Living room family vs. bedroom family
Is one worse than the other?
Quick summary
- Living room families tend to spend time together in shared spaces, while bedroom families often keep to separate rooms
- Neither is automatically better – what matters is making teens feel welcome, supported, and able to connect when they’re ready
- Encourage balance with shared meals, light conversation, and tools like the luna app to help teens open up or seek support in their own way
If your family seems to spend all evening together in the living room, toys and phones scattered everywhere, you might be what social media calls a “living room family.”
But if everyone tends to stay in their own rooms and only meet briefly, you may recognise yourselves as a “bedroom family.”
What do these terms really mean, and does one harm teens more than the other?
Below we explain the differences, what research and experience suggest, and how you can strike a balance – with some extra help from tools like the luna app to keep communication open.
What is a living room family?
A living room family is a household where family members tend to gather in a shared space, like the lounge or kitchen.
This is where teens watch TV, snack, talk to parents, do homework – and sometimes leave a trail of mess behind…
Living room families often feel warm, welcoming and social. Even if everyone is on a device, they’re still in the same space and feel part of the group.
Many teens growing up in living room families say it helps them feel included and able to open up when they’re ready.
What is a bedroom family?
A bedroom family is a household where everyone tends to retreat to their own rooms after dinner, spending most of their time alone on phones, gaming or watching TV.
Some teens prefer this because it gives them space to relax and recharge – which is completely normal.
But for others, being part of a bedroom family can feel lonely or disconnected.
If your teen seems withdrawn or avoids coming out of their room, it may help to check in gently.
The luna app can also give them a safe space to express worries or emotions they might not feel ready to say out loud yet.
Is being a bedroom family bad for teens?
No! Being a bedroom family isn’t automatically bad for teens.
For some, having privacy helps them cope with stress and maintain independence.
But too much isolation can leave teens feeling unsupported, even if they don’t say so.
What seems to matter most is giving teens the option to join in family life, making them feel welcome in shared spaces, and finding other ways to connect if they prefer to keep their distance.
How to encourage connection without taking away space
If your family has become more of a bedroom family and you’d like to bring everyone together more often, here are some easy ways to try:
- Have dinner at the table whenever possible
- Suggest a family movie or games night in the living room
- Make shared spaces feel welcoming by letting teens bring their friends there too
- Keep conversations light at first, and respect their need for alone time as well
- Gift them tools like the luna app to if they may need support but are not opening up
The luna app can also help your teen track patterns into their moods and give them conversation starters to help bridge the gap with you to ask for support.
So, which is better: living room or bedroom?
In truth, there’s no one “right” way to be a family.
Living room families and bedroom families both have their positives and challenges.
You may even be a mix of both – with younger kids staying close and teens retreating more.
What matters is letting your teen know they’re welcome, supported and valued, whether that’s while sitting next to you on the sofa or sending them a quiet message.
How we created this article:
luna's team of experts comprises GPs, Dermatologists, Safeguarding Leads and Junior Doctors as well as Medical Students with specialised interests in paediatric care, mental health and gynaecology. All articles are created by experts, and reviewed by a member of luna's senior review team.
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