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How to Partition the Living Room From the Dining Area

Here's a look at how one fluid space can be divided into two hardworking zones through some clever design thinking

Vaishnavi Nayel Talawadekar 22 October 2021

Houzz India Contributor. Internationally published architecture, design and art journalist. www.mangomonk.com

Houzz India Contributor. Internationally published architecture, design and art journalist.... More

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There are no rules set in stone when it comes to separating the living room from the dining room. And yet, designating separate zones for general entertainment and intimate dining becomes a priority for most homeowners, especially with open floor plans gaining pace. Whether you’re looking for ways to design a new living-cum-dining space or are simply giving your existing one an upgrade, here are some tips from homes that have mastered the art of zoning.

Supon Phornirunlit / Naked Decor

Anchor with a console table
A console table juxtaposed against a sofa can provide tangible closure to an open-ended zone.

The glossy white console in this living space anchors the sofa, offering structure to the partition. Without a console to hold down the division, the freestanding sofa would have lacked substance and looked almost incidental.

Design Duo

Tie in striking table accents
This cuboid room is tied together by a mind-boggling number of elements, many of which occupy considerable floor space. With silver console tables, a sleek dining table and heavyset sofas, the room works hard to cater to various activities. Yet, the dining area separates itself subtly despite the uniform colour palette in the room. See how the dazzling copper candleholders stand tall, commanding the space around them. The solitary chandelier also adds weight to the area, shining a circle of light over the dining zone.

Tip: A good way to separate the dining area is to angle the dining table in a different direction from the living room furniture.

Justin Loe Architects

Section with an L-shape sofa
An L-shaped sofa can be used to create a tangible partition between the living and dining areas, if your layout is similar to the one in this image. Seek inspiration from this runway living space where its homeowners leverage its length by spreading the sofa across it. If the seating had been straight-lined, the zones would have likely spilled into each other.

Find a designer to design the perfect layout for your living cum dining room

Dyer Grimes Architecture

Demarcate with an arresting area rug
Imagine this room before the striped blue area rug was laid under the dining table. The dining area would have become almost invisible, camouflaged against the white of the kitchen. Also, observe how the transverse stripes on the rug give pace to the longitudinally placed table. The same pattern is mirrored on a smaller rug to the far right.

My Bespoke Room

This lavender space features a large area rug that stops short of the dining zone. The black of the rug is reflected in the table lamp and legs of the dining chairs.

Tip: Incorporate the colour of your rug in other elements in your room to create a cohesive look.

Nichole Loiacono Design

Opt for an inverted palette
When one room tips two ways, it helps to maintain a singular style, palette and decor. This eclectic ’70s studio attempts to invert the piano-toned palette when transitioning between zones. Look towards the living area and you’ll notice a block of black along the side console. But turn ahead and the black becomes an accent colour, reminding the dominant white that it’s still around. The candy-coloured sofa is a statement piece that keeps the eyes focused on the centre of the room.

Lea Frank Design

Also sporting an inverted palette, this ebony-and-ivory room flips the rules when crossing zones. The ivory overlaid carpet in the living room plays to the walnut wood of the dining room. Likewise, the chocolate sofa is a welcome contrast to the tufted beige dining chairs.

Fredric Boukari Photography

Build a distinctive half wall
The half wall in this all-white room doesn’t stand out at first because the eyes fail to discern the shadow lines along its edges. The wall here is more functional than it is aesthetic, offering much-needed privacy to the dining table behind it.

Austin Patterson Disston Architects

Distinguish with a breakaway pattern
This indigo infinity rug is a treat for the eyes, serving as the hero piece of the room. Although the seating area is just next to the diner, the zones are distinct. See how the bold white of the dining table diffuses the concentration of patterns in the living space. The energies in the two zones balance each other out, and the distinction in the room is clear.

Tip: A breakaway pattern set on any accent can do the trick. Consider a rug, a console table, a lamp or even a piece of furniture.

Studio Course

Pick contrasting furniture styles
Two different styles of furniture can create an engaging interplay between zones. See how this Pune home, cocooned in muted matte wood, uses assorted furniture styles to hold each area together. The slatted teakwood sofa and complementary futon and step-table are characterised by clean, straight lines that match the tone and texture of the smooth walnut ceiling. The wicker-weave patterned timber dining table, on the other hand, offers a rough-cut finish that dazzles under the log chandelier. Also, observe the use of colours that separate the dining area from the living room. The powder-blue and yellow tub dining chairs form a sunny palette that cuts away from the subdued pistachio scheme of the sofa set.

moment design + productions, llc

The mismatched lacquered chairs and vintage table in this home clearly stand apart from the modern sofa placed under the window, just by virtue of their old-world style.

RISE Design Studio

Create lighting zones
The hues don’t vary much in this all-in-one space, but the divisions between each zone are evident, thanks to the unique lighting formats. The living room is overarched by a slender-stemmed wall lamp that, together with the grey sofa, offers a slight masculine edge to the space. Move to the dining table, however, and you’ll experience a softer, more elegant appeal lent by the alluring caged pendant lamp and the collection of pictures on the wall.

Rusk Renovations

Fashion a glam curtain wall
An extended curtain is an easy, non-permanent alternative to a wall or fixed partition. Choose between opaque drapes and sheer material, depending on how watertight you want your zones to be.

The sheer curtain wall in this large living space functions as a dreamy sheath between the living room and the dining room. Yet, its translucency allows the eye to travel to the farthest end of the room, giving the room a spacious look.

The White House Interiors

Dot with colour
Eye-popping dining chairs in a sea of white establish authority in this contemporary home. The orange of the chairs snatches part of the room away for the dining area. Also, notice how the shape of the dining table stands out by offsetting the boxy squares of the sofa, the ottoman and the cushions.

Read more:
9 Ways to Play With Contrast in Your Living Room
7 Indian Living Rooms That Blur the Lines Between Inside and Outside

Tell us:
What special ways have you used to separate your living and dining areas? Tell us in Comments below.

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hi,I Wood like a suggestion using a temporary or trmovable partition.I did one partition for my client in Kerala I used a plywood box 4" x 4" as base and fix 3" pvc pipes ,which I drilled holes throughout as a pattern and put LED lights.i used 3 units which was 2' long which occupied 6' of space and can be moved aside easily.i finished plywood boxing in laminate and sprayed pvc pipes with metallic print.

Like 8 September 2018 at 8:06am