Initiating open floor plan homes has been a piece of the interior design vernacular for a bit of time now, and has been criticized as both “in” and “out” trends as the years have passed by. As it has been developing, the concept has slightly evolved into a place where it is no longer “trendy,” but rather a unique design choice that has the potential to be made beautifully if done right and in the right space. Just like adding antique furniture to a modern house, it could even lead you to your dream home. There are a lot of perks to an open concept floor plan: it gives you a sense of greater space, it assists in social interaction, and it improves the efficiency of living space making it easier to keep an eye on your little ones (if you have any). If you are someone who has been thinking about going to an open floor plan and revitalizing your living space with an open concept, then you have stumbled across the right post. Here are a few design tips to create purpose and cohesion, even without the existence of walls.

Tip Number One: Define Your Space with Rugs

There are a lot of things that you can do with a great area rug in an open design floor plan in your living room (or any space). They have been called the “saving grace” of the open floor plan. When you look at images of an open floor plan model without rugs, they look big, empty, cold, and uninviting. Rugs not only have the ability to delineate your living spaces and serve as a guide for foot traffic, but they also make the large open space feel much more cozy and grounded. You can even consider layering your rugs in more unique and interesting designs to signify a living area, dining room, great room, or family room. Rugs are amazing because they provide your room with subtle boundaries without changing the visual airspace. 

Tip Number Two: Symmetry is Your New Best Friend, Take Advantage

If you want to design a floor plan, then arcdimension is the right choice for you as their architectural designers will ensure that your floor plans are created with the highest level of accuracy. One easy way is to create a more balanced look with furniture pieces that are large and demand attention. Ideas like doubling up sofas and complementing them with a large dining table and chairs to match can play up the look of symmetry and bring your entire room together. A neutral palette and using more natural materials can also help you keep a room that is larger looking light and bright at all times. 

Tip Number Three: Color Coordinating Brings the Room Together, and don’t be Afraid of Being BOLD

When you have a large, open space, it is a really great idea to choose colors in a much more purposeful manner than you might have for a closed room. For example, consider a gallery wall layout that melds together patterns, colors, and shapes to create visual interest. Start by choosing the color palette that you will use overall and incorporate it into each individual space when decorating. Once you have done that, choose two or three accent colors and sprinkle them around each area in the room in the form of fabrics, rugs, and other accessories. The accent colors will help you divide the room a bit while the overall palette that is more neutral will give the open area a greater sense of cohesion. This doesn’t mean you should be afraid of going bold. Large, open spaces without enough color can give off the vibes that are bland and empty. 

Tip Number Four: Lighting is Everything; Expand Beyond Simple Table Lamps

Having the right lighting in a room goes a very long way when it comes to dividing your open floor plans into workable living areas. In the kitchen, over-counter pendant lighting is a great add and serves as a great out of the way light source. Adding a chandelier over the dining table can also help you to define the area of that space in a vertical sense. In the living room, wall sconces or floor lamps are necessary ways to add light, as well as a table lamp on the side tables to illuminate those areas in a much more distinct and cohesive way. And, one of the most important options, install some recessed lighting both as an ambient source of light and to direct the overall flow of the room.

Tip Number Five: Take into Consideration the Foot Traffic in your Home

When you are designing for an open floor plan home, use your furniture to create specific stations within the larger spaces of the plan to allow the space to feel more navigable. There are times that a large single room can feel like a cave or without direction. However, a large single room that has obvious spaces for conversation and comfort (living room, sofa), eating and/or working (tables, dining area). And finding and preparing food (kitchen) makes the room much more approachable and comfortable. It is important to consider that in between these spaces, there should be a clear path that has enough room for people to pass by one another comfortably. 

If you are someone who has been going back-and-forth in your head about whether or not you would be able to utilize an open floor plan home, hopefully you were able to pick up a few ideas that could sway your decision. There is a lot that you can do to these spaces to make them look cozy and welcoming without cluttering the area to a point where it becomes unbearable. Take these tips into consideration and enjoy the process of decorating and establishing your home.