Interior design open space: The magic of the open space concept

Open Floor Plan Design: 10 Pro Ideas for a Cohesive Look

Open floor plan design has become increasingly popular, and for a good reason. An open concept house offers a wealth of benefits that traditional closed-in floor plans just can’t beat. Read on to see if open concept living is right for you, as well as our favorite open floor plan ideas for for a well-designed look throughout!

Open Floor Plan Design 101

Practical open floor plan layout by Decorilla designer, Candis G.

Whether you live in a small starter home or a sprawling estate, an open floor plan design can be a great way to make the most of your space. For that reason, this type of layout is ideal for, more or less, anyone. However, there are a few things to keep in mind before making the switch.

Pro Tip: For a cohesive design choose one decor style for your open floor plan. Take our Free Interior Design Style Quiz to discover your unique decorating style today!

What Is an Open-Plan Design?

Living room ideas for open floor plan by Decorilla design, Joyce R.

Open floor plan design eliminates the need to use walls or partitions, making your home feel much airier and more inviting. It conveys the feeling of spaciousness by making living areas flow into each other. In an open floor plan layout, the kitchen, dining room, and living room are typically connected with no walls in between.

Benefits of An Open Concept House

Modern open floor plan kitchen and living room by Decorilla designer, Meral Y.

There are plenty of reasons to love an open concept house. Here are a few of the top benefits:

Easy entertainment. With a stylish combined living, dining and kitchen, you can interact with your guests while cooking or mingling. This is ideal for hosting dinner parties or holiday gatherings.
Open concept layouts promote togetherness. If you have young kids, this can be a great way to keep them within your sight while they’re playing. The absence of physical barriers also encourages family members to interact more.
Increased natural light. Without walls blocking the flow, an open concept home lets in plenty of sunlight, improving the overall feel and mood.

Drawbacks of Open Floor Plan Ideas

Contemporary open concept design by Decorilla designer, Katerina P.

Naturally, there are a few potential drawbacks to consider before making the switch to an open floor plan. Here are a few things to keep in mind:

Less privacy. Fewer physical partitions mean limited seclusion.
Open floor plan design can increase heating and cooling costs. Large open spaces, especially those with high ceilings are generally more expensive to maintain temperatures in.
Open floor plans can be challenging to decorate and style to create a cohesive look throughout the space. However, we’re here to help with this!

10 Pro Tips for Decorating an Open Floor Plan

Living and dining open concept design by Decorilla designer, Lori D.

With a little bit of creativity and some simple tips, you can easily make an open floor plan design work for you. Here are the best ways to cohesively design your space:

1. Stick to a Neutral Color Scheme

Neutral open floor plan design by Decorilla designer, Julian Francisco A.

A neutral color scheme is always a safe bet when decorating an open floor plan. By using neutrals, you can effortlessly create a cohesive look throughout the space without worrying about clashing colors. In addition, neutrals are easy to work with and can be easily enhanced with colorful decoration and dressed up or down depending on the occasion.

2. Use Area Rugs to Define Different Zones

Modern open floor plan design by Decorilla designer, Alessia G.

If you want to create visually defined areas within your open floor plan, area rugs are a great way to do it. Using rugs to characterize spaces allows you to easily create a cohesive look that still feels open and airy. Moreover, rugs add an extra comfort level and can help reduce noise levels in your home – something you might appreciate in an open concept layout.

3. Incorporate Plenty of Storage

Transitional open floor plan ideas by Decorilla designer, Leonora M.

One of the challenges of an open floor plan design is storage. These solutions often feature less depository space than you would find in a traditional closed-in floor plan. To make up for that, be sure to incorporate plenty of storage varieties. Those could include adding extra cabinets and tall shelves or even investing in some creative hidden storage solutions.

4. Utilize Different Furniture Pieces to Define Areas

Entertainment room with open floor plan layout by Decorilla designer, Laura A.

If you want to create distinct areas within your open floor plan – but would rather not rely on area rugs only – try using diverse furniture pieces. It could be a pair of accent armchairs for the living room, a home office set, and similar. Feel free to play but don’t clash the styles in order to maintain a united look. Using well-curated furniture pieces will maximize visual interest while keeping the space looking organized and structured.

5. Incorporate Plenty of Lighting

Modern open layout house by Decorilla designer, Darya N.

Don’t forget to incorporate plenty of lighting into your open floor plan design. This will help brighten up the space and make it feel more inviting. You can also use a combination of natural and artificial lighting to achieve the perfect look. Just be careful not to go overboard – too much light can be just as bad as too little.

6. Accent Wall Focal Points

Colorful open concept house by Decorilla designer, Jessica S.

When you’re dealing with a large open space it is important to draw the eyes around the room. A perfect solution can be a boldly wallpapered accent wall. Be sure to use a pattern with a color scheme that connects with the rest of the room. While you want the wall to catch people’s attention, you don’t want it to become an eyesore.

7. Invite the Outdoors In

Indoor outdoor open concept living by Decorilla designer, Meral Y.

If your climate allows, include the great outdoors into your open concept living arrangement. A retractable wall is a great way to eliminate boundaries between the inside and out – making the two spaces feel like one. Coordinate any patio furniture with the pieces you have selected for the inside. And be sure choose a layout that takes advantage of a view if you’re so lucky to have one.

8. Think Vertical

Organic open floor plan design by Decorilla designer, Htike S.

Tall furniture pieces can be a great way to add interest and definition to an open floor plan. By using floor-to-ceiling pieces like bookcases, cabinets (or even trees in your biophilic design), you can easily break up the space and make it feel more cohesive. The important thing is to maintain balance. Ultimately, you want the elements in the room to work with each other, rather than against.

9. Small-Scale Open Floor Plan

Small open concept design by Decorilla designer, Melissa T.

Open concept living isn’t only for houses with massive footprints. The same ideas can apply to smaller homes and apartments. When decorating an open floor plan with less square footage it is important to keep proportions in mind. Opt for pieces that have a more compact build and keep space available for an easy flow of foot traffic.

10. Add Visual Interest with Artwork and Accessories

Decorating an open floor plan with pops of color by Decorilla designer, Casey H.

Last but not least, add distinctive character and visual interest to an open floor plan layout by incorporating artwork and accessories. Feel free to experiment with different types and even styles, but keep in mind that too many accessories can make a space feel cluttered and chaotic.

Need help designing your open floor plan?

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Images: [1, Decorilla designer portfolios]

10 Tips To Organize Spaces Without Walls!

Open floor plans have become almost an absolute must in every modern home. Long gone are the days when box-like rooms clearly defined each space and its exclusive function. Contemporary homes are all about rooms that flow into one another without any visual obstacles. Interior decorating and design is not just about themes, colors, furnishings and accessories. While most of us are excited about shopping for these additions to a new home, planning and decorating an interior is all about utilizing available space to the hilt. And an open floor plan does exactly that with style and panache!

Incorporating an open floor plan does not mean that each individual area cannot have an identity of its own. If anything, interiors look all the more appealing when a subtle yet distinct difference exists between the living room, kitchen and dining area that make up the open floor plan. Here are a few pointers that will help you organize these spaces beautifully without ever having to box your way with walls…

1. Paths of Travel

The best way to not just organize a space without walls, but also to plan for it is by starting with a list of functional spaces that you will need in the larger, open area. This is not as hard as it sounds–you just need to have clarity about how you will utilize the open floor plan. You might want a small kitchen, along with a large and exclusive dining area and a fireplace that serves both the kitchen and the living room. Requirements vary both with your own needs and the amount of space you have to work out.

Once this is sorted out, the paths of travel between each area automatically start to emerge. These wall-less corridors and walkways are the simplest way in which you can organize your open floor plan. They create virtual borders that give definition to the entire area with ease.

2. A Transparent, Glassy Division!

The extensive use of glass in contemporary homes is no coincidence. Its transparent, brilliant presence gives a room dominated by stone, concrete and wood both textural and visual contrast. Glass partitions and sliding glass doors are a perfect way to organize and separate a large room into a smaller area without creating an opaque obstacle. Since the partition does not hinder your line of sight, the open and airy appeal of the room is not lost.

The flow of natural light and the views offered by the room are also left untouched, and most glass partitions can be moved around or even removed completely with little effort. If you are not a fan of using a large glass door, then smaller glass dividers are a great substitute.

3. Delineate the Space with Rugs

Another amazingly simple way to organize large, open spaces is by using smart and appropriate area rugs. Using rugs is a convenient way to demarcate various spaces in an open floor plan while bringing a sense of sophistication and posh elegance to your home. Area rugs are available in a variety of styles, hues and patterns, and you can even change them seasonally to create a trendy atmosphere indoors. Pick a more formal-looking rug for the dining space, while light and breezy patterns look appealing in the living room. Rugs bring the decor together and clearly create a more organized and curated space.

4. Room-Within-A-Room

The entire idea of arranging a space methodically and aesthetically in an open floor plan is essentially about creating several rooms within a larger room. Doing this without walls means you need to create other distinct visual properties that separate one nook from another. A slightly raised floor in one section of the room easily creates a distinction between various areas while making the transition smooth and appealing. This approach is often used in modern homes to distinguish the kitchen from the rest of the room while making it the instant focal point. Just add a couple of small steps to give it better definition.

5. Look Towards the Ceiling!

If the elevated floor does not do the trick for you, then the heavens will surely step in and help! A ceiling is not just a simple white roof that offers shelter. A special false ceiling with the right recessed lighting can create a room-within-a-room with ease. A smart dropped ceiling or even carefully placed wooden beams in a certain area of the room immediately draw your attention and help organize that individual area by clearly setting its borders. Much like a raised floor, a dropped ceiling also allows you to highlight a certain feature in the open floor plan in an understated manner.

6. Recessed and Dramatic Lighting

This one sounds innately simple, yet lighting is the single most important feature in decorating any interior. Regardless of the quality of decor or the planning that you put in, bad lighting can create a dark and confused look even in an open and airy setting. Use a set of recessed lights evenly across the floor to fashion a basic layer of lighting and then add several layers on top of this to distinguish various individual spaces. A dramatic chandelier above the dining table or stunning pendant lights illuminating the kitchen island can help with the organization and the visual appeal immensely.

7. Stylish Shelving Units

Smart shelving units present another functional way to divide the room without actually impeding the flow of one room into another. A contemporary, sleek shelf just behind the dining table or an entertainment unit in the living room give the respective areas an organized and distinct look. Make sure, though, that the shelves do not encroach on the pathways you have created and are compact enough to fit within the defined space. Since most modern kitchens use shelves and storage units extensively to delineate their boundaries, it is not a bad idea to use a similar approach in the other areas.

8. Wooden Slats and Plasterboard Walls

Skillfully placed wooden slats that double as elegant walls and plasterboard walls with windows are an option for those who wish to get the best of both worlds. These smart additions are not as rigid as conventional walls, yet they offer the privacy and convenience that comes with them. Both solutions are especially useful in creating a semi-open kitchen in an open floor plan that shares a common theme with the adjoining space.

9. Choosing the Color Scheme

Organization can also come with the smart use of color. Since an open floor plan demands one uniform backdrop for the entire floor, employ a single neutral color for the walls. But pops of accent colors in the living room in the form of throw pillows, dining table chairs with distinct hues, and kitchen cabinets in interesting colors can create several rooms within the single large space. Interesting artwork and matching rugs complete this vibrant and trendy look.

10. Decor and Drapes

While an open floor plan looks really amazing when it is kept neat and tidy, it is definitely not for those who tend to put off cleaning weekend after weekend! Drapes are a simple solution to this problem, as they allow you to switch between private enclosures and open rooms with ease. Finally, appropriate furniture placement completes a perfect open living area. Group decor carefully to fashion small, individual islands that showcase a clear purpose. Do not be afraid to use the back of your sofa or a small shelf as a simple divider!

These ideas should help you in creating spaces with distinct borders in an open floor plan and should give your home a far more organized, tidy appeal. Just make sure that every piece of decor looks proportional when placed next to the other and you have a cozy, contemporary home that embraces openness with flair!

Sherry is a blogger who loves to live her life to the fullest. She enjoys everything associated with design, décor and stylish modern trends. Born in California, Sherry has grown up on open ranches and in a wild setting, which has defined her taste for design and developed her interest in examining how structures and homes interact with the beauti[…]

Open plan living room in interior design

The plan of a spacious living room can be drawn in different configurations.

Simple rooms that combine the kitchen and the eating area create certain space modeling problems.

Despite this, nowadays more and more houses are being built with at least one open living space, which can effectively combine several functional areas.

Homes with a well-designed open plan living area are becoming more and more popular, so an effective reorganization of your home’s space may well increase its value.

The key to a stylish living space is freedom of movement with an overview of all areas while maintaining the distinctive features of each of them.

Multiple Perspectives

The best place for planning a spacious room is the deep part of the house, closer to the rear area.

The rooms located at the entrance can be relatively traditional, while the more distant rooms are conducive to joint relaxation with the family.

If you’re planning a similar space, make sure the windows offer the best possible views of the landscaped backyard.

Panoramic glass doors add a spacious effect, and French doors and windows located on the sides also visually expand the interior.

The double or even triple aspect is certainly a call to action. Adding skylights or skylights will visually enlarge the space.

If this is not an option, opt for full-wall tall windows to achieve a similar effect.

L-shape

Angles and letter-like shapes enhance the open floor plan.

This is due to the fact that once in a huge, unrestricted space, you may experience a feeling of cold desertedness, and not a pleasant home. L-shapes tend to organize a room, making it cozier.

The L-shaped hall creates three separate functional areas within an open plan living area, which is very convenient for comfortable furniture arrangement.

Most likely it will be a living and dining room, with a kitchen located in the corner.

If the shape of the room does not resemble the letter L, you can use a corner sofa to correct the living room space.

This piece of furniture is the perfect way to make this area cozier in the broad context of a rectangular room.

Color Coordination

The use of color in the open floor plan of the house should not be underestimated. Of course, I want all functional areas to be different from each other.

But don’t give preference to cardinally different color combinations.

Choose a neutral color as your main color. Accents in different zones will become subtle distinguishing features. For example, fuchsia in the upholstery of the dining room will harmonize well with the tones of pink in the living room.

Rusty orange sofa will be an interesting element in the bar area, where there are wall decorations and doors in the same color.

Mezzanine floors

Open floor plan does not mean that all areas are on the same level. Mezzanines and platforms look great in such a space. When creating a library in the living room / kitchen area, it would be nice to use the mezzanine floor.

The mezzanine is ideal for watching children read a book. An elevated dining room is very convenient, which will effectively divide the space into separate zones.

For homes built on uneven ground, mezzanine floors are literally the only way to create an open floor plan.

Open space and love for black: an interior for a young couple

Alexey Ivanov and Pavel Gerasimov from the design studio Geometrium designed an apartment for customers who lived in the USA for several years.

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Publication date:

09.11.2022

Material prepared:

Olga Vologdina

Photo:

Boris Bochkarev

Stylist:

Yana Yakhina, Polina Rozhkova

Author of the project:

Alexey Ivanov, Pavel Gerasimov

Area : 73 sq. m

The clients are a young couple. The guys love to travel and lived in the USA for some time. They are close to the idea of the absence of a separate hallway and the unification of zones into a single space, which is typical for American interiors. It was this feature of the organization that formed the basis of the planning decision.

The center of attraction in the living room is a round table (factory “TOK”), designed for four people. It visually divides the room into a kitchen area and a recreation area. Chairs, individual production. On the floor – ash parquet from the Grande factory.

A spacious loggia is attached to the recreation area, which adds light and air to the space. On the table is a ceramic sculpture by Konstantin Stanovov. Painting by Vyacheslav Ereshchuk, Blik Art Gallery. Decorative pillows, plaid, Enere.it. Floor lamp, L’Appartment.

The entrance hall is visually separated from the living room with the help of color and finishing material – slate tiles. Under the closet at the entrance there is a niche in which the cat’s litter box is hidden.

To create a larger effect, a backlight is built into the panel behind the TV. Sofa, factory “TOK”. On the table is a ceramic sculpture by Konstantin Stanovov. Painting by Vyacheslav Ereshchuk, Blik Art Gallery. Decorative pillows, plaid, Enere.it. Floor lamp, L’Appartment. Gypsum wall panels, W108 Zigzag.

“The apartment has a not quite standard configuration: it seems to wrap itself around, and there is a wall at an angle of 45 degrees,” Alexey Ivanov and Pavel Gerasimov note. “The original layout with a twist set the main layout vector, diagonal lines appeared, and the space itself became more dynamic.”

Due to blank facades and built-in storage systems, the kitchen harmoniously fits into the living room space and does not look bulky. The bar island is an additional working area with storage systems. The floor in the kitchen is finished with Porcelanosa porcelain stoneware from the XLight collection.

In the corner between the work surface and the kitchen cabinets, there is a niche, as the authors of the project call it, a “parking for equipment” with sockets and all the appliances. Hanging lamp above the bar island, Donolux. Faucet Omoikiri, Takamatsu.

The public part of the apartment is an open space where the functional areas are marked out conditionally (with the help of materials and colors). So, in contrast to the dark entrance group with slate tiling, a lighter living room stands out. Gypsum panels are used in its design, which visually break the white planes of the walls. For the backsplash, large-format porcelain stoneware was chosen in the same shade as the kitchen furniture, but with a stone texture, this makes the interior more interesting, sophisticated and sophisticated.

View of the public area from the corridor leading to the private block.

The owner’s love for the dark color was also reflected in the design. The main shade in the interior is graphite. In the living room, it is present locally, but in the bedroom it reveals itself in full force – the room is almost completely designed in dark color, resembling a cozy, chamber box. “Our clients travel a lot and wanted to keep the bedroom simple and clean, to resemble a hotel room,” the architects explain. “And, of course, when choosing a gamma, we could not ignore their craving for dark tones and the absence of bright colors.” For an even greater effect of unification, the architects used the technique of transition of one material and color from room to room. For example, the kitchen chairs are custom-made to match the color of the ottoman in the bedroom.

The master bedroom uses the same techniques as in the public area: the walls are decorated with plaster panels and painted in a dark graphite color. Bed linen, Linen Texture. Vase, L’Appartment. Pillows, Enere.it.

Fragments of a bedroom. Pouffe, individual production. Radiator, Guardo. Decorative pillows, Enere.it.

The storage systems in the living room are hidden as much as possible so as not to draw too much attention to themselves. They are hidden behind the facades, which merge into wall panels, creating the effect of a solid cube finished with wood veneer. Another large storage area is located in the kitchen. It is a combination of high-to-ceiling cabinets and hanging upper cabinets. In addition, additional storage spaces are equipped on both sides of the bar island. In the bedroom itself, they decided to abandon wardrobes – there is a small dressing room next to it, organized on an attached and insulated loggia.

In the shower room, Vitra’s black polished marble-look porcelain stoneware panel is the focal point. The walls and floor are finished with Italon light-colored porcelain stoneware. Shelf, Boca Line. Sink, Sanindusa. Shower system, Hansgrohe.

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