It’s easy to create an open-plan living room that feels cosy, yet seamlessly linked to the rest of your home
Looking for open-plan living room ideas? Open-plan living has slowly become part of our everyday lives, from a home office within a living room to a kitchen-diner. These spaces should be well designed and able to utilise the best of the overall room in their function. Clever decorating and styling ideas will keep the spaces looking separate but seamless. Sounds complicated? Well fear not as we have compiled our top five tips for making the most of your open-plan space, without breaking the bank. You’ll be the envy of your friends and family.
Want more open-plan living ideas? READ: Open-plan kitchen design ideas to make your space the heart of the home
1. Get in the zone
Image credit: Colin Poole
Open–plan living is a great choice as the social aspect is perfect for family interaction. Design allocated zones for lounging, dining and working to keep the room organised. Use soft textures and calm colours to create a welcoming, relaxed vibe while a long-pile rug and pouf are comfortable for little ones. Arrange your room around a large window or French doors to make the most of the natural light.
Get the look
Buy now: similar, Porto Charcoal Chaise Sofa, £1,300, Habitat
Buy now: similar, Ercol Bosco Dining Table, £948, Furniture Village
2. Let in the light
Image credit: David Still
Making the most of natural light is a great way to keep a room feeling vibrant and lively and can even help a space feel larger than it actually is. Here, a run of sliding doors leads directly on to a patio area, providing a seamless connection to the outdoors while, inside, neutral tones are enlivened with a pop of vibrant pink.
Get the look
Buy now: similar, Tortona Corner Sofa, £2,999, John Lewis
Buy now: similar, Linea Dark Grey Faux Fur Throw, £6, House of Fraser
3. Get smart with furniture
Image credit: Lisa Cohen
Section off the living area of an open-plan space with careful placement of furniture. The benefit of a large, open-plan space is that everyone can spend time together without being on top of each other. Not only that, but as there’s direct access to the garden, children can happily head outside to get some fresh air. Aside from its spacious layout, this room’s winning features are the dramatic walls and beautiful fireplace, which contrast perfectly.
Get the look
Buy now: similar, Pudding Sofa in Liquorice Blue Clever Velvet, £1565, Loaf
Buy now: similar, Nadia Rattan Side Table with Shelf, £120, Habitat
Love grey schemes? READ: Gorgeous grey living room ideas to inspire you
4. Give it a cheery note
Image credit: Claire Lloyd Davies
Give an open-plan family space a relaxed feel with casual furniture. A painted yellow chair brings a splash of bright colour to this minimal space. Here, an elegant fusion of old and new will give a timeless feel to your living room. A pale wood floor reflects light from the opening to the garden and the hits of strong yellow and bright and cheery touches.
Get the look
Buy now: similar, Rust-Oleum Lemon Sorbet Furniture Paint, £4.99 for 125ml, Homebase
5. Connect with the garden
Image credit: James Merrell
Optimise your open-plan living room by designing it to flow seamlessly out to an adjacent outdoor space. Consider wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling patio doors – they will extend your room and optimise light. Make the transition from inside to out seamless by colour-matching internal flooring with external decking. Choose a decorating palette that complements the garden and position all your furniture to take in the views so it’s easy to supervise little ones when they are outside.
Get the look
Buy now: Similar, Arod Floor Lamp, £50, Ikea
Buy now: Similar, Sapporo Shelving unit, £449, Swoon Editions
6. Choose an L-shaped sofa
Image credit: Dominic Blackmore
Use a corner sofa to define the seating area in a multi-functional open-plan living space, and add a sense of intimacy to a large room. Create a comfy haven and nestle a rug and coffee table into the gap made in front of the sofa to give a friendly, more cosy feel. To further enhance the warm mood, paint the wall in this area a softer shade than used in the rest of the room.
Get the look
Buy now: similar, Aisha Dining Chair, £169.99, Wayfair
Is your home on the small side? READ: Small living room ideas for compact yet gorgeous spaces
7. Keep it tonal
Image credit: Colin Poole
Let the outdoors become part of your home with a natural palette. Large windows enhance the light in this open-plan living room. Neutral-toned blinds and curtains with a restful hare motif frame the windows and pick out the stone-coloured kitchen cabinets. In the foreground an uplifting soft blue sofa creates a year-round summery feel in this welcoming room.
Get the look
Buy now: similar, Weekender Sofa in Vintage Rose, from £1655, Loaf
Buy now: similar, Dylan Seaspray Cushion, £35, Laura Ashley
8. Make it family-friendly
Image credit: Colin Poole
Living rooms are meant to be lived in, so make sure your space is somewhere that everyone in the family will enjoy. This cosy open-plan living room combines modern and traditional furniture to create a welcoming, family-friendly space. The solid wood dining table is complemented by modern white chairs, which tie in with the white of the large sideboard. The fireplace tiles introduce a rustic, tactile edge, while a large wall-hung mirror helps to open out what is a very busy, multifunctional space.
Get the look
Buy now: similar, Vita Carmina Lamp Shade, £52, Amara
Buy now: similar, Travos Tripod Table Lamp, £60, Matalan
9. Consider placement
Image credit: Nicholas Yarsley
As one of the most social spaces in the house, your living room needs to look good, work hard and function well. Before you begin any work, take a little time to work out how the space functions for you. Is it a relaxing haven, and entertaining space of family central? A sophisticated neutral palette helps create a comfortable feel in this kitchen living area. The trick is to pay attention to balancing the colour scheme and keeping everything in proportion. An open-plan layout is a fundamental part of modern family schemes and this one incorporates all aspects of living.
Get the look
Buy now: similar, Greyhound Armchair, £375, Andrew Chair
Buy now: similar, Davey Lighting Square Pendant, £479, John Lewis
10. Join two rooms with colour
Image credit: Catherine Gratwicke
Where two rooms are linked but not entirely open, create flow by painting both the same shade. A neutral colour scheme allows the freedom to ring the changes using accessories, giving each room its own personality without the risk of jarring. Turn an open plan space into a functional family living area with clear zones for relaxing and dining. Soft taupe walls in a matt finish unites the two rooms and forms an elegant base for this traditional neutral decorating scheme. The space has been cleverly divided up with two textural rugs and the positioning of the furniture.
Get the look
Buy now: similar, Pineapple cushion, £20, Etsy
11. Keep the scheme light and airy
Image credit: Colin Poole
Open-plan living works especially well in a small home, as by breaking walls, you can make even the tiniest room appear much larger. If you love entertaining, we recommend positioning your dining table and chairs by the window with the most light. Choose furniture that can double up as say a desk, or a bookcase as seen here. And keep colour to a minimum, only highlighting one key piece of furniture.
What do you think of these open-plan living room ideas?
The post Open-plan living room ideas for a multi-functional, family space appeared first on Ideal Home.
