An open plan living space is one of the most popular layouts in modern homes, so how do you make this type of space work?
There are pros and cons to having an open plan living space, but the trick is making it work for you and your family! By making the right choices and some clever tricks, an open plan living area can create the perfect home for entertaining friends and creating a relaxed family vibe. So what are the best ways to make an open plan living space really work?
DEFINE EACH AREA
Making a clear definition between each part of the open plan living area will help you use every inch of the space. Often an open plan living area will include the kitchen, dinning room and lounge room, so you need to be able to define each of these areas somehow. The easiest way to define each of the spaces is by using large area rugs or furniture. A large rug in the lounge room space and then in the dinning space gives each area definition and clearly creates division. You can also define the different living areas in an open plan living room by using furniture cleverly. For example, using the lounge to define the space between the kitchen and lounge room might be done by having the back of the lounge parallel with the kitchen island bench.
MAKE EACH AREA USABLE
Making an open plan living space usable goes hand in hand with defining the different areas of the room. The space needs to feel cohesive, but you also need to be able to use each part of the space for its’ purpose. Make sure you are grouping furniture together, but leaving enough space between each part of the open plan room. You need to be able to comfortably move between the kitchen, dining and living areas without having to squeeze past furniture. When choosing furniture making sure it is all going to fit comfortably in the space is key.
DECLUTTER
In an open plan living space it is easy to have a messy looking home, because the main living areas are all together. Having lots of items of furniture and decor crammed into one open space can make it look messy and uninviting. The best way to keep clutter to a minimum is to choose a few key pieces for the entire open plan space. Choose key pieces of furniture and work with those, for example lounge, coffee table, dining table and chairs and then just add a small amount of decor and artwork to tie it all together. The other key way to keep clutter to a minimum is to think about storage and make the most of the storage you do have. When choosing furniture find pieces which have in-built storage, or if possible design the kitchen to have storage cupboards in the back of the island bench. If you can’t change your furniture, then find affordable baskets and containers to store away all the bits and pieces like, toys, magazines and TV remotes. There are some stylish and affordable storage options at places like Kmart!
COLOUR COHESION
In an open plan living room it is important to find some cohesion with the colours you are choosing for furniture and decor. Having everything in the one space makes it even more important to consider a colour scheme that works together. Going with a neutral colour scheme is the obvious way to create colour cohesion in an open plan space, but just because it is neutral it doesn’t have to be boring! You can create a neutral colour scheme using pale greens or blues along with whites or creams, neutral doesn’t just have to be white and grey. The other great thing about a choosing a neutral colour scheme for an open plan living area is that you can easily add colour with decor items like cushions and artwork. The styling possibilities are endless with a neutral colour scheme!
Have you got an open plan living area? How do you make it work for your family? We love sharing these tips with you, but we also love hearing what tips you have, so please let us know in the comments!
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