It’s not surprising that open floor plan layouts have become popular. It’s simple: They give an airy feel to any space, giving an instant aesthetic flair and making it easier to move and use the area.
Almost all homeowners are jumping into this bandwagon, but they’re forgetting one consideration: the challenge of designing the space. It’s a bit more difficult to arrange a space in an open-concept, precisely because you just have one big of a box to fill — with no walls, no furniture yet, and no guideposts whatsoever. The best way to deal with this is to design like how pros do it. Here are the golden rules for open-concept space expert designers swear by:
Divide the space into sections
The best way to tackle an expansive, empty space is to section it up. Usually, in most homes, you already have a concrete and visible area for the kitchen. This is because new properties often already have built-in sinks or cabinets, so you wouldn’t have a problem with this area.
What you have to decide on is the other sections of the house, mainly the living and dining room. Determine where you would entertain guests, where you could set up a reading nook, where the storage areas will be, and where the dining table is supposed to be placed.
Use area rugs to define different zones or place a unique piece of furniture to provide a visual cue of what a space is for. For instance, as Authentic Provence and other interior designers suggest, a chaise lounge chair in the living room and a Stilnovo floor lamp are ideal for a reading nook.
Take note of the principle of cohesion
Aside from the challenge of where to start, open-concept spaces present the dilemma of how to tie everything together. Your space will be looked at as a single whole, so each element has to contribute to a cohesive look. You can pull that off with a monochromatic color scheme.
When the entire space is covered in white or beige, the uniform hue will be able to pull everything together already. Another way you can bring cohesion is by repeating design elements that have the same texture or material. For instance, most contemporary homes feature aesthetic details that have steel finishes in fireplaces, floor lamps, dining chairs, and pendant lamps. If you replicate similar-looking elements throughout the space, you easily bring unity to the overall design.
Don’t forget to have a focal point
With an open space, there’s so much for the eyes to take in. Too many aesthetic details to process. This could make your design visually cluttered. As with any other interior project, make sure to have a defined focal point. Find that one star design element that you would want to highlight.
Some homes have windows as the focal point, while others make it the fireplace. The focal point is helpful not just when looking at and appreciating the space. It can also guide you in your design. When you already have a piece to emphasize, you can build your design from there.
It’s a bit intimidating to tackle open-concept spaces, but with these rules, you can pull it off. Remember these principles so you can take better advantage of your airy home.
