11 Open-Plan Living Decorating Tips
Open-plan living can be so freeing but requires foresight and a few decorating tricks. Here are my best tips – non-reno ones included
Open-plan living has its detractors, but I love the concept for its modern, freeing take on spatial planning. While it can initially seem daunting to be presented with a large, open area, all you need is a few tricks and guidelines to go from being overwhelmed to embracing a world of possibilities.
Below I’ve included some of my top tips to help you plan your open-plan space, these are applicable whether you have a small apartment or a bungalow. To make it renter-friendly I’ve also included both renovation and non-reno advice and ideas. Let’s start with tips that don’t require renovation. Happy styling!
Below I’ve included some of my top tips to help you plan your open-plan space, these are applicable whether you have a small apartment or a bungalow. To make it renter-friendly I’ve also included both renovation and non-reno advice and ideas. Let’s start with tips that don’t require renovation. Happy styling!
2. Define with rugs
This is an easy styling trick that will instantly pull together a living area. A rug takes up a lot of visual weight and space, and therefore demarcates the room while serving some practical purposes. Such as; increasing the warmth, providing textural contrast, and even giving children a soft and safe place to play.
Generally speaking, circular rugs are cosier, while rectangular or square rugs are better for formal areas.
Browse for rug ideas
This is an easy styling trick that will instantly pull together a living area. A rug takes up a lot of visual weight and space, and therefore demarcates the room while serving some practical purposes. Such as; increasing the warmth, providing textural contrast, and even giving children a soft and safe place to play.
Generally speaking, circular rugs are cosier, while rectangular or square rugs are better for formal areas.
Browse for rug ideas
3. Swap out your lighting
You can also organise your open-plan space by looking up to the ceiling.
A simple solution is to use statement lighting within an area: a chandelier in the dining area, or dramatic pendants in the kitchen (as pictured). If you’re going for multiples of a certain light, make sure to do this in odd numbers – a single statement lamp or three are ideal.
The great thing about statement lighting is they also add depth to your room, which can be hard to create in what is essentially a single, open space. I also like to use large pieces like lamps as they create an ‘anchor’, giving your eye somewhere to rest so the area looks interesting instead of cluttered.
Renovation tip: consider a recessed ceiling, which can instantly divide a large open plan space.
You can also organise your open-plan space by looking up to the ceiling.
A simple solution is to use statement lighting within an area: a chandelier in the dining area, or dramatic pendants in the kitchen (as pictured). If you’re going for multiples of a certain light, make sure to do this in odd numbers – a single statement lamp or three are ideal.
The great thing about statement lighting is they also add depth to your room, which can be hard to create in what is essentially a single, open space. I also like to use large pieces like lamps as they create an ‘anchor’, giving your eye somewhere to rest so the area looks interesting instead of cluttered.
Renovation tip: consider a recessed ceiling, which can instantly divide a large open plan space.
4. Edit your colour palette
In a single large area, too many colours can become overwhelming and give a closed off feeling.
Using the same colours throughout an open-concept home is an efficient way of unifying your space. There are a few ways to think about your colour palette. You can choose three base materials/colours, which is what the example here shows – white, black, and wood.
You can also mix up this three-colour combo by using accent colours in various rooms. For instance, the entryway can be painted blue and have white accents, while the living area is painted white but uses blue accents. Try not to let the shades differ too greatly in order to keep the look consistent.
In a single large area, too many colours can become overwhelming and give a closed off feeling.
Using the same colours throughout an open-concept home is an efficient way of unifying your space. There are a few ways to think about your colour palette. You can choose three base materials/colours, which is what the example here shows – white, black, and wood.
You can also mix up this three-colour combo by using accent colours in various rooms. For instance, the entryway can be painted blue and have white accents, while the living area is painted white but uses blue accents. Try not to let the shades differ too greatly in order to keep the look consistent.
5. Colour isn’t just limited to paint and furniture
To really sharpen your colour palette, don’t forget to use consistent wood and metal tones in your open-concept space.
Not purchasing new pieces? Simply stain your wood furniture to achieve the same tone throughout the house. While you don’t have to be limited to using a single metal (e.g. steel) around the home, make sure the metals you use are the same tone (dark, silver, gold etc.). Everything is on display in an open space, so it’s important to streamline your decorating style and cut out visual noise.
To really sharpen your colour palette, don’t forget to use consistent wood and metal tones in your open-concept space.
Not purchasing new pieces? Simply stain your wood furniture to achieve the same tone throughout the house. While you don’t have to be limited to using a single metal (e.g. steel) around the home, make sure the metals you use are the same tone (dark, silver, gold etc.). Everything is on display in an open space, so it’s important to streamline your decorating style and cut out visual noise.
6. But don’t lose the personality
Think of your furniture as a foundation for your homewares to shine.
In a highly edited space, leaving surfaces bare can help to enhance line and length, but can also leave the home feeling cold and starkly minimal. I like to keep larger pieces clean, while letting accessories take centre stage. Don’t hide away your travel mementos and keepsakes – these items are what make your home special.
With that said, there are some guidelines you can follow to ensure your space is styled and not cluttered.
How to style a coffee table
Think of your furniture as a foundation for your homewares to shine.
In a highly edited space, leaving surfaces bare can help to enhance line and length, but can also leave the home feeling cold and starkly minimal. I like to keep larger pieces clean, while letting accessories take centre stage. Don’t hide away your travel mementos and keepsakes – these items are what make your home special.
With that said, there are some guidelines you can follow to ensure your space is styled and not cluttered.
How to style a coffee table
7. A small apartment necessity: pedestal tables
When space is minimal, I love using round pedestal tables as they enable you to easily accommodate more seating when you entertain. Chairs should always be tucked underneath the table when they’re not in use.
Space-saving tips for small apartments
When space is minimal, I love using round pedestal tables as they enable you to easily accommodate more seating when you entertain. Chairs should always be tucked underneath the table when they’re not in use.
Space-saving tips for small apartments
8. Delineate with shelves
Just like rugs, shelves have an uncanny ability to clearly define a space without interrupting the flow of a room.
Consider a dining room with a display shelf or cabinet, or a living area with an entertainment unit. In these cases, shelves are used either as a point to organise furniture around (for example, sofas and a coffee table organised around the entertainment unit) or to delineate a space (here the shelf is used as a ‘wall’). Be sure, however, to choose shelves that are appropriate for the room – you still need wide enough paths of travel between living spaces or your home will feel cramped and small.
Just like rugs, shelves have an uncanny ability to clearly define a space without interrupting the flow of a room.
Consider a dining room with a display shelf or cabinet, or a living area with an entertainment unit. In these cases, shelves are used either as a point to organise furniture around (for example, sofas and a coffee table organised around the entertainment unit) or to delineate a space (here the shelf is used as a ‘wall’). Be sure, however, to choose shelves that are appropriate for the room – you still need wide enough paths of travel between living spaces or your home will feel cramped and small.
9. Invest in appliances
Specifically if you’re renovating, the best cooker hood you can afford. This is essential to all homes if you plan on cooking regularly, but particularly important in small apartments when smells can permeate quickly. If you entertain often, you’ll also want to look for a quiet extractor fan so you can maintain party conversations while at the stove.
Specifically if you’re renovating, the best cooker hood you can afford. This is essential to all homes if you plan on cooking regularly, but particularly important in small apartments when smells can permeate quickly. If you entertain often, you’ll also want to look for a quiet extractor fan so you can maintain party conversations while at the stove.
10. Unite those materials
We previously discussed the importance of editing your colour palette to efficiently bring together your home. If you’re renovating, you have the added freedom of unifying your space with materials.
Treat your open-concept home as a single, large room. Using common surfaces will create a more uniform look, thereby making your home seem bigger. An easy way to achieve this is to use consistent countertop surfaces throughout, such as your dining table, kitchen counter, and even work spaces.
We previously discussed the importance of editing your colour palette to efficiently bring together your home. If you’re renovating, you have the added freedom of unifying your space with materials.
Treat your open-concept home as a single, large room. Using common surfaces will create a more uniform look, thereby making your home seem bigger. An easy way to achieve this is to use consistent countertop surfaces throughout, such as your dining table, kitchen counter, and even work spaces.
11. Lengthen with wall-mounted furniture
This is such a great trick for small apartment owners. Wall-mounted joinery is the easiest way to add storage, save space, and even give the illusion of a larger room. I recommend this trick for kitchens and bathrooms.
Make sure to design your furniture so they hover above the floor and below the ceiling. While this does add to the daily cleaning, the extra space above and below your wall-mounted cabinets will make walls visually recede and open up the space.
This is such a great trick for small apartment owners. Wall-mounted joinery is the easiest way to add storage, save space, and even give the illusion of a larger room. I recommend this trick for kitchens and bathrooms.
Make sure to design your furniture so they hover above the floor and below the ceiling. While this does add to the daily cleaning, the extra space above and below your wall-mounted cabinets will make walls visually recede and open up the space.
TELL US
Do you live in an open-concept home? What are some of the challenges you face and the tricks you have in combating them? Let us know in the Comments section below.
MORE
Browse open-plan home designs
Do you live in an open-concept home? What are some of the challenges you face and the tricks you have in combating them? Let us know in the Comments section below.
MORE
Browse open-plan home designs
The first thing to tackle is the layout configuration. Because open-plan living is a modern take on space planning, remember you may not need to have designated ‘conventional’ areas. The easiest thing to do is to make a list of spaces you need according to your lifestyle. If you don’t eat and cook at home often, consider doing away with your dining table and opt for a cosy breakfast nook in the corner, or even a high table for the occasional meal. If you work from home, carve out a specific work area.
Once you have your ‘rooms’ sorted, you’ll begin seeing the paths of travel. This is industry talk for circulation space, or the walkways to and between spaces. While borderless, you require paths of travel in order to organise your spaces into defined living areas. Remember to give at least one metre of walkway width for each path.