Furniture for Open Plan Living Spaces

Welcome to the blog! Today, we’ll be looking into creative ways to divide your open plan living space to achieve a functional, family-friendly room.

Think creating walls, the clever use of dressers and bookcases, and separating areas using your furniture. All easy tactics you can use to create your dream living space in little time with very little effort.

So why not make yourself comfortable with a cup of tea in hand and have a read through our helpful guide…

What should I think about when organising my open plan living area?

Space: How big is your open plan living space? Is the area big enough to comfortably accommodate large items?

Use: What do you use your living space for most often? Think about how much space you need in each area and plan accordingly.

Creating walls: Creating ‘walls’ needs a bit of imagination, but is easily done. You could place large bookshelves perpendicular to the wall. Honeycomb bookshelves (i.e. those with square storage holes and no backs) are great for dividing space, although their design means you have to fill them carefully so as not to have things falling off the other side. Traditional bookcases are a good choice if you’d prefer to create a block wall, though this can limit the amount of light passing through your divided area, so do bear this in mind.

Sideboards and dressers also make excellent room dividers. Why not place your dresser perpendicular to one wall and move your dining table into the "dining room" created this way? You can use the same principle to create an office or homework area.

Separating areas: Fancy your very own cosy snug? Simply rearrange your seating. Sofas can be placed with their backs facing the room, whilst armchairs can be swung around so that both pieces of furniture form an ‘L’ shape to create a snug.

Other things to consider when dividing your space

Lighting: Adding bulky furniture can darken your room, so where possible, place larger items nearer a source of light.

Finishes: Different materials and finishes will create different vibes, so think about the look you want to achieve. Painted farmhouse-style furniture, for example, is a great way to create a modern, country feel, whilst natural and waxed wood finishes create a lovely, warm traditional vibe.

Less is more: Don't cram too much furniture into your living space. Whilst a lonely sideboard in the middle of your room could look like you’re simply halfway through rearranging your furniture, too many pieces will make the room feel overstuffed and disjointed.

Textures: Textures are useful for separating different living spaces. Soft sheepskin and wool throws are ideal for a lounge space, whilst glass and ceramic set the scene in dining areas.

Dividing your open plan living space checklist:

• How much room do I have to play with?
• What areas do I want to create? Workspace, lounge, snug, play area, reading area, dining room…
• Create a floor plan to see how everything will work together.
• Think about the look you want your room to have: modern, traditional or a mix of both.

If you’d like to browse our range of living room furniture, simply visit our Banbury store. We'd be delighted to answer all your questions!

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