How to manage and design your open-plan home

Kayla Gulec Kayla Gulec
Realizzazioni, MARCHI CUCINE MARCHI CUCINE Cocinas de estilo moderno
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When we think of modern homes, the first thing we think of is openness. Why is that? It's because most modern homes nowadays were designed with an open floor plan. This setup is certainly not new here at homify, but for those of you who are just starting out in home design, this piece is for you.

We're going over just how to design and manage an open-plan home, and after reading this article, you'll realise just how easy it can be. From where to start and how to keep up, this article explains it all. 

So, take a deep breath and prepare to take notes!

1. Where to start

The beginning of any project is almost always the most important step. When you're just starting your home's interior decorating plan, there are a few things you need to consider: the colour palette and the size and purpose of your space. White is by far the easiest colour to work with when we're talking about walls. It acts as a blank canvas, allowing you to enhance it with any decorations you see fit. If you do want colour, however, don't abandon white walls just yet. You could use accent walls or furnishings to bring in your desired colour.

The next thing you want to think about is the available size you have and the purpose of each piece of furniture. Measure your dimensions and the dimensions of your furniture. This will help you organise your layout better. You can also use a piece of graph paper and draw out your plan before you put anything into action. The functionality of your furniture is very important, especially for those of you who are working in smaller spaces. You first want to make sure that each piece of furniture is there for a specific purpose (such as the couch for relaxing and socialising) before you start adding in decorative items. This will also help you when it comes to decluttering and figuring out what's really unnecessary in your home.

2. Light sources

homify Puertas y ventanas modernas Cortinas

Next, think about your light sources. Natural light is always the best kind of light, as it illuminates the whole room and brings in a bright and airy ambience. Big windows are a staple of the open floor plan, as it makes the space feel truly unobstructed. Natural light also helps to highlight your decorative prowess in ways artificial light cannot. 

But of course, artificial light is necessary these days. When choosing your artificial light, you want to make sure your main light source adequately fills the whole space, and if it can't, be sure to include smaller accent lights that fill in the gaps. But be careful–you don't want a bunch of random lights scattered about. Be calculating in your planning.

3. Separating spaces

Some people aren't fans of the open-plan home because they like the idea of separating spaces, but what they don't realise is that you can do this in an open-plan home, too. There are a couple ways to do this: you can use subtle visual separators or small room dividers. Visual separators include things like area rugs that fit underneath the area they are designating. Take this home as the perfect example. The dining room and living area occupy the same space, but each area has a small rug that labels the room. As for room dividers, these options are quite extensive in themselves. Room dividers include things like foldable partitions, curtains or blinds, bookshelves, low-level walls, or even plants.

4. Using different levels

Another way to separate spaces is by using your home's differentiating levels. Just look at this image–the living room is separated from the kitchen and dining room by a raised platform. We still have an open space, but the living room seems like its own entity this way. It's also not a bad idea to separate these spaces according to their use: kitchen and dining room go together because of their common association with food, while the living room stands alone as a relaxation and interaction zone.

5. Connecting spaces

The open-plan home must have a good flow to it, meaning that there should be a logical and seamless transition between rooms, and you can achieve this with placement and decor. Without a logical setup, your home would just end up looking like you threw a bunch of random furnishings into a room. Take this home as an example. The kitchen area in the back blends right in with the dining room table thanks to the coordinating furnishings and orientation of the table. 

6. The magic mixture

Salón-comedor modelo Chipiona de Casas inHaus. homify Comedores de estilo moderno

Our last tip has to do with inhabitable space. It's important to include every piece of furniture you need, but now let's think about the furnishings you want. When decorating your home, there's a magical balance to achieve–not too much, not too little. Too many decorations and your house feels like an antique store with no rhyme or reason to it, too little decoration and people will wonder if you actually live there. 

Maintaining the proper ambience of an open floor plan isn't difficult, either. Open-plan homes pride themselves on a clutter-free atmosphere, and so should you. The less visually obstructing elements you have, the more open your home will look and feel. Sticking to a minimalist or minimalist-inspired interior is ideal.

If you liked this article, you might also be interested in taking the tour of this open plan home!

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