?how to divide up these spaces.

4 years ago

any thoughts on whether a divider would work here... very narrow tiny space.. thought I might be able to get the island moved down a few inches. this open plan room is driving me mad with crumbs from breakfast landing under the couch... and a young family.. want to make the sitting down section more relaxed... also it's a bit dull and tired looking...any thoughts on paint colour/curtain/blinds/cushions or throws appreciated.. there is a sun room with dining and small seating off the kitchen too..

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Comments (4)

PRO
Dale Loth Architects
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
It's a bit hard to judge from the photos, but I would initially focus on the living room furniture and its arrangement rather than anything else - particularly the sofas. For instance, a sofa with an easy-clean finish and its back to the kitchen area could itself or with a narrow console table behind form a divider and look rather less lost than the cosy-looking but awkwardly positioned one next to the door. If the sofa had a big gap or no gap beneath, cleaning under it wouldn't be such a nuisance. There's also a perennial issue about the height of sofas. High-backed ones tend to be more comfortable but are harder to arrange without making small spaces feel congested.
PRO
RLDC
4 years ago
Its hard to judge without seeing the fireplace elevation but you could also consider trying the smaller sofa floating infront of the door and using the large sofa as a kitchen divider. A throw over the back of it will potentially help crumbs/sticky fingers. The space will feel more grounded if you then invest in a large rug (Ikea have some large natural sisals at good prices) which fit under the front of both sofas (as opposed to float in front). The walls look quite pink at the minute. I would be inclined to tone them with the kitchen cabinets or go a more stone colour to tone with the work tops/floor (Paint and Paper library do a great stone colour in varying depths).

I would suggest you 'play' with the furniture layout initially; afterall, its not glued to the floor!

Good luck

Helen
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Buying a rug seems to be the popular suggestion. I am inclined to first organise your furniture and then consider if you should invest in a rug. I am not opposed to the idea of a rug but they come in all shapes and sizes and where do you begin unless you know where it is going to go and what size and shape would best fit. The fireplace is a good place to start. Can you organise the seating around the fireplace with a table in front? Where is the door? You would need to allow free movement in and out of the room. Does the TV have to go in that corner? It is an easy enough job to extend the cables to locate it elsewhere. There is a lot of seating, do you need it all to be in this room? Could the wing chair go in another room or the hall? Is the room big enough to zone? Maybe have seating around the fireplace and the wing chair in another area with a small side table and books for quiet contemplation. I find it easier to draw a quick to scale sketch of the floor plan showing the location of windows and doors then cut out to scale furniture to move around the space. This is much easier than lugging furniture around the room and you can better see how the space works when looking down on it.
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Flo G
4 years ago
You could try out a screen but if you have kids you need to keep an eye on while cooking a row of open shelfs could do and if you are afield of kids mocking ornaments just put a bit of bluetack on the base and it's enough to steady it
PRO
Rodrigo Pissarra, Building Technician
4 years ago
I am afraid a room divider would crowed the room, I would go with the tips above and focus on the rearrangement of the furniture. If you have the space, try putting the smaller sofa next to the larger one in a L-shaped arrangement.

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?how to divide up these spaces.

Comments (4)

Dale Loth Architects

RLDC

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Flo G

Rodrigo Pissarra, Building Technician