by EJ Young

Created on: July 07, 2009   Last Updated: June 03, 2010

Great rooms and open floor plans are a popular choice in today's homes. Great rooms are a practical use of space, but can present some design challenges. Placing the right furniture pieces in well planned groupings is the key to mastering defined spaces with a great flow. When the furniture groupings work, the remaining design challenges fall into place. Make your great room your personal space with taste.

Visualizing Space

First, begin with the great room cleared of all objects and freshly painted in a warm neutral tone. If the area tends to be on the small side, remember that 'less is more'. Avoid crowding the space with too much furniture. It is much better to use a loveseat and a chair or two in a smaller living space than a sectional or two couches. The larger pieces end up looking too chunky and take over the room. When thinking about the space you need to furnish, visualize the groupings. If it is hard for you to see where to place items, a good tip is to use an object such as a paper plate and literally layout your groupings. It may sound silly, but placing a paper plate where you want to place a loveseat and two chairs is easier than hauling heavy furniture.

Designating Function

If you determined you don't really need a separate dining room area with a table and chairs, you have more room for other purposes. If you like to entertain, you should consider multi-purpose groupings. For example, consider using an ottoman for a coffee table to place in front of your loveseat. When you need more seating, simply pull it to the side and fit a couple guests on the ottoman. You might use a desk with a chair for an office area. That chair can travel to the other side of the room for extra seating. Group the big pieces by placing the love seat at a right angle 4-6 feet in front of the fireplace with two side chairs parallel to the love seat on the opposite side. That arrangement allows for cozy conversation and won't overpower the room. Built in bookcases or custom shelving is an efficient and attractive way to display personal items as well as solve storage and seating problems. The base of your shelving can be a wooden bench with a detachable lid. Decorative pillows or a custom pillow cushion makes a cozy spot to read, plus the extra books, blankets, DVDs, and other items can be stored in the bench out of site. Place shelving on the wall opposite the desk and chair.

Defining Areas

Now that you've decided on a small eating area with seating at a kitchen bar, that

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