Wide Open Spaces: How to Connect and Decorate
In todays homes family interaction and synthesis have taken a centre stage. This means that we see a lot of homes which are designed with open plan i.e. public areas, the family room, kitchen, recreation room, dining room, and living room are accessible to each other. Good question is, how to decorate and connect these spaces in order for all the space flow from one space to the next? When decorating such space, it becomes very confusing when there are no starting points to paint or if you want to go with stenciling or wall paper. It is difficult to have one color or style in one area and a different one in another area. So, how do you decorate these rooms and give them identity, comfort and allow them to remain their own space?
Break it up:
Form Follows Function, you have heard of this phrase. Put it into practice. You start with breaking each area according to the function. For example, you need a space to eat your meals, play board games, card games, do homework etc.In this case as the function suggests you will need an area with a table and chairs. You may call this a dining room or eating area. The same applies for a family room where you will lounge, take naps, sit and read or watch television. Begin by looking at the function of your particular space and this will dictate what type of furnishings you will need.
Big question is how to get the flow in the space? Different designers give different suggestions. Some may tell that if you have open public areas then they need to have the same colors, same themes, same types of window treatments and artwork. This is true and not true, at the same time! Our minds like like-minded things. What it means is that if you can find something in one room or one area that you can connect to another room or area you will feel comfortable, and the rooms seem to flow together invitingly which is achieved easily by selecting a color, theme, accessory, or piece of artwork.
Let's see some real life examples. Say you have a family room, kitchen and dining area that are all open to each other. In order to get them to flow we could use a Nautical theme. This allows you to use boat accessories like ores, netting, boardwalk lights, reels, and fishing poles in one area or room, lighthouses in another, and carved duck decoys, artwork with Nautical scenes, or prints of beaches and oceans in yet another
Decorating with color:
Another way of creating a good flow in the space is using same color on the walls in all the rooms, but use different accent colors to make each room appear different. Begin with a patterned fabric for the family area and than flow same color and style patterns in the kitchen and dining room. How can you achieve it? You can do this by using a large print in the family room, small print in the dining area, plaid in the kitchen and accent with solids, stripes or patterned upholstery fabrics in the same colors and style. The window treatments, fabrics, wall colors, accessories and artwork would not need to be the same in each room, they are simply coordinated and alike in color and style.
Mind your style:
When decorating you must keep in mind your preferred style. If you are creating a traditional interior keep everything traditional, if you want to use a very contemporary style then go contemporary. If you if you mix and match your style, the room will not feel connected. This is true for colors, patterns, types of furniture, artwork and accessories. There are exceptions to this of course! Small added pieces like a contemporary painting or vase to a traditional room or a traditional sideboard in a contemporary dining room are sometimes just enough to make your home.
Be creative, have fun and don't let your decorating projects overwhelm you. Take your time and relax. Think through and plan each project before starting, it saves you tons of headaches in the long run. And lastly, remember to enjoy your open areas!
Related Topics
Delima # 12
How to hang pictures
How to hang dining room fixtures
Imperfect angles in the room
Focal point
French/Casual style
Break it up:
Form Follows Function, you have heard of this phrase. Put it into practice. You start with breaking each area according to the function. For example, you need a space to eat your meals, play board games, card games, do homework etc.In this case as the function suggests you will need an area with a table and chairs. You may call this a dining room or eating area. The same applies for a family room where you will lounge, take naps, sit and read or watch television. Begin by looking at the function of your particular space and this will dictate what type of furnishings you will need.
Big question is how to get the flow in the space? Different designers give different suggestions. Some may tell that if you have open public areas then they need to have the same colors, same themes, same types of window treatments and artwork. This is true and not true, at the same time! Our minds like like-minded things. What it means is that if you can find something in one room or one area that you can connect to another room or area you will feel comfortable, and the rooms seem to flow together invitingly which is achieved easily by selecting a color, theme, accessory, or piece of artwork.
Let's see some real life examples. Say you have a family room, kitchen and dining area that are all open to each other. In order to get them to flow we could use a Nautical theme. This allows you to use boat accessories like ores, netting, boardwalk lights, reels, and fishing poles in one area or room, lighthouses in another, and carved duck decoys, artwork with Nautical scenes, or prints of beaches and oceans in yet another
Decorating with color:
Another way of creating a good flow in the space is using same color on the walls in all the rooms, but use different accent colors to make each room appear different. Begin with a patterned fabric for the family area and than flow same color and style patterns in the kitchen and dining room. How can you achieve it? You can do this by using a large print in the family room, small print in the dining area, plaid in the kitchen and accent with solids, stripes or patterned upholstery fabrics in the same colors and style. The window treatments, fabrics, wall colors, accessories and artwork would not need to be the same in each room, they are simply coordinated and alike in color and style.
Mind your style:
When decorating you must keep in mind your preferred style. If you are creating a traditional interior keep everything traditional, if you want to use a very contemporary style then go contemporary. If you if you mix and match your style, the room will not feel connected. This is true for colors, patterns, types of furniture, artwork and accessories. There are exceptions to this of course! Small added pieces like a contemporary painting or vase to a traditional room or a traditional sideboard in a contemporary dining room are sometimes just enough to make your home.
Be creative, have fun and don't let your decorating projects overwhelm you. Take your time and relax. Think through and plan each project before starting, it saves you tons of headaches in the long run. And lastly, remember to enjoy your open areas!
Related Topics
Delima # 12
How to hang pictures
How to hang dining room fixtures
Imperfect angles in the room
Focal point
French/Casual style
