Give yourself a break
YOU’LL have heard of open-plan living – kitchen/dining/living rooms where the whole family can work, rest and play together – but if you have knocked through several rooms to create more space or light you might now be thinking about broken-plan living.
Using room dividers is the best way to create separate living zones while still maintaining the open-plan connection and, crucially, having the same space and light. They can be shelving for books and ornaments or even a couple of big plant pots but the key is for them to be easy to move around, so you can reinvent your room as your needs change.
“Backless bookcases, shelving and display units are perfect for dividing a space and creating individual, functional areas,” says John Lewis & Partners Buyer for Living & Dining, David Barrett.
“These taller style of dividers are not only a design-led partition but also add storage that can be accessed from both sides. The key is to not over-fill shelves so the room flows and still feels spacious.
“Lighting is also key as it can help form focal points within the space. Upholstery, particularly corner sofas, bring structure to the room and the ‘L’ shape can provide a low, less formal, divide to the room.”
If you want to use plants to divide your room try Elho planters, which have integrated wheels. Plants won’t block the light and you can use small plants for a low divider or tall palms for more impact.
Alternatively, install sliding glass doors to escape the noise of modern living.
Pure Soft Brick Divider by Elho, £215 (elho.com) CHANGING ROOMS: Yoko Shelving Unit, £699, Audrey Accent Chair, £299, Farrugia Dining Table, £699, Sassari Rug, £495 from John Lewis & Partners (03456 049049; johnlewis.com)