Open Space Living/Dining Rooms
Today’s home décor, more than at any other time, reflects our lifestyles completely. Only since the advent of the internet have home offices become so popular. Now homes are pre-wired for the internet, satellite TV and every other convenience we have come to expect in our homes.
The same changes are evident in the functions of our rooms. In the average home, the old formal dining room is a thing of the past. Today’s homeowners want multi-purpose rooms and one of the most popular of them is the combination living and dining room, sometimes referred to as the great room.
With Mom and Dad both working and children with many afterschool interests, it becomes almost impossible to organize a time for everyone to get together to eat. The formal dining room sits empty for all but a few holidays throughout the year.
A popular home improvement entails knocking out the walls between living and dining rooms and making them one large, functional room where all the members of the family can gather while each still has their own space to work or play.
Once the walls are down and you have this wonderful, large, open space, you now face the challenge of furnishing it.
“What’s that sofa doing in my dining room?” Although meant to be a funny statement, if you don’t carefully choose the furniture for your combination living/dining room, it may end up looking rather odd.
Function is a very important consideration when choosing your furnishings. Although this is now one large room, you still need a place for relaxing and a place for dining. Choose a dining set that is more informal. One that will be a great place to serve an elegant dinner for friends and will be equally at home with the kids homework spread out on it or your family playing a board game together. Remember that unlike a formal dining room, this room will be lived in everyday and the furniture will be used for a number of different functions.
Harmony is an equally important guideline. With an open living plan, the areas must feel separate, while also harmonizing with each other. You can achieve harmony within your space through the use of color, fabrics and style.
A great way to accomplish this is to upholster the sofa in the living area with the same fabric used on the dining chairs. Or pull a dominate, solid color from the sofa fabric and use that color in the dining area.
Choose a similar style of furnishings for each area. Use furniture that makes the eye easily move from piece to piece. If your styles are not in harmony, then the room will not have the necessary flow and will result in the pieces “fighting” with each other . The end result will be a room that does not make you feel comfortable.
Choose furnishings with the best function, keep the harmony flowing throughout your space, and you will end up with a “pulled-together” look that will make this room the favorite gathering place in your home.