How to Decorate Open Dining & Living Rooms

Many modern homes have open-style floor plan designs. This means that at least two rooms, often more, are open to each other. This creates a spacious feeling but it can also present difficulties with furniture arrangement and interior decorating. Because walls have been eliminated, the homeowner has to create traffic pathways through the rooms without creating the sense of being cut off. Making the rooms look unified and cohesive is also important because each room is visible to the other so the colors need to coordinate and flow. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1

Measure all of the rooms that are open to each other. Transfer these measurements to 1/4-inch graph paper and draw in the location of walls, windows, door swings, cabinets, counters, niches, doorways, outlets, fireplaces and any other features. Note the room sizes and measurements as well.

2

On plain paper draw pictures of the furniture you own that you want to use in the space. Use a furniture template. Draw other pieces of furniture as well and cut out all of the pieces. Use these pieces to see how the furniture will fit in the room. Keep in mind that you need to create 3 1/2-foot pathways from every doorway to every other doorway, entry or exit point.

3

Arrange a living room centered on a focal point such as a fireplace or view. Group a seating area around that focal point anchored by an area rug. Recognize that with open floor plans and minimal wall space, it is likely your couch and chairs will float in the center of the room so they should have straight backs and be designed to be viewed from the back. Allow for a sofa table behind the sofa for lamp placement.

4

Position the dining room furniture and make sure you can walk around the table comfortably. Remove excess buffets if they crowd the side of the table. Usually a dining table will center under a light fixture, but occasionally light fixtures are placed in the wrong position (such as not centered in the room). Once you have a reasonable furniture arrangement look at the colors that already exist in the room. These may include flooring, metal finishes on light fixtures, brick or stone at the fireplace or on visible kitchen counters, cabinet colors and tile colors. Usually trim moldings will be white.

5

Collect samples of all your existing colors that are built into the house. Collect a second set of samples from furniture you intend to use. Sometimes existing furniture is the wrong size, shape and color so be willing to make choices to change colors through slip covers, paint or new items. Determine a cohesive color palette that is consistent in the house. A good place to look is at kitchen counters if they are granite or marble. Often builders will use the same stone at the fireplace. Select a neutral paint color that works with your stone and flooring.

6

Buy several quarts of paint in the color range you think will work and paint swatches on the walls throughout the space. Label the swatches and see how they look in the space. When you find colors you like, paint your walls. Select upholstery and drapes that work with your wall and floor colors. Keep in mind that large window expanses should be more neutral in pattern and color than a few smaller windows.

7

Choose an area rug to anchor your seating area in your living room space. Choose one with your colors plus the addition of an accent color. Keep your large furniture pieces in neutral colors. Place more interesting patterns on smaller chairs. Bring in the same type of metallic finish that already exists on your hanging light fixtures. Add lamps, accessories and finish your rooms with larger pieces of art to showcase the height of your ceilings.