the typical home for communal activities and group entertainment, the living room has changed drastically over the decades. Expensive television sets once made it the single place that everyone had to go to for the latest and greatest entertainment. As TVs became more accessible, people in the house could have their own to watch whatever they wanted and play games alone in their very own rooms, but the living room would still tend to be the place with the biggest screen.

Now, while those heftier TVs tend to be placed in the communal space, it’s the small screens that are changing the layout and furniture choices. Smartphones have, in a way, brought us back to the living room, but while the scene looks as communal as it used to be, most inhabitants are in their own little worlds. Living room design has had to adapt to this to keep the space as welcoming as possible for everyone and adjust for the new way of enjoying each other’s company.

Screen Time’s Dictating the Play

Smartphones have greatly enriched our lives, offering quick and convenient access to everything from deep insights from experts to the latest entertainment. Commanding a great deal of our time are the more entertainment-leaning apps. The typical internet user spends around 150 minutes on social media each day, per Data Reportal. Furthermore, some demographics spend over 180 minutes per day watching TV or videos on phones and tablets. Given the range and quality of what’s now available, this isn’t a surprise. Even classic online entertainment has moved with the times and upgraded to modern devices to remain popular and appealing.

A good example of this would be Rainbow Riches, a classic slot game, which since its inception in 2008, has remained a hot favourite online for its 20p minimum bet and stack of pioneering bonus rounds. Originally consisting of two screens on land-based slot machines, the rise of mobile has led to it being condensed elegantly onto one screen, making it compatible with web browser apps across a huge range of devices.

Mobiles have enabled classic games and other entertainment across social media and streaming services to be easily navigable via intuitive touch-screen controls. While watching on a small screen is rarely seen as the best way to enjoy a show or film, it’s perfectly fine, convenient, and private enough that millions do so every day.

All Eyes Don’t Face One Way Any More

Way back in 2013, research from the UK’s communications watchdog Ofcom, as relayed by The Guardian, found that family homes were gravitating back to the living room thanks to a decline in the number of homes with a second TV set. In that same report, while living rooms had bounced back as the main gathering spot around a main television, everyone was bringing their smartphones and tablets with them.

Fast-forward some 12 years later, and this is even more prevalent now due to the increased quality and use of these devices. The new demands of the living room are to have extra space for everyone, with comfort in all positions being key. Gone are the days of only using the space parallel to the TV with good eye-lines and fairly firm seating that points all to the TV.

Now, as Living Tec explored, sofas can take up much more space and allow for more lounging room. A much more encircling setup with more seats and more space per seat can be viable. Not everyone in the room will need to see the TV, as most will be lying down, curled up, or putting their feet up on the furniture to experience maximum comfort while on their devices. As it goes, smartphones can now also help with this new form of living room layout via one of the many digital interior design shopping apps utilising cutting-edge 3D augmented reality technology!

We are living in a new age of entertainment, of what it means to be communal, and of interior design.

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Becky

Meet the award-nominated UK lifestyle blogger behind Spirited Puddle Jumper – a mum of three living in South East London! Becky shares the real ups and downs of family life, parenting tips, and lifestyle inspiration, proving that being a mum doesn’t mean you stop being fun or having other interests! Follow along for honest insights into UK family life and opinions on a whole range of topics, from travel and food, to beauty reviews, home and DIY, business and health and wellness.