How to Carve Out Useful Zones in an Open-Plan Space
Who needs walls? Here's how to create subtle, flexible divisions between living, dining and kitchen areas
Suzanne Barker
7 October 2016
Houzz New Zealand Contributor. Interior designer. I share my property development and home design lessons learned, to help you make better design decisions as a DIY decorator. Access to my free library of resources, or sign up for my free course http://www.inhowzer.com
Houzz New Zealand Contributor. Interior designer. I share my property development... More
Our love for open-plan living calls for creativity with layouts. When your floor plan is just one big room for cooking, eating, resting, working, watching TV, entertaining friends and hanging out, how do you make the room feel welcoming, fit in everyone and everything necessary, and prevent it feeling like a big-box store? Here’s how to carve up one great room to conjure organised and useful zones from your open-plan space.
1. Define your zones
Before you start moving furniture around, think about what each area in your living space needs to do. Is the living section for kids to hang out with TV and games, or more of an adult entertaining space? Or a bit of both? Does the dining area sometimes need to double as a work or homework space? Do you need to dine at a table, or is coming and going around the kitchen island more your household’s style?
Think about personalities and behaviour too. Do your people like to lounge about on big sofas, or sit up straight in a comfy chair with a book and a good light? Is the TV more important than the fireplace? Think too about how your use of the spaces changes from winter to summer, or from weekends to weekdays.
Before you start moving furniture around, think about what each area in your living space needs to do. Is the living section for kids to hang out with TV and games, or more of an adult entertaining space? Or a bit of both? Does the dining area sometimes need to double as a work or homework space? Do you need to dine at a table, or is coming and going around the kitchen island more your household’s style?
Think about personalities and behaviour too. Do your people like to lounge about on big sofas, or sit up straight in a comfy chair with a book and a good light? Is the TV more important than the fireplace? Think too about how your use of the spaces changes from winter to summer, or from weekends to weekdays.
2. Set some boundaries
Now you’ve figured out your activity zones, define each space. A great way to do this is with a rug below and hanging lights above. Pendant lights don’t need to be reserved for above dining tables, and when your space features a pitched ceiling, the drama of a big light looks fantastic in daylight and sheds a welcoming pool of light at night.
Now you’ve figured out your activity zones, define each space. A great way to do this is with a rug below and hanging lights above. Pendant lights don’t need to be reserved for above dining tables, and when your space features a pitched ceiling, the drama of a big light looks fantastic in daylight and sheds a welcoming pool of light at night.
3. Split it in two
Large, open-plan living areas can feel unfriendly and cold if seating is too far apart, even worse if pieces are lined up around the walls like a waiting room. Encourage good conversation with two smaller seating areas, bringing seating groups closer together to create a cosier, more welcoming space to sit. Use architectural prompts – here the window bays – to visually separate zones. Matching lamps on a sideboard and an architectural standard lamp make an impact in each zone.
Large, open-plan living areas can feel unfriendly and cold if seating is too far apart, even worse if pieces are lined up around the walls like a waiting room. Encourage good conversation with two smaller seating areas, bringing seating groups closer together to create a cosier, more welcoming space to sit. Use architectural prompts – here the window bays – to visually separate zones. Matching lamps on a sideboard and an architectural standard lamp make an impact in each zone.
4. Rug it up
Expansive living areas run the risk of feeling stark. A round rug, echoing the oversized round light fitting, draws people into a more intimate setting within the bigger space in this living area, softening the sharp lines to create a space within a space.
Expansive living areas run the risk of feeling stark. A round rug, echoing the oversized round light fitting, draws people into a more intimate setting within the bigger space in this living area, softening the sharp lines to create a space within a space.
5. Go for a low profile
When you want the open-plan area to stay open with no breaks in the sightlines, a day bed, chaise or ottoman are all great furniture choices. They create a physical division between living and dining areas and a place where people can gather to face either part of the room.
When you want the open-plan area to stay open with no breaks in the sightlines, a day bed, chaise or ottoman are all great furniture choices. They create a physical division between living and dining areas and a place where people can gather to face either part of the room.
6. Create a corner
Alternatively, to create a more distinct room-within-a-room, use an L-shaped sofa (with a good-looking back side, obviously). Position the back of the sofa to section the living zone off from the kitchen and dining areas and create a sense of separation. Use sectional sofa combinations to vary the size of the space, choosing between sections with arms and backs, and adding ottomans or chaises.
Get comfy with modular sofas
Alternatively, to create a more distinct room-within-a-room, use an L-shaped sofa (with a good-looking back side, obviously). Position the back of the sofa to section the living zone off from the kitchen and dining areas and create a sense of separation. Use sectional sofa combinations to vary the size of the space, choosing between sections with arms and backs, and adding ottomans or chaises.
Get comfy with modular sofas
You don’t need to position your L-shaped sofa perfectly square in the room. Angle it for interest, to pull focus to a view, or help direct traffic flow. Your space will look well considered when furniture is positioned unexpectedly. This works well when the room is an unusual shape and not just four square corners, as in this space by Patterson Associates.
7. Make a shapely separation
Matching chairs that feature a curvaceous design are a great option to mark off a space without creating huge bulk or blocking traffic. Positioned with their backs to the kitchen, you can appreciate the elegant curves of these mid-century gems from all around the space.
Matching chairs that feature a curvaceous design are a great option to mark off a space without creating huge bulk or blocking traffic. Positioned with their backs to the kitchen, you can appreciate the elegant curves of these mid-century gems from all around the space.
Here, a shapely chair anchors a small sitting area, but allows people to move through the French doors and light to flow around the room. A great way to draw your furniture in closer in a large open space is to add a narrow table or shelf behind a sofa. Decorating with a changing display of ornaments, art and mirrors of varying heights and pot plants keeps the living space lively.
Pro tip: Make sure the height of the shelf matches the top of the sofa, and that the sofa is pulled far enough away that people don’t bump their heads.
Pro tip: Make sure the height of the shelf matches the top of the sofa, and that the sofa is pulled far enough away that people don’t bump their heads.
8. Make a mini-spot
If there is a wide space between a dining and large living area, create a second intimate seating spot. Position matching chairs and a small table behind your sofa for a spot for quiet conversations removed from the bigger group.
Pro tip: Arrange the chairs at a slight angle to make them that much more inviting to sit on.
If there is a wide space between a dining and large living area, create a second intimate seating spot. Position matching chairs and a small table behind your sofa for a spot for quiet conversations removed from the bigger group.
Pro tip: Arrange the chairs at a slight angle to make them that much more inviting to sit on.
Sometimes it’s nice to go solo. To create a self-contained mini-spot for one, hang an egg chair from the ceiling. It’s enough to create a subtle division of space, but see-through enough not to block light and sightlines.
Pro tip: Be considerate as to its position though. A dangling item as large as this can quickly become annoying if it’s in the way of traffic. Position your hanging chair close to another piece of furniture so it doesn’t block a large portion of the space.
Hangout zones with hanging chairs
Pro tip: Be considerate as to its position though. A dangling item as large as this can quickly become annoying if it’s in the way of traffic. Position your hanging chair close to another piece of furniture so it doesn’t block a large portion of the space.
Hangout zones with hanging chairs
9. Soften the sofa back
A sofa is the perfect item to create separation between zones, but no one wants to look at a sofa’s back. Low open shelving or a skinny table behind a sofa make great use of space. Mix stacks of books with ornaments to create an attractive arrangement.
A sofa is the perfect item to create separation between zones, but no one wants to look at a sofa’s back. Low open shelving or a skinny table behind a sofa make great use of space. Mix stacks of books with ornaments to create an attractive arrangement.
A more modern option, particularly if the space between two zones is a thoroughfare, is a low bench seat. The eye naturally looks down at a low arrangement when passing by. Choose a bench seat that spans the length of the sofa for balance and impact.
Pro tip: Make a display of your bench seat with a pot plant, ornaments and coffee table books so it doesn’t tempt people to make it a dumping ground for junk.
Pro tip: Make a display of your bench seat with a pot plant, ornaments and coffee table books so it doesn’t tempt people to make it a dumping ground for junk.
10. Add a work area
If you wish you had space for a study in your home, make the table behind your sofa a little wider so you can use it as a desk. Being handy to the living area means you can do a spot of work while still being with the family, or children can do their homework in view of adults cooking dinner. It does require discipline to pack away laptops and paperwork when not in use so you aren’t constantly reminded of work, however.
Pro tip: Look for a shape that’s also an attractive place for displaying nice things, and can double as a back-up table or buffet when there’s a crowd for dinner. Add a lamp that’s a pretty accent, not just a workaday piece.
Browse more home office ideas
If you wish you had space for a study in your home, make the table behind your sofa a little wider so you can use it as a desk. Being handy to the living area means you can do a spot of work while still being with the family, or children can do their homework in view of adults cooking dinner. It does require discipline to pack away laptops and paperwork when not in use so you aren’t constantly reminded of work, however.
Pro tip: Look for a shape that’s also an attractive place for displaying nice things, and can double as a back-up table or buffet when there’s a crowd for dinner. Add a lamp that’s a pretty accent, not just a workaday piece.
Browse more home office ideas
11. Make a bench-to-bench connection
If you’d rather have the versatility and comfort of a proper table (some people just aren’t bar stool people), do away with the kitchen breakfast bar and create a built-in bench seat instead. Pulled up against the kitchen cabinet, it uses a lot less space than a row of chairs, keeps the dining table clearly connected to the kitchen and frees up more living space.
A cushioned bench seat with a back is much more comfortable seating than bar stools. You can also enjoy the view of the living area rather than the messy kitchen, post meal prep.
If you’d rather have the versatility and comfort of a proper table (some people just aren’t bar stool people), do away with the kitchen breakfast bar and create a built-in bench seat instead. Pulled up against the kitchen cabinet, it uses a lot less space than a row of chairs, keeps the dining table clearly connected to the kitchen and frees up more living space.
A cushioned bench seat with a back is much more comfortable seating than bar stools. You can also enjoy the view of the living area rather than the messy kitchen, post meal prep.
Or turn it the other way: a bench seat with a high back is a great way to create a clear division between living and dining areas. This bespoke solution hides the dinner mess from those sitting in the living room with a beautiful timber-framed half wall.
12. Use curtains and screens
You don’t want solid walls and doors, but sometimes a bit of separation is nice. A floor-to-ceiling curtain is cheaper than sliding walls or doors. Go for a heavier curtain fabric for privacy or, if you want to give your space a touch of romance and semi-transparency, stick to a sheer.
You don’t want solid walls and doors, but sometimes a bit of separation is nice. A floor-to-ceiling curtain is cheaper than sliding walls or doors. Go for a heavier curtain fabric for privacy or, if you want to give your space a touch of romance and semi-transparency, stick to a sheer.
A semi-open screen does the same trick. A big black screen can dominate, but the designer of this room has thought laterally, designing an open wall to house the television. The TV cables have been funnelled through the inside of the posts to tidy up the clutter of wires, and the homeowners have kept the shelves clear to maintain a tidy look. A visual connection to other zones is a great way to maintain the open-plan design, while creating a subtle division.
TELL US
How have you arranged your open-plan living area? Share your ideas and photos in the Comments section.
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Browse more large living areas
TELL US
How have you arranged your open-plan living area? Share your ideas and photos in the Comments section.
MORE
Browse more large living areas
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Lovely ideas, thank you. For a lux design, we create feature walls on ceramic tiles.
some lovely ideas, thanks for sharing