Decorating
Decorating: 10 Ways to Use Room Dividers to Boost Your Open-plan Space
When decorating an open-plan area, a room divider can be your best friend, allowing the space to remain airy while creating distinct zones
The shift towards open-plan living in the early 20th century came about for many reasons, from ease of entertaining guests and minding kids, to making rooms feel larger and allowing flexibility in furniture arrangements. Despite the benefits, though, open-plan living has not been without its inconveniences, from cooking smells wafting through living spaces to (often) decreased storage space, not to mention the challenges of decorating free-flowing areas.
Room dividers are a clever tool that add more separation and storage potential than simply zoning with flooring or furniture, but without blocking light or sacrificing an open-plan mood in the way a solid wall would. From slim poles to floating fireplaces, check out these 10 ways a room divider can boost an open-plan space.
Room dividers are a clever tool that add more separation and storage potential than simply zoning with flooring or furniture, but without blocking light or sacrificing an open-plan mood in the way a solid wall would. From slim poles to floating fireplaces, check out these 10 ways a room divider can boost an open-plan space.
Add depth and interest
Sometimes, an almost-wall is just the trick to ground an open-plan room by creating the illusion of distinct spaces without overtly defining them. A solid wall would have been blocky in this room; instead the slim, vertical partitions add depth and interest while keeping to the minimalist aesthetic.
Sometimes, an almost-wall is just the trick to ground an open-plan room by creating the illusion of distinct spaces without overtly defining them. A solid wall would have been blocky in this room; instead the slim, vertical partitions add depth and interest while keeping to the minimalist aesthetic.
Create a focal point
Think laterally about how to divide a space and consider what you could use to give the room a focal point. This fireplace lightly divides the kitchen and living area while acting as a centrepiece for the entire space.
Think laterally about how to divide a space and consider what you could use to give the room a focal point. This fireplace lightly divides the kitchen and living area while acting as a centrepiece for the entire space.
Enhance personality
When you’re trying to decide on a room divider, consider the style of your space. Would something sleek and contemporary fit in best, or can you afford to be more quirky? Do you want it to blend in, or would you like it to add personality or be a focal point? This partition, made from repurposed windows, enhances the character of the room, adding to the modern industrial vibe.
Get expert advice on mixing styles and eras in your home
When you’re trying to decide on a room divider, consider the style of your space. Would something sleek and contemporary fit in best, or can you afford to be more quirky? Do you want it to blend in, or would you like it to add personality or be a focal point? This partition, made from repurposed windows, enhances the character of the room, adding to the modern industrial vibe.
Get expert advice on mixing styles and eras in your home
Make it multi-purpose
In a small, open-plan space where storage is limited, a thick dividing wall that can host shelves, cupboards or drawers is invaluable. This wardrobe partition works well in this room because it provides storage, creates privacy for the bathroom and capitalises on the light streaming through from the roof window.
In a small, open-plan space where storage is limited, a thick dividing wall that can host shelves, cupboards or drawers is invaluable. This wardrobe partition works well in this room because it provides storage, creates privacy for the bathroom and capitalises on the light streaming through from the roof window.
Fashion a screen
Technically, this room divider is a wall, but it doesn’t span the length of the shower area, making it feel more like a discreet screen and allowing the spaces to communicate. The line of colourful glazed niches perforates the concrete, giving the divider a lighter mood while still screening the bather from the home office.
Technically, this room divider is a wall, but it doesn’t span the length of the shower area, making it feel more like a discreet screen and allowing the spaces to communicate. The line of colourful glazed niches perforates the concrete, giving the divider a lighter mood while still screening the bather from the home office.
Keep it simple
A room divider can be as simple as a small cabinet. This cleverly positioned glazed piece neatly sections off the dining area while adding valuable storage, making the tableware conveniently accessible.
A room divider can be as simple as a small cabinet. This cleverly positioned glazed piece neatly sections off the dining area while adding valuable storage, making the tableware conveniently accessible.
Add cosiness
Room dividers don’t have to be solid and immovable. There’s something dreamy about being able to close curtains and retreat from the world – as well as being able to draw them back again to reunite the spaces.
This studio is characterised by clean lines and right angles, so these elegant curtains are a subtle way to soften the look, add privacy and distinguish between spaces with different functions.
Room dividers don’t have to be solid and immovable. There’s something dreamy about being able to close curtains and retreat from the world – as well as being able to draw them back again to reunite the spaces.
This studio is characterised by clean lines and right angles, so these elegant curtains are a subtle way to soften the look, add privacy and distinguish between spaces with different functions.
Give structure to a room
A big room that extends from one end of a house to the other may be the epitome of open plan, but it presents numerous decorating challenges. A narrow wall like this that doesn’t connect to any other walls can give a large space some much-needed structure, as well as providing a place to hang art and a surface against which to push furniture.
Check out these tips on how to zone your open-plan room
A big room that extends from one end of a house to the other may be the epitome of open plan, but it presents numerous decorating challenges. A narrow wall like this that doesn’t connect to any other walls can give a large space some much-needed structure, as well as providing a place to hang art and a surface against which to push furniture.
Check out these tips on how to zone your open-plan room
Create privacy
One of the drawbacks of open-plan living is the lack of privacy. If you have a small space that needs to serve numerous functions, think about using a light fabric partition. This works especially well in a small space, as here, where simple panels of fabric create a barely there feel, even when fully closed. They’re also an inexpensive option, and perfect for rented properties.
TELL US…
Have you enlisted, or will you be enlisting, the assistance of a room divider to help you section your open-plan space? If so, please share your tips and photos in the Comments below.
One of the drawbacks of open-plan living is the lack of privacy. If you have a small space that needs to serve numerous functions, think about using a light fabric partition. This works especially well in a small space, as here, where simple panels of fabric create a barely there feel, even when fully closed. They’re also an inexpensive option, and perfect for rented properties.
TELL US…
Have you enlisted, or will you be enlisting, the assistance of a room divider to help you section your open-plan space? If so, please share your tips and photos in the Comments below.
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When planning where to position your room divider, consider the distinct functions of each space. This glazed box, for example, creates a hallway, shielding the kitchen-diner from the thoroughfare without blocking light or spoiling the expanse of beamed ceiling.
The line of plants inside softens the look, although it would be equally at home in this industrial-style room if it were left bare.