When searching for a home or renovating their own space, clients are looking more and more for a home with an open concept. They want a space that has a nice flow, one that is great for entertaining, and that also reveals an updated look. Homes with kitchens, dining areas, and living rooms that open to one another create an environment where family and guests are very comfortable.
Open spaces can become a challenge to decorate and place home furnishings in without a vision and a plan. How will the spaces be used? What will separate the living areas? These questions often are asked, and here are a few suggestions.
Strategically Planning Flooring
When it comes to decorating open spaces, you must provide some visual definition to the different areas. Rugs are always an excellent way to define different parts of the same area easily. There are many colors, styles, patterns, and textures to choose from, which will enhance your room and its furnishings.
Selecting different flooring materials also separates one space from another. Tiles are always good choices for foyers and kitchens since you have to ability to arrange them in a variety of ways forming designs from the simple to the elaborate. Hardwood floors also define spaces by framing an area with an inlaid border and center. Simply changing the direction of the way you lay floorboards from one area to another creates the illusion of a separate space.
Working With Ceiling Heights
Another way to accomplish a space definition is by varying ceiling heights. Beamed or coffered ceilings in a two-story great room often transition a large room into several separate living spaces. Tray ceilings in a dining area or bedroom create divisions in the space.
Using Lighting To Define Spaces
Lighting is also essential to set off different areas in the same room. A row of pendants on a kitchen island or a beautiful chandelier hung over the eating area, which opens to another living space, immediately creates a visual division.
Proper vision and planning is essential when dealing with decorating open concept floor plans and defining one space from another.
Furniture As A Visual Separation
Strategically placing your furniture can also separate and provide barriers in an open space. Table lamps and floor lamps set appropriately can create a deliberate separation in an area.
Open shelving units work well as room dividers since you can place objects that can be viewed on the shelves from either side without completely obstructing the view.
Floating a sofa can provide a passageway between spaces, placing a console table behind it can provide visual interest as well as offer you a place to add lighting. Or, you can float a pair of chairs with a table between them, to give you the same effect.
Painting and Wall Coverings For The Illusion of Separation
Painting your walls with different colors can give you the illusion of separation between rooms. But, be cautious, many mistakes are made by choosing intense contrasting colors. Instead, choose subtle complementing shades of the same color. Texturing a wall with wallpaper or stacked stone is another possibility.
Open spaces can be made cozy and comfortable, great places for family and friends to gather when you put careful effort into the planning.
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