Open plan living is becoming ever more popular, with homeowners increasingly seeking to extend their ground floor living space to create one, large multi-functional room.
However, it is vital that you identify how you want the space to work for you and how you aim to use it from day to day to determine how you plan the layout. A starting point would be to build imaginary walls within the room to create the desired zones you wish to create. Here are some key ways to accomplish a great open-plan living space…
FURNITURE
Smart positioning of furniture can instantly give you the room separation that you want. If you don’t want to limit yourself structurally, a shelving unit can act as a portable wall to create sections within a room. Chose open shelving to retain as much light throughout the room as possible.
LIGHTING
Lighting is essential when thinking about furnishing open-plan spaces. Using low hung ceiling pendant lights as a statement over kitchen returns / islands or dining tables instantly creates defined sections within a room.
Sophie, our senior designer achieved this at a recent show home she designed in Stanford on the Vale (below)
FLOORING
Hard flooring laid throughout an open-plan area is practical for areas like kitchens but can feel quite cold in the living space. Using a rug or selection of rugs in the same tones but different textures/patterns is a great way to give each space its own identity. If you are feeling more adventurous, tether soft planked flooring with hard as Jill did at a recent commercial project.
FEATURE WALLS
Making a feature of a wall is a great way to add depth and create a defined area within large open plan rooms. Introduce a coordinating colour, pattern or texture to create a statement zone within your space.
BE INSPIRED…
This open shelving unit from Maison du monde (£344) is a great size to use as a partition.
Use this ceiling pendant in a trio and low-hung over a kitchen return. Dar lighting RRP £58.00
We love the new collection of rugs from fabric house Romo, launching this summer ranging from £450
Go dramatic with one of Farrow and Ball’s newest colours – Inchrya Blue 289.
Related Tags: Interior Design Oxfordshire | Home Styling Oxford