It’s quite an achievement for one particular design trend to rule the world for over 5 years. But that’s exactly what the open floor plan did. There were many reasons why it rose to prominence within home design circles. Firstly the culture of the modern world changed, whereby more people wanted to live in cities like London. The population grew immensely in the previous decade. Suddenly, every single inch of space in the home became twice as valuable. Therefore, smashing down the walls and creating one large room for the downstairs became the right thing to do. This new style also added value to a home because it was so hotly desired. But now, there’s a want to return to individual spaces. Is it possible to have both?
The living room is for living
The main room in the modern house is perhaps the easiest to divide. Think of it this way, you want your rooms to be flexible and offer you space to do what you want, individually. As an open floor will dictate, everyone can see each other, no matter if you’re in the kitchen, dining room or living room. However, one great way to divide spaces up is to use different area rugs. Put your sofa and coffee table on one rug, and your downstairs desktop computer and office chair on another rug. This creates notably ‘bald’ space on the floor, so without creating borders you’ve allowed the empty space to show, each area has its own room. Orienting your furniture will work incredibly well to give each zone its own character. Individual seats should face the windows so it’s a great place to sit and read a book using natural light. The sofa and coffee table are for laying back and relaxing.
A study area
Open floor plans don’t give you privacy but that doesn’t mean you can’t create areas that are more respected than others. A study area where you place a desk up against a wall, along with your computers and bookcase, definitely commands more attention and respect. People know not to disturb someone who is studying, thus there’s an invisible barrier around this zone, which tells people not to invade that space. Putting up a bookcase alongside your desk would give you even more room to breathe. Get bolder, and place a rocking or leather seat in front of your bookcase, giving you a place to read in peace. If you’re struggling to picture this, speak with Residential Architects that know how to divide open floor plans. They have a unique process of using 3D videos to show you their designs before they start the construction process.
Light and dark
LED lights are a godsend when it comes to dividing up a room. They are so small, they can be placed anywhere. Placing lights around an area like a border gives a zone of individual lighting. A cabinet or drawer with an LED lamp standing on it, while the surrounding area remains darker, creates a lamp post effect, separating the area covered by light.
It’s very possible to divide an open floor plan, but it has to be done subtly. Using area rugs for each section, without them touching, creates a bold border.
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