Falls Village - Working with open-plan rooms

Falls Village - Working with Open-Plan Rooms

Contemporary architecture often favours open-plan spaces, which can sometimes feel too cold and uninviting for my liking. To counteract this, there are a few design rules I always abide by.

Break Them Down into Zones

Open-plan rooms will often have several functions, so break the space down into different zones for each activity.

Use furniture to define the zones; I have used a large library table to divide the room into two areas.

Use Books to Add Interest

In large spaces, I would recommend keeping the walls relatively neutral, but adding interest through collections of books; their colourful spines are a decorative touch in themselves.

Mix Modern Pieces with Antiques and the Unexpected

Open-plan spaces are often designed with contemporary architecture, but to prevent the space from feeling too modern and cold, I like to introduce antique and vintage furniture to warm up the room.

Introducing unexpected decorative pieces that you've collected over the years is a great way to add character to a vast space.