6 Ways to Tackle the Decorating Dilemma in Open-Plan Homes
How to make the most of your open living area, using materials, arrangements, architectural forms and furniture
Residential architecture of the last few decades has steered more towards open-plan living areas and less towards segregated spaces – not only because of the sense of depth and space that open areas create in a house, but because of their cohesive flow and inclusive, familial nature. However, even though the love affair with open-plan living spaces continues, so does the dilemma of how to best decorate them so they’re not only functional but aesthetically pleasing. Here are my go-to solutions to divide and conquer any open-plan living dilemmas you may have.
2. Linear arrangement
Open-plan living areas are usually long and rectangular, square and more symmetrical, or L-shaped. If your living space belongs to the first category, start from the kitchen and sequentially divide the living areas into zones, e.g. the dining zone, lounge area to the family/TV zone.
By delineating the areas by function you can furnish them accordingly. Make sure you leave enough space between zones for getting around easily, and consider how much space you need with dining chairs pulled out (usually at least 80 centimetres, or 100 centimetres for a high-traffic area).
Tip: Imagine the letter ‘H’ and try to leave access corridors along the sides and middle as if you were tracing a H in your space.
Open-plan living areas are usually long and rectangular, square and more symmetrical, or L-shaped. If your living space belongs to the first category, start from the kitchen and sequentially divide the living areas into zones, e.g. the dining zone, lounge area to the family/TV zone.
By delineating the areas by function you can furnish them accordingly. Make sure you leave enough space between zones for getting around easily, and consider how much space you need with dining chairs pulled out (usually at least 80 centimetres, or 100 centimetres for a high-traffic area).
Tip: Imagine the letter ‘H’ and try to leave access corridors along the sides and middle as if you were tracing a H in your space.
3. Visual division
A favourite way for architects and designers to provide visual segregation between two areas are dividers, screens or joinery. This is an opportunity to inject some design flair into an open-plan space, as dividers often serve more than one purpose.
This contemporary home in WA uses the back wall cabinetry with its media wall and fireplace as the unifying element, but deliberately creates visual separation between the lounge and dining rooms. The timber vertical slats that run floor to ceiling open and close, allowing the occupants to dial up or dial down the brightness and privacy of each space.
Wondering how to partition your home without building walls?
A favourite way for architects and designers to provide visual segregation between two areas are dividers, screens or joinery. This is an opportunity to inject some design flair into an open-plan space, as dividers often serve more than one purpose.
This contemporary home in WA uses the back wall cabinetry with its media wall and fireplace as the unifying element, but deliberately creates visual separation between the lounge and dining rooms. The timber vertical slats that run floor to ceiling open and close, allowing the occupants to dial up or dial down the brightness and privacy of each space.
Wondering how to partition your home without building walls?
In this San Francisco home, a custom-made bookcase/display cabinet is used as a room divider, serving two functions: A storage unit and visual separation for two living spaces.
Tip: Be mindful when building a solid dividing structure if your second zone doesn’t have any windows and is relying on getting natural light from the first zone.
Tip: Be mindful when building a solid dividing structure if your second zone doesn’t have any windows and is relying on getting natural light from the first zone.
4. Material consistency
When working with a large open-plan space, consistency in materials is key. Narrow down your primary materials or surfaces to three (maximum four) and, in a similar way to keeping a unified colour palette, stick to them. Using too many materials can create visual noise – in this case repetition is your friend and more is not necessarily better.
The three materials used in this heritage house include oak timber floors, which were continued in the kitchen cabinets, marble splashbacks and island bench surround, and the vertical panels of the floating ceiling. Reinforced through multiple applications, these elements keep the space tightly cohesive and elegant.
When working with a large open-plan space, consistency in materials is key. Narrow down your primary materials or surfaces to three (maximum four) and, in a similar way to keeping a unified colour palette, stick to them. Using too many materials can create visual noise – in this case repetition is your friend and more is not necessarily better.
The three materials used in this heritage house include oak timber floors, which were continued in the kitchen cabinets, marble splashbacks and island bench surround, and the vertical panels of the floating ceiling. Reinforced through multiple applications, these elements keep the space tightly cohesive and elegant.
Similarly, in this sleek contemporary space, the materials used are narrowed down to three: The large concrete sheets that pad the ceiling and are followed through in some of the walls, light-coloured timber floors, and black metal track lights and window frames.
Echoing the materials palette is the restrained colour palette, which has been kept to the same range of greys, blacks and neutrals. What makes this space interesting and dynamic are the multi-dimensional layers that have been built through textures, materiality and an understated refinement.
Echoing the materials palette is the restrained colour palette, which has been kept to the same range of greys, blacks and neutrals. What makes this space interesting and dynamic are the multi-dimensional layers that have been built through textures, materiality and an understated refinement.
5. Scale it up
Open-plan living areas can also be divided through the use of pillars, columns or staircases; all elements of scale. So if you have the ceiling height, be brave and add some architectural drama.
This imposing staircase is a sculptural piece in its own right; it serves a practical function, but also clearly marks the different living zones.
Open-plan living areas can also be divided through the use of pillars, columns or staircases; all elements of scale. So if you have the ceiling height, be brave and add some architectural drama.
This imposing staircase is a sculptural piece in its own right; it serves a practical function, but also clearly marks the different living zones.
6. Seamless transition
A great way to instantly double your open living space is to invite the outdoors in, as DDB has done in this Malvern house. When the bi-fold doors peel back, there is seamless transition between internal and external living, This is achieved by keeping the floor tiles very similar, both levels the same and colours and architectural elements throughout consistent.
It’s ideal because you get to choose when the space becomes one large entertainment or kids’ play area, or when it needs to function as multiple zones.
Tip: Tiles and polished concrete are great for both internal and external spaces. Be sure to check that the tiles are certified for outdoor use before ordering hundreds of square meters.
Read more:
How to Ace Open Plan Living in India
Tell us:
Do you live in an open-plan home? How have you tackled the decorating dilemma? Tell us in the Comments below.
A great way to instantly double your open living space is to invite the outdoors in, as DDB has done in this Malvern house. When the bi-fold doors peel back, there is seamless transition between internal and external living, This is achieved by keeping the floor tiles very similar, both levels the same and colours and architectural elements throughout consistent.
It’s ideal because you get to choose when the space becomes one large entertainment or kids’ play area, or when it needs to function as multiple zones.
Tip: Tiles and polished concrete are great for both internal and external spaces. Be sure to check that the tiles are certified for outdoor use before ordering hundreds of square meters.
Read more:
How to Ace Open Plan Living in India
Tell us:
Do you live in an open-plan home? How have you tackled the decorating dilemma? Tell us in the Comments below.
If you have a large open space that comprises a kitchen, lounge and dining area, as my clients did in this Federation house renovation, decide on your colour palette and stick to it. This will weave an invisible thread around the elements in your room and visually tie all the different areas together.
Here, we used a calming palette of blues and teals and kept the walls white to let those colours pop. The floors were resurfaced and stained a warm walnut, which was also the timber finish of the dining and side tables. Finally, black was used as the definition colour to delineate and add contrast; the kitchen bench tops referenced this in the black granite with flecks of blue mica surfaces.
Take a look at these living rooms that make open-plan work