In open plan rooms, it's all about zoning - here's how to get it right.
Open plan interiors – created by knocking down internal walls to transform two or three small, often dark rooms into one larger one, or by building an extension - have become virtually synonymous with contemporary living. A combined living, kitchen and dining area is versatile, practical, maximises light and space, and is also very sociable, allowing you to keep an eye on the kids or chat to guests while cooking supper or generally fiddling around in the kitchen. However, such a room needs to be extremely well thought out, with clearly defined zones, or the overall effect will be confusing and messy.
But just how do you create 'zones'? The side of a worktop or island makes a natural boundary to divide the kitchen from the rest of the room. Or, you can use shelving units to divide spaces. You can also use colour to delineate spaces. For example, if you want to keep the space open, position sofas around a colourful rug to create the 'living' area, then bring that colour subtly to other parts of the room - perhaps in a vase on the dining table, or by using the same colour in wallpaper or paint on a wall at the other end of the room . All these tricks will help define the spaces, but also unite them.
If you are planning an open plan space, ensure that there’s adequate ventilation – you’ll need an effective extractor fan and windows which are easy to open, so the living area isn’t filled with cooking smells. And plan storage and heating carefully, as lack of wall space means that you’ll be limited as to where you can fit radiators and shelves, so underfloor heating and freestanding shelving units may prove to be far more practical options.
However convivial you like your living area to be, there will be times when some privacy is required, so it’s important to be able to screen off part of the room. A freestanding, open shelving unit, used for both display and storage, is ideal for hiding a work area, though sliding wooden or opaque glass doors which slide right across the room are more effective in keeping noise out. Alternatively, opt for lightweight sliding panels which are less obtrusive.
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