Always be ready to welcome guests by having a designated entertaining space in your home. Drawing rooms allow you to keep your lounge area separate from your entertaining space so you can always put your best foot forward. But what is a drawing room? We go over everything you need to know and how to create your own, below.

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What Is a Drawing Room?
Drawing Rooms vs. Living Rooms, Family Rooms, & Dens
What to Include in a Drawing Room

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What Is a Drawing Room?

A drawing room, also known as a formal living room, sitting room, or parlor, is a room specifically designed to welcome guests, enjoy conversation, and offer them refreshments or snacks. This room is either the first room you walk into from the main door (if there isn't an entryway), or one of the main front rooms of the home. This prevents guests from passing through private rooms to get to the drawing room.

The History of the Drawing Room

The concept of the "drawing room" has been around for hundreds of years. Before the times of phones and other modern technology, guests would often pay a visit with little-to-no notice. So when they arrived, the drawing room served as a waiting room for guests to sit, relax, or eat, before the resident was ready to see them. Homeowners would incorporate family portraits, decor collections, and other status symbols into their drawing room to show their wealth. Once the resident arrived, they would continue to entertain the guest in the drawing room as other areas in the home were considered private. But why is it called a "drawing room"? That's because it was historically called a "withdrawing" room to refer to the practice of "withdrawing" to the drawing room after dinner or events for more conversation and entertainment.

How Is a Drawing Room Used Today?

Drawing rooms are still used by homeowners to entertain and hang out with houseguests, but in a more relaxed, modern way.

• Use it as a multipurpose space. Most drawing rooms are focused around conversation, but modern-day versions can include a TV if the room doubles as your living space.
• Designate the drawing room for after-dinner drinks or before-dinner appetizers.
• Invite friends or family over to enjoy a cup of coffee and catch up.
• Turn your drawing room into your own personal library away from any technology or other distractions.
• Make it the central spot for game nights with friends.

Ultimately, modern-day drawing rooms are so convenient because they provide a dedicated space for entertaining while keeping the rest of your home clean, or limiting the amount of cleaning you have to do in preparation for guests – all you’ll have to do is spruce up the drawing room and the guest powder room!

Drawing Rooms vs. Living Rooms, Family Rooms, & Dens

Now that you know how to define a drawing room, take a moment to review what sets it apart from similar spaces like living rooms, family rooms, and dens. Knowing the difference will help you know what to look for when creating your own drawing room (in the next section).

Drawing Rooms vs. Family Rooms & Living Rooms

Drawing rooms are more formal than living rooms and family rooms because of their different purposes and the types of furnishings/activities you'll find. Drawing rooms typically include accent chairs and a settee sofa or standard sofas for upright seating, while living rooms or family rooms might have a spacious sectional sofa or sofa chaise that's meant for lounging or taking naps. Living rooms usually feature a TV, unlike formal drawing rooms where the focus is on the guest. Family rooms may have an air hockey table, board games, and other activities set up for casual fun in addition to a TV. We explore more about the differences between living and family rooms in our guide, Family Room vs. Living Room: What's the Difference?

Drawing Rooms vs. Dens

Both drawing rooms and dens are designed to serve a specific purpose. For drawing rooms, it's to provide a formal entertainment space for guests, while for dens, it's to provide an informal, private lounge space for a specific activity like a home theater or gaming room.

What to Include in a Drawing Room

Now that we've answered "what is a drawing room?" and reviewed how it differs from other rooms in your home, it's time to learn how to create your own! Follow these steps to design a drawing room, whether you have a whole room you want to convert, or a quaint corner of your living room.

1. A Statement Rug

Bring in a statement area rug to get the conversation started and to add a bit of personality to your floors. Choose the style, color, and pattern that matches your aesthetic. The area rug you choose will also serve as the base for your drawing room furniture. Review our guide on How to Choose the Right Rug Sizes for measurement tips and furniture placement.

2. Formal Seating

Formal seating is designed to be cozy and comfortable for guests to sit on while maintaining a level of decorum. Instead of sofas with chaise lounges or large sectionals that are meant for lounging and putting your feet up, choose furniture that makes it easy to sit upright in order to hold a conversation. Settee sofas have a bench-like appearance but are fully upholstered – perfect for catching up over coffee. Loveseats and standard sofas can also be used in drawing rooms that double as living rooms. We recommend facing sofas or settees directly across from each other to create a conversation pit.

Depending on the size of your space, you can also add a few accent chairs for instances where you need extra seats. Style them in bare corners of the room when not in use.

3. A Roomy Coffee Table

Now that you have your area rug and your pair of settees or sofas, it's time to bring in a coffee table. Place it in the center of the rug between the two settees/sofas. Make sure that you choose a coffee table with a spacious tabletop to lay out beverages, plates, and food trays with room to spare.

4. Cozy Accent Lighting

Make sure to include accent lighting in your drawing room to create a warm and inviting space to entertain and catch up – especially at night. Instead of harsh overhead lights, center a stunning chandelier over the coffee table. Use table or floor lamps and wall sconces to disperse warm white light throughout the room.

5. Decor That Displays Your Personality

Historically, drawing rooms used decor to display wealth, but today you can use decor to convey your personality and interests to your guests. Your drawing room interior design scheme is also important because it's likely one of the first things people will see when they walk into your home. Incorporate decor like wall art, decorative objects, vases, and throw pillows to add pattern, style, and color to your drawing room.

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