Smart Ways to Create Separate Zones in Open-Plan Flats
Armed with tricks for maximising your home's kitchen, dining and living space, you’ll see it in a whole new light
Eva Byrne
28 March 2018
I'm an Architect + House Consultant based in Dublin. I specialise in House Consultations to maximise Space, Light and Storage in your home. Whether you are planning a Renovation, Extension or New Build project, I aim to help you get your project off to the best possible start and to make best use of your cents and centimetres.
I'm an Architect + House Consultant based in Dublin. I specialise in House Consultations... More
We’ve embraced open-plan living in our houses with gusto, enjoying the benefits of having a combined kitchen, dining and living space at the heart of the home. But most houses also include a separate living room, somewhere to escape the rough and tumble of family living. This is typically not the case in a new-build or modern flat. Here, you’re likely to have just one room in which to cook, dine and relax.
This can be challenging, with a feeling of your whole life being compressed into a single space. The trick to making it work? Smart zoning, so that each functional area has its own sense of place within the open-plan room.
This can be challenging, with a feeling of your whole life being compressed into a single space. The trick to making it work? Smart zoning, so that each functional area has its own sense of place within the open-plan room.
Home in on zones
Think of each of the three zones in a classic open-plan room – kitchen, dining and living – as occupying its own distinct space and having a definite character. This doesn’t have to mean different styles, simply that each finds its expression within a harmonious whole.
You’ll want each of them to be the “happiest” possible, with none of the three appearing to suffer at the expense of any other. For example, a full-height bookcase at the end of a kitchen, as seen here, can create a subtle marker between the food preparation and the living/dining zones. A piece of art on the wall can give definition to a dining spot, while a large rug is always a winner when you’re aiming to emphasise a seating area.
Think of each of the three zones in a classic open-plan room – kitchen, dining and living – as occupying its own distinct space and having a definite character. This doesn’t have to mean different styles, simply that each finds its expression within a harmonious whole.
You’ll want each of them to be the “happiest” possible, with none of the three appearing to suffer at the expense of any other. For example, a full-height bookcase at the end of a kitchen, as seen here, can create a subtle marker between the food preparation and the living/dining zones. A piece of art on the wall can give definition to a dining spot, while a large rug is always a winner when you’re aiming to emphasise a seating area.
Allocate an alcove
You may prefer to have some visual separation between the kitchen and other areas. Given that the kitchen is typically positioned at the dark end of the space, a partition wall with openings can work well here. This allows you to maintain a visual connection with the social areas and enjoy a measure of natural light while you cook.
You may prefer to have some visual separation between the kitchen and other areas. Given that the kitchen is typically positioned at the dark end of the space, a partition wall with openings can work well here. This allows you to maintain a visual connection with the social areas and enjoy a measure of natural light while you cook.
Straighten the kitchen
Kitchens love a straight wall, so if your flat’s wide enough, run the units in a single line along one side of the room. A width of 3.6m, for example, will house a tall fridge and a decent run of worktop.
Place the dining table parallel to the units to create a pleasing double-act, with the table acting as a buffer between the kitchen and the living space. The table will perform the same function as an island, providing an extra surface for preparing food.
Use dramatic lighting to accentuate the dining zone.
Check out these ideas for urban Indian kitchens
Kitchens love a straight wall, so if your flat’s wide enough, run the units in a single line along one side of the room. A width of 3.6m, for example, will house a tall fridge and a decent run of worktop.
Place the dining table parallel to the units to create a pleasing double-act, with the table acting as a buffer between the kitchen and the living space. The table will perform the same function as an island, providing an extra surface for preparing food.
Use dramatic lighting to accentuate the dining zone.
Check out these ideas for urban Indian kitchens
Slot in a bench
Where space is restricted, a bench placed against a wall can reduce the footprint needed to accommodate a dining area. It can also house useful hidden storage underneath. Think carefully about the most practical way to access the storage – front or top, drawers or cupboards.
Carefully placed artworks combined with a sculptural pendant light can bring a distinct character to your cosy dining nook.
Where space is restricted, a bench placed against a wall can reduce the footprint needed to accommodate a dining area. It can also house useful hidden storage underneath. Think carefully about the most practical way to access the storage – front or top, drawers or cupboards.
Carefully placed artworks combined with a sculptural pendant light can bring a distinct character to your cosy dining nook.
Double up
Furniture that can work hard and perhaps perform more than one function is the flat-owner’s friend. Choose comfy dining chairs that can double up as armchairs, as the occasion demands. Swivelling chairs like these are delightful and create a sculptural focal point within the space.
Furniture that can work hard and perhaps perform more than one function is the flat-owner’s friend. Choose comfy dining chairs that can double up as armchairs, as the occasion demands. Swivelling chairs like these are delightful and create a sculptural focal point within the space.
Turn your back
A sofa placed perpendicular to the length of a long room will act as a strong divider, marking clearly the living area from the kitchen and dining zones. Where space permits, the effect can be enhanced by the addition of a bookcase the same width and height as the sofa running along its back.
This arrangement has the added benefit of allowing you to relax on the sofa with your back to the cooking and eating areas (for those times when you just want to leave the washing-up till later).
A conversational grouping of seating, as well as a large rug underfoot and careful lighting overhead, will create a clear ‘room within a room’ in an open-plan space.
Learn how to arrange your living room seating
A sofa placed perpendicular to the length of a long room will act as a strong divider, marking clearly the living area from the kitchen and dining zones. Where space permits, the effect can be enhanced by the addition of a bookcase the same width and height as the sofa running along its back.
This arrangement has the added benefit of allowing you to relax on the sofa with your back to the cooking and eating areas (for those times when you just want to leave the washing-up till later).
A conversational grouping of seating, as well as a large rug underfoot and careful lighting overhead, will create a clear ‘room within a room’ in an open-plan space.
Learn how to arrange your living room seating
Divide and separate
A thoughtfully placed bookcase or storage unit can also act as a powerful separator between the living and dining areas. As well as providing useful storage for either area, it creates a useful surface on which to place plants, sculptures and photos, all of which help to separate the zones.
A thoughtfully placed bookcase or storage unit can also act as a powerful separator between the living and dining areas. As well as providing useful storage for either area, it creates a useful surface on which to place plants, sculptures and photos, all of which help to separate the zones.
Go round in a circle
A circular table works well in a small flat, creating a simple but powerful focus for the dining area. This focus can be enhanced with the addition of a sculptural light overhead.
A 90cm diameter table will seat two comfortably and four cosily; a 110cm table will house four comfortably, with space for an additional smaller guest or two.
A table with a central leg, like this one, will allow space and light to flow beautifully as well as letting you vary the number of chairs and their positions.
A circular table works well in a small flat, creating a simple but powerful focus for the dining area. This focus can be enhanced with the addition of a sculptural light overhead.
A 90cm diameter table will seat two comfortably and four cosily; a 110cm table will house four comfortably, with space for an additional smaller guest or two.
A table with a central leg, like this one, will allow space and light to flow beautifully as well as letting you vary the number of chairs and their positions.
Conceal and reveal
Harness the power of the simple panel to disguise storage so it doesn’t overwhelm your space.
Full-height, handle-less panels can be pressed into action on laundry cupboards, coat storage or even work spaces, which can be concealed or revealed at the flick of a wrist, as here.
The doors can be as simple as painted MDF panels. These will work if your ceiling height is 2.7m or less. Just make sure you fit at least three hinges to prevent warping.
Take a look at these multitasking doors with hidden storage
Harness the power of the simple panel to disguise storage so it doesn’t overwhelm your space.
Full-height, handle-less panels can be pressed into action on laundry cupboards, coat storage or even work spaces, which can be concealed or revealed at the flick of a wrist, as here.
The doors can be as simple as painted MDF panels. These will work if your ceiling height is 2.7m or less. Just make sure you fit at least three hinges to prevent warping.
Take a look at these multitasking doors with hidden storage
Be compact
Perhaps the simplest way to maximise space in your flat is to choose furniture that’s adequately sized. Oversized pieces will tend to make the space feel smaller; smaller pieces magically make the space feel much larger.
When in doubt, and without compromising on comfort, err on the side of the smaller options available.
Read more:
How to Ace Open Plan Living in India
Tell us:
How have you boosted the space and function of an open-plan room? Please share your tips in the Comments below.
Perhaps the simplest way to maximise space in your flat is to choose furniture that’s adequately sized. Oversized pieces will tend to make the space feel smaller; smaller pieces magically make the space feel much larger.
When in doubt, and without compromising on comfort, err on the side of the smaller options available.
Read more:
How to Ace Open Plan Living in India
Tell us:
How have you boosted the space and function of an open-plan room? Please share your tips in the Comments below.
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We just re-zoned our main living space to create an office area behind the bookshelves. Seems to be working well and means the kids now have a room away from us (the old office!) Loving the seating area near the kitchen rather than the dining table and if we have a party we can swap them back quickly enough.
Very good points!!. Extractor fans and Air vents are important. I agree with the small open spaces the food smells and lingers for some time in the air. Points taken and will make sure that I put room dividers and doors in a project like this. Crittall -Metal doors and frames are fantastic to keep both, light and open space frame, without risking the air ventilation in separate contained rooms or units of living space.