Open plan design mistakes to avoid for your modern living room

A kitchen island will separate the cooking area from the rest of the space without affecting the flow. An accent wall by the kitchen or an accent backsplash will achieve the same effect. Anchor the dining area with a rug and a pendant light.
 

3. Restrictive Layouts:

The lack of wall space in an open concept design makes getting the layout right tricky. Often, in a small house open concept kitchen and living room, people forget to consider the movement of foot traffic in the space. The movement to and from the entire area and within should be hindrance free. An open-plan room will not follow the same designing or decorating principles as a sequestered room. For example, pushing all the furniture against the wall is not an option in open plans, like other interior design ideas for living rooms. This is because the space might not be rectangular or square.

Solution: Utilise floor plans to avoid restrictive layouts. On the floor plan of the room, mark where all the fixed elements would go— for example, the TV unit, the kitchen counters, etc. This will determine the placement and orientation of the remaining furniture. When installing the furniture, ensure there is enough room between pieces for people to move around. A general rule of thumb is to leave a minimum of 3 feet distance between furniture. Make sure that the directly connected areas like the kitchen and the dining area are without hindrances.

5. Poor Lighting:

Lighting can make or break an open plan living room interior. The lighting in the room needs to be planned well in advance since the lighting, and the furniture layout would go hand in hand. You cannot rely on a single source or type of lighting for an open-plan space.

Solution: Consider the lighting in layers for a modern living room. First, think of all the sources of natural light. Generally, the conversation and relaxation areas would be closer to the source of natural light. Then consider the ambient lighting in the room—it would be the same all over. Flush mount and recessed lighting are some of the options to choose from. Pick spotlights if you have specific nooks or art that you want to highlight. To set the mood and add accents, use table lamps, floor lamps, pendant lights, etc. Plan in advance to make sure you have all the electric fixtures, outlets and connections in place. You do not want the hazard of exposed wires.

6. Disproportionate Furniture Size:

The size of the furniture should be in proportion to the dimensions of the room. Large or bulky furniture can obstruct movement around the room and make it appear crowded. But if the furniture is too small, the space may appear sparse.
 

Solution: To get the proportions of the furniture right, you first need to understand the floor plan and the room's dimensions. Second, designate areas on the floor plans and sketch out the furniture placement. When choosing furniture, check for its dimensions to make sure that it will fit the allocated space in the room. Basically, getting the measurements right is the key here.

Most modern living room ideas use sleek, low lying furniture with exposed bottoms. Such furniture is visually light and can enhance the openness in an open plan modern interior design living room.
 

A simple living room idea to increase storage is to select benches, sofas, coffee tables, and ottomans that can all double up as storage.

If you are new to this whole interior design concept, here is a beginner's guide to get you started.

Beautiful Homes provides a massive range of services and products to help you create a personalised modern living room. You may select all the essentials you need for simple living room ideas from our shop.

With our expert Interior Design Services, professionals will provide interior design ideas for the living room to help you design an open concept space. They will ensure that the space best suits your style and needs. Specific and specialised services comprise Quick Home Makeover services, Safe Painting Services, Colour Consultancy Services Online, Wood Solutions and Design Wall Makeover.

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