Defining spaces in open concept homes

For years now the trend in home design has been towards open concept homes and there seems to be no end in sight for this type of home layout.

While open concept homes have their benefits such as increased light, easier flow and the ability to make a home feel larger than it is, there are some drawbacks – mainly in attempting to define the spaces in your home.

How can you distinguish your living room from your eating area? Your den from the study?

Here are a few ideas:

-        Flooring – Use changes in flooring as a way to distinguish between rooms. This may come in the use of area rugs or choosing hardwood over carpet

-        Lighting – Areas such as the dining space can take advantage of more dramatic lighting to set the tone for the room

-        Paint – Use different paint colors to distinguish between rooms – fun and playful for the kids space or formal for the sitting area

-        Furniture – Arrange your furniture in such a way that it creates cozy spaces. Sectionals can create a built in sitting area. Use sofa tables to transition from the living area to eat-in-kitchen

What creative ways have you used to define the space in your open concept home?

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