I’ve spent the last week refreshing our main floor for spring—planting flowers, swapping pillow covers, and adding a few small touches that make the space feel lighter and brighter. While I was tidying and fluffing, I found myself thinking of our living room by another name: the keeping room.
Doesn’t that sound more inviting? I first heard the term years ago and it perfectly captures how we use this space and why we renovated our main floor the way we did.
Below I’ll share some of my recent spring updates, including affordable pillow covers I love and a practical idea for our dining bench—keep scrolling for the details.
PS I keep a collection of my favorite spring decor in my Amazon storefront and in my Spring Shop, where I add finds as I discover them.
A small keeping room for spring, and every season
Homes & Gardens describes a keeping room as “a small, cozy space off the kitchen for guests, family, and friends to relax and socialize before dinner is ready to be served—a room connected to the kitchen so the host isn’t cut off while cooking, yet separate enough to keep kitchen chaos at bay.”
The phrase “keeping room” comes from the idea of keeping the household together. I love that sentiment.
In winter we gather here for the fire; I often sit with my coffee and enjoy the warmth and quiet. Historically, keeping rooms were common in early American homes as a comfortable place to spend the long, cold months near the hearth—where conversation, play, and daily life naturally converged.
But a keeping room is equally lovely in spring. Our small room still draws us in: we open the doors to let in coastal breezes, step out to the tiny porch, and watch sunrises or sunsets over the water.
It’s where we sit before and after meals, where grandchildren and pets play at our feet—a place where family stays close.
Having a compact room brings a sense of intimacy, but it also invites lingering—enjoying each season together. Its proximity to the kitchen and dining area makes it a natural gathering spot for the people we love.
Swapped the kitchen and dining room
When we renovated our main floor we worked within the existing footprint. Rather than adding on, we rearranged the three small rooms so they feel connected and function together while retaining the warmth of each space.
We swapped the kitchen and dining room to improve flow between rooms and added thoughtful details that suit our family while keeping the house cozy for two. The new layout makes daily life easier and more inviting without losing charm.
Added seating and storage in small spaces
One practical change was adding a bench seat in the dining area to maximize seating and storage in a compact footprint.
When we first remodeled, the bench cushion was a quick DIY solution until a custom cushion could be made. That no-sew cushion has worked well for years. I often swap the cover by wrapping different blankets around the cushion, but for spring I tried a tassel-trim tablecloth as a cover and it’s charming and easy to wash—perfect for visits from grandchildren.
Created visual connections
With the dining room and living room visually linked, I enjoy mixing pillows and patterns between the spaces. That coordination makes the whole area feel cohesive, while each section remains comfortable and distinct.
I picked up a few affordable pillow covers for spring—floral patterns and block prints trimmed with delicate stripes and ruffles. They blend well with the pillows I already own and feel fresh for spring while remaining versatile enough for year-round use.
Designed flexibility between rooms
Because the rooms are more connected, family members can move easily between them and carry on different conversations without feeling isolated. We can expand seating or bring a table into either area for games, meals, or gatherings.
Our main floor now functions as one larger room or as two or three cozy spaces with distinct purposes—an outcome that made the house work better for us without an addition.
The renovation truly improved how our small home functions while preserving its charm.
If you’d like to learn more about our renovation decisions, I’ve shared videos and details in my HomeBody membership and may add more content to answer questions and show additional details.
