Put space to good use
Clever planning can turn the rooms in an open plan home to your best advantage
Open to fresh ideas
It’s highly likely you’re living in one, and your neighbours probably are too. Open-plan homes have become the people’s choice in recent decades — a development that has necessitated some creative thinking.
As well as an enhanced sense of spaciousness, open-plan layouts foster a greater sense of connection and are excellent for entertaining, plus fewer interior walls means more natural light. Sometimes, though, pockets of that abundant space can end up being wasted. Put a stop to that with clever tactics for putting every bit to good use, not cluttering your home but improving its functionality through the well-considered use of colour, texture, furniture and lighting.
The book nook
Let’s start in your living space. You may have a central seating area, but how about turning that disused corner into a snug with a comfortable armchair you can quietly read in? Create zonal definition within a neutral colour scheme by painting the walls in a contemplative counterpart, such as Resene Quarter Duck Egg Blue, calm-and-misty Resene Pale Leaf or dusty umber Resene Soothe. Cosy textiles such as linen cushions, or a woollen throw will further invite relaxation, and you could extend this sentiment to your walls with a textured design from the Resene Wallpaper Collection. Visit your local Resene ColorShop to see the latest releases in their wallpaper library.
A ceiling treatment is a high-impact way to give a corner its own identity. You could keep your walls as they are but apply Resene SpaceCote Flat in a dramatic grey like Resene Nocturnal for a luxe look, go for a bold geometric ceiling using paint and stencils or paste up cut out motifs from a graphic Resene wallpaper design.
Business and pleasure
A study nook housed in your living area is a hack that lets you clock up extra hours while keeping up with the everyday play. A built-in desk will maximise the space, or bargain hunt for a second-hand desk and chair to update with paint, opting for a distinct colour or one that ties in with the rest of the room. Wipe it with a clean dry cloth, then apply Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer for an even finish followed by Resene Lustacryl semi-gloss or Resene Enamacryl gloss tinted with your chosen hue.
Separate your study zone from the rest of an open-plan space with:
• A bank of freestanding open shelving in a chic shade, such as pale green Edgewater or Colorwood Driftwood timber stain.
Shelving forms a low-key partition that also works as storage.
• A curtain you can draw around your nook when you’re working. Choose a fabric that looks good from both sides — an ethereal sheer or heavier weight to mitigate noise such as the Harmony Voile or Evolve designs from the Resene Curtain Collection.
• Timber or rattan room dividers are a natural fit for a neutral colour scheme, but could also be customised with Resene paint or timber stain.
Take a seat, light the lights
Modular seating is ideal for allowing spaces to do double duty, providing visual cohesion. An L-shaped sofa will define your main relaxation area, and you could reconfigure modules with easily moved chairs to form a separate conversation zone. Matching ottomans and oversized cushions are great for children to move from A to B.
Lighting is an easily manipulatable way to set distinct moods. Fix a wall light near your desk or a pendant light over your snug.
Collector’s items: Keepsakes and curios can imbue open-plan areas with individuality. Collect pieces that are meaningful to you and arrange using the designers’ golden rule of odd numbers (three, five or seven items) to get the best balance.
What’s in store: Storage can be at a premium in open-plan homes. Remedy the issue in a generous master bedroom by installing a half-wall that can become a headboard on one side and cupboards on the other, painted in a hue that complements your decor.
If storage for children’s toys is lacking, paint timber cubes or wooden boxes in playful pastels like Resene Tuft Bush, Resene Snowy Mint and Resene Onahau.