So, you’re remodeling the main floor of your home or you’re building a brand-new residence. Odds are, that new space is going to connect your kitchen and dining room—and perhaps even more, to your main living area.
While industry experts started seeing a slight decrease in the demand for open-concept homes even before the pandemic, just over half of America still prefers this style of living for its uncluttered feel, ease when entertaining, and the flow of natural light that is inherent in these spaces.
If you find yourself still open to the benefits of open-plan living, but haven’t a clue as to how to pull the whole concept off when it comes to the floorplan and furniture placement, we’ve created a cheat sheet to help you plan like a pro.
Photo courtesy of houzz.com
Step 1: Consider your adjacent spaces
Before you add any furnishings, you will need to create a canvas of sorts that blends a neutral color palette with comparable wood and other finishes throughout the space so the areas that are adjacent, or on the periphery, complement and not compete with the primary living space. You need not stress that things match exactly, rather, strive to achieve a level of visual continuity and harmony.
Photo courtesy of aprettyfix.com
Step 2: Arrange in zones
In a traditional room we use our walls to guide us as to where things should go, and the process is pretty easy; just measure and order. Open-plan living denotes that you divide and conquer in a sense. Visualizing rooms or gathering spaces within the context of the larger space is key. Today’s open plan concepts often accommodate a family entertainment and TV viewing area, a separate furniture grouping for casual conversation perhaps around a fireplace feature, and sometimes even a separate personal reading and studying area. These smaller nooks encourage productivity, conviviality, and connection within the larger setting.
Photo courtesy of interiorstylehunters.com
Step 3: Remember the importance of flow
Identify your point of entry. Once someone enters the space they should be able to access seating and adjacent areas easily without their progress being obstructed. So, if you’re walking into the large horizontal of your open plan, the first thing you would not want to see is the back of a large sofa horizontally across that space. Situating a couch that is perpendicular to the shape of the room allows for better flow into the space. This is especially important if there is access to the outdoors on the opposite side of the room. Pathways and doorways and the precious natural light they often convey should never be obstructed. Smart design implies using furniture strategically as a means of transitioning from one area of your space to another. Groupings of sofas and chairs should be closely situated with all seats facing inward toward each other, not looking out of the room. This creates convivial cozy vibe within the context of a much larger room. For example, we often see the strategic use of “furniture” in the kitchen, as a large island or peninsula often serves as a natural demarcation or transition to a dining area, which then flows into the primary living space.
Photo courtesy of pinterest.com
Step 4: Choose pieces wisely
The biggest mistake made by homeowners when choosing furnishings for open plans is miscalculating the size of the pieces for the space. Unfortunately, this happens more than you would think, as homeowners have taken to the convenience of buying online and many don’t take the time to measure their spaces properly. And this doesn’t always mean your piece is too big. Oftentimes, when it comes to open plans, homeowners find themselves underwhelmed by the presence of the pieces they chose because they are just too small. This is where Step #2, Arranging Your Zones, really comes in handy. Once you have established that zone, measure it! It’s also very tempting to purchase pieces based on your aesthetic alone, but understanding what you need each piece to do increases the total functionality of your room over time.
Photo courtesy of HGTV.com
Step 5: Identify your unifying touches and accessories
Accent and décor items play the dual role of looking good and tying the space together. So, you should consider when choosing items such as table lamps for the living space, what the light fixture above the dining table should look like to achieve a visual impact that is cohesive. Probably the best add-ons for open plan concepts are area rugs, which not only bring warmth, comfort, and practicality to the space, but help create the spaces themselves by defining the smaller groupings within the larger space.
Photo courtesy of westelm.com
Step 6: Create storage like a pro
Another thing designers know is that it isn’t enough to just fill a space with furnishings, the space is smarter when it looks great and functions just as well. To achieve this within the context of your open plan concept, remember to create options for storage. Try using clever ottoman seating that doubles as a storage cube, strategically placing toss baskets near the couch for blanket and pillow storage, or tucking a credenza behind that appropriately placed couch. Now you’re ready to open-plan like a pro!
