Open Plan
The beauty of open plan living is that it facilitates a relaxed, harmonious, more sociable way of life, offering the many benefits of coexistence. It is a trend embraced by house builders and home renovators alike, 67% of British homes built since 2003 have combined open plan reception areas.
These flowing layouts are supposed to promote togetherness and encourage interaction. However, in this time of cabin fever we need to talk about embarking on the shift to Broken Plan – how to establish boundaries in a home without any. How do we all cope in one room for now?
Look Away
A very simple psychological trick would be to re think your focus for different tasks and perhaps take a direction change. For example, it is a sad truth that for most of us our living areas are designed around the best seat in the house for television viewing. Should your dining area follow suit offering the ‘cheaper seats’ perhaps reposition chairs to direct concentration where possible away from the fatal draw of the screen, allowing eating and conversation to be the focus.
Should your open plan living space also include a study/home working area perhaps try to ensure that the desk enables a view of the garden or natural light at least. This sort of set up, a view of the outdoors, is proven to reduce stress, improve mental function and memory recall. Having a desk lamp is important too, controlling the lighting in your own space rather than sharing the overhead lighting with others complaining that it is too bright or nor bright enough.
Zoning
Zoning with lighting has always been a clever trick of the designer. Decorative pendants dropped low over over a dining table will make a dining area feel more intimate. Visually it will also create a barrier between the kitchen area and living space.
Screens are a great way to divide up spaces and being portable can allow constant change depending on the desire for privacy, or not. Plant walls are the most aesthetically pleasing way of zoning and are without doubt the most beneficial addition, improving concentration and boosting well being. An easy and very attainable solution is the use of a freestanding open shelving unit well populated with a good selection of mixed size planters, a great way of staking out your space. In addition a plant wall will offer acoustic benefits, an open plan kitchen/living area may offer perfectly adequate acoustic qualities for a quiet post dinner chat but may not be acceptable for a video or telephone meeting call, especially should you be sharing your home working space and have multiple voices echoing.
With acoustic absorption still in mind another very sensible and simple fix would be the addition of a rug, this will also clearly define an area underlining a change of use whether it be living or dining.
Time zoning is a fantastic, immediate incredibly easy solution – establish time zones in addition to the spacial, have clear times during the day that the television may be on or off, mark the start and the end of the working day in this way.
Broken Plan
All of the aforementioned suggestions for zoning and virtual separation are quick fix steps towards a trend that was already heading our way at the beginning of 2020, ‘broken plan’. Broken plan is a more thoughtful use of space rather than simply bull dosing partition walls we look at more distinct zones such as half partition walls, level changes and glass doors or screens. When designed considerately broken plan will retain that sense of openness while offering more in the way of quiet corners and cosy nooks. Perfect for you if you desire the light and space of open plan but favour an escape from the nose and distractions that inevitably come with family life.
Examples and inspiration on ways of achieving broken plan;
Half Partition Wall
A great way to divide and area and very useful for backing furniture up on to.
Glass Partition
Fantastic should light be of a premium, one area can totally be separated from another without losing any natural light.
Level Change
A really clever and very cool way of mixing it up to achieve broken plan.
Fireplace
Complete with the chimney a fireplace divides a room whilst still giving the feeling of space.
Born in such uncertain times broken plan is far from broken – it is a much needed fix! A trend that will always be remembered and respected for its life changing qualities, benefactor of essential breathing space and the saviour of many a relationship!