3 June 2021

The kitchen, dining room, and living room tend to be the hub of the home; the place that everyone gathers and spends quality time together. It is essential that these spaces have flow and function to fit the homeowners needs. For example, you’re cooking in the kitchen and also want to watch your family’s favorite show with them while they sit in the living room, or keep an eye on your kid while they do homework at the dining table. Modern homes have shifted away from the traditional layout full of walls and nooks to meet the needs of homeowners; by creating an open concept living layout, combining the kitchen, dining, and living room as one cohesive space.

Amber Interiors Client Tupac Meets Biggie To Decorate The Diggies 30

Design by Amber Interiors | Photography by Tessa Neustadt

This allows for a better entertaining space as guests have more seating options, and it allows for the dining room to be less formal, making it more likely to be used for its original purpose. However, when faced with such an open concept, the layout arrangements seem endless and a little tricky to execute. Here are some tips that our lovely intern, Paris, has for designing with an open plan!

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Via Better Homes & Gardens | Photography by David Tsay

From a designer’s perspective, placing the dining table closer to the kitchen is almost always the better option. This allows for the best functional use of space, as the cooking environment leads to the dining space, and then to the living space.

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Design by Regan Baker | Photography by Suzanna Scott

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Design by Jennifer Welch | Photography by Josh Welch

Knowing where to start with combining these spaces aesthetically can be difficult. Rugs are a great way to delineate the dining and living spaces, allowing them to feel somewhat separate but also congruent. Check out our tips for How To Mix Multiple Rugs In The Same Visual Space!

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Design by Cortney Bishop | Photography by Katie Charlotte

Keeping a simple, neutral color scheme for larger furniture pieces is also a great way to keep the spaces cohesive and compatible, but don’t be afraid to incorporate color! Keeping a few colors in mind can elevate a space when used in the right ways. Incorporate these colors in fabric options, decor items, and even rug selections. Tying in these colors will also help move your eyes around the open room instead of focusing on a singular focal point. Incorporating multiple focal points can be obtained with lighting, arrangement of living furniture, and artwork. With all of these options in mind, making the space “you” becomes easily achievable.

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Design by BANDD Design | Photography by Molly Culver

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