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 space can easily be defined with lighting. Pendant lighting placed over the bar area coordinated with a light fixture over the sink will define the kitchen/dining area. Done.
Next, the space you have designated as an office area is somewhat established due to shelves and furniture. A separate area rug or runner touching all the elements placed in the office area will clearly define that space. A large potted plant place between the desk and living area would make a visual line as well. Make sure the plant is real and make sure you won't kill it. A large DEAD plant is not very cozy!
Finally, the living area is the largest space in this great room, but how will you define it without cutting off the natural flow of the room? Once again a coordinating area rug works. Consider coordinating the design from the office rug, but make the living room rug the bolder design and the larger size. Windows also define space. You want your great room to have lots of natural light, so allow the window in the office area to stay naked. Use of a window topper or popular Roman shades pulled up will make the window look cozier. Save the drama of drapes for the living room area. Coordinating colors from your loveseat cover, chairs, pillows or lamp shades with the drapery color will help make the statement for you. If the living room looks too small, use a large mirror. Instead of a traditional mirror placed on the wall, consider going with a large leaner mirror. Leaners are the latest trend, look great and are easily relocated if you change your mind. Place the mirror to reflect light. It will give the illusion of bigger spaces, plus the frame can be painted to coordinate with your room colors.
Avoid common errors
Although most of us watch TV and we know the television will be part of the living room dcor, try not to make it the focal point of the room. A television is an appliance and an appliance just doesn't say, cozy, warm and inviting. It is talks at all, it probably says something like, bulky, cold and metal or something unappealing. There are many solutions for this obstacle. An encasement is a good idea; you might customize a cover by placing a piece of artwork if front of a flat screen. Although more expensive, there are TV consoles that raise and lower your TV screen from the console. You could purchase or build an armoire. Simply close the doors when not in use. No more eyesore.
Don't use accessories just because you can. Avoid nailing up 30 personal photos resembling a family circus gallery unless you have a gallery sized room. Keep artwork in groupings of one, three or five (a common rule for other accessories such as candles or vases as well). For example, one large canvas framed on one side with two smaller coordinating pieces looks great. Yes, it's time to toss out that gaudy purple rhinestone picture frame your aunt gave you. Don't clash out accessories or furniture! If you can't afford new lamps, consider using matching fabric to coordinate the lampshades. Think of practical inexpensive ways to coordinate pieces in your great room. If your worn floral loveseat is screaming ugly and you can't afford a new one, purchase or make a cover. Furniture covers are hot in today's design! You can choose from a variety of colors and textures. Your old flowers transform into a soft warm lunch bag color for under fifty bucks.
Enjoy furnishing and decorating your great room. Remember to make it your space with taste.