1. USE A TABLECLOTH TO CAMOUFLAGE THE DINING TABLE
One very simple and achievable idea is to soften the dining room table by adding a tablecloth. Designer Ailsa Reeve of Studio Mac explains how she did just that in this space "In such a small space, for me, it's about making the dining table disappear rather than stand out. Covering it in similar tones to the living area and decorating with a vase and flowers will achieve this."
2. USE LIGHTING TO CREATE DISTINCT AREAS
Lighting is a powerful design tool in homes. They say you should have somewhere between six to nine sources of light in any room to be able to layer the lighting correctly at different times of the day. In an open plan space there is another consideration, and that is the fact that the lighting needs to be able to create different moods and perform different functions in the various zones.
3. CONSIDER DIFFERENT LEVELS TO ZONE THE SPACE
Before embarking on a renovation project it is worth considering how creative you can get with the space you have allocated and whether there is an opportunity to exploit the site footprint by playing with height. If square footage is tight, is there an opportunity to create zones by having areas on different levels perhaps creating a sunken living room like this one? This clever design by Tess Glasson is in her own home (often where interior designers get the most creative).
4. USE COLOR TO CONNECT THE TWO SPACES
Color is one of the most effective ways to transform spaces. It can do everything from blurring lines to impacting the light in the room, and everything in between. Using this as a tool to create continuity and cohesion in open plan spaces can be a simple trick that could be incorporated retrospectively, or as a way to refresh an open plan space, as well as something to consider right at the beginning of a project.
5. SOFTEN THE SPACE WITH BANQUETTE SEATING
There is something so decadent about shuffling along a beautifully upholstered banquette to enjoy a meal - the comfort of a sofa with the convenience of a proper table. They work particularly well in small open plan rooms to maximize flow and space. The soft seating also provides an opportunity for beautiful textiles that can also speak to the softer furnishings of the living space.
6. CREATE COHESION WITH SYMMETRY AND REPETITION
Thinking about the position of your furniture, particularly the two largest pieces in an open plan living dining room - the couch and the dining table - can help to create visual cohesion. In the example above the designer Camilla Clarke of Albion Nord has chosen to lay them parallel to each other. The clever positioning of these pieces along with the symmetry of the pendant lights creates a well balanced and harmonious space.
7. MAKE THE DINING TABLE A PIECE OF ART
Why not use the opportunity to make a real statement out of one of the most significant pieces of furniture in the room - in this case, the dining table? Using a showstopper piece allows you the opportunity to have an additional piece of art in the room.
8. USE RUGS STRATEGICALLY
The best rugs can be used to ground furniture and zone areas very effectively. The general rule is the bigger the better, and here is no exception. The designer India Holmes has opted to use one huge rug to cover the majority of this open plan space as a way of creating visual cohesion.