green tea design
In this file photo from Green Tea Design, a step chest is used to delineate an area of an open concept apartment; visit www.greenteadesign.com for more information.
If you’ve got a space you need to divide into different functional areas, such as a loft or an open concept area, don’t automatically assume you’ve got to use walls. There are plenty of stylish ways to divide space without carving it into rooms.
The design team has lots of ideas about delineating spaces with flair. Here are a few.
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Area rugs separate space soooo easily. For example, in a large open space, use one rug to define the living room space, and another one for the dining room.
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Group furniture into separate clusters to reflect different functions. For example, you may create an intimate conversation area around a fireplace, and move an armchair, table and lamp into another area meant for quiet reading
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Paint a feature wall to designate a particular area. For example, your dining room may feature a series of orange glass vases. Create some connection here by painting one wall orange, as well.
It helps if the wall is somehow separated from the other walls, so you are working with an area that has borders. Don’t try to paint each space a different colour; this creates too much visual confusion. Stick to one colour, but with accents to provide definition.
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If you are considering hiring contractors, you could use differing ceiling heights to define space. For example, the ceiling above the kitchen might have a slightly lower ceiling height than the dining room, effectively creating a visual break.
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Similarly, differing floor levels can create the same effect. For example, a dining room may be built a step up onto a platform.
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Lighting is another great way to define space. For example, use track lighting in a kitchen to provide strong focused lighting.
But in a dining room, you definitely want more diffused lighting, more of a glow. These different pools of lighting define space and set the mood for different areas.
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Partitions such as screens, curtains, glass doors or glass block can provide a visual break without compromising that open feel.
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Structural elements such as columns on the sides of a room can give visual cues of the end of one space and the beginning of another.
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If you are building or renovating, remember that a staircase or a kitchen island create a visual break in a space.
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Large furniture, such as a console or a large sofa, can act as a break, pinpointing the “edge” of a particular space.
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If you have a sufficiently large space, consider different types or colours of flooring to delineate spaces.
For example, you may use wood of contrasting shades to indicate a border, such as dark wood for the dining room and lighter wood in the kitchen.
Or you may use a tiling pattern in a bathroom, for example, and the “reverse” or negative pattern in the hall. Just be careful not to overwhelm with too many colours or patterns, especially in a small space.
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Wood floors can be built with borders and patterns to break up space. For example, the floor between a dining room and a living room may feature a banding pattern that creates two areas.
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You may also use texture and colour to indicate different areas. For example, the conversational areas may be panelled in warm, inviting woods. Stone may define the hearth area near the fireplace.
Tammy Schnurr and Jeffrey Fisher are hosts of Arresting Design on W Network. Tammy is an interior decorator. Jeffrey designs home furnishings and bedding through his company Jeffrey Fisher Home.
