Many modern homes are designed with open concept floor plans, which carry their own challenges once it is time to furnish the space. Open floor plans are popular for their spaciousness and flexibility, but they require careful planning to ensure flow, function, and visual harmony. Luckily, there are a few simple and practical steps you can take to furnish a space like this! Here are our top three tips for furnishing an open floor plan:
Keep traffic patterns and flow in mind.
As you plan out your open concept space, it is helpful to first determine where the main traffic areas will be throughout the room. Take measurements of your space and consider which areas need to be left open for people to walk through the room easily. Typically, high-traffic areas should have at least a few feet of clearance to ensure that you can move with ease through the space. Once you know how much space must be left open, you can determine exactly how much space your furniture can occupy, making the shopping process much easier.
Use furniture as strategic “dividers” to create separation within your space.
Furniture is great for separating a space visually, particularly larger pieces like sofas. For example, many homes have an open concept dining and living area, connecting the kitchen, dining room, and living room all in one large space. A strategically placed sofa or sectional floating in the middle of the room acts as a natural anchor point for the part of your floor plan designated for “living room” purposes. The sofa provides a visual divide from the rest of the room, allowing you to create a sense of separation and order with the absence of walls. The rest of the living area furnishings can then be positioned in relation to the sofa, creating a cohesive setting.
Use rugs to ground different areas
There is nothing more awkward than an open floor plan with furniture simply floating in the space without any clear organization or separation. Since open floor plans have limited opportunities to ground your furnishings against walls, we recommend using rugs to define spaces where furniture is positioned in the center of your space. An area rug serves as a great base for groupings of dining tables and chairs, sofas and cocktail tables, or accent chairs. Plus, rugs allow you to add visual interest to your space through colors, patterns, and textures. At Reid’s Fine Furnishings, we carry a vast assortment of quality rugs in every size, color, and style you can imagine!
Furnishing an open concept space can feel daunting, but our team is here to help! Our staff are highly knowledgeable and can assist you with picking the right types of pieces for your space. Plus, we offer design services if you need more hands-on assistance with furnishing the room of your dreams! Visit us today to learn more about how we can bring your vision to life!
