Top tips for furnishing and decorating an open plan living area

An open plan layout is the perfect solution for the busy modern lifestyle as its multi-functional spaces can be easily adapted to the varying needs of any given moment, making it extremely liveable and practical.

It also fosters socialising. On a daily basis, family members are perhaps all doing their own thing simultaneously, whether that’s working on a laptop, watching a film, texting friends or cooking, but rather than being closeted away in separate rooms, everyone is together. The same rule applies when friends are over, as open plan living lends itself perfectly to entertaining.

Finally, from an aesthetics point of view, although it is a modern design solution and often adopted in contemporary homes with a clean, minimal look, it works well with any kind of style, from classic to country cottage, from industrial to vintage.

The most widespread – and safest – approach is to choose one key colour and then play with its texture and shades. Unsurprisingly, white is a failsafe choice here, as it also helps enhance the brightness and lightness of a space, particularly when it comes to small apartments.

If, however, you find white a bit too safe, and prefer something a little bolder, the trick is to use such colours with care, ideally for items such as cushions, vases, artwork and curtains, all things that can be changed reasonably easily if you tire of them.

When it comes to organising the layout of the living area of an open space, the positioning of items of furniture is key. Start by carefully examining the shape of the area, and think about how it will be used and all the activities it should be able to accommodate.

Given that you have the luxury of space, you can play with large pieces, but you’ll need to also pay attention not to go overboard and end up cluttering the area, as the whole idea of open plan living is that you end up with a lovely airy environment. A statement cabinet or bookcase, such as the Colonnata with its combination of oak and natural stone, is a stylish and functional solution, as it can either be placed in the middle to act as a partition between zones, or positioned more conventionally against a wall, freeing up valuable floor space and helping maintain that sense of spaciousness.

Once darkness falls, however, a single light fitting is not going to cut the mustard in such a vast space, so the trick is to install different sources of light. The ideal solution is a combination of soft, mood lighting dotted around the areas used for living, with brighter light used in the kitchen, perhaps over the dining table, depending upon preference, and in a reading or study nook. Salvatori offers elegant lighting solutions for both these situations, which you can find in our lighting section.

The other practical aspect to take into account is heating, as in a large open space, it is clear that the warmth will dissipate rapidly if it comes from a single source only. Here, it often comes down to what is available or widely used in different markets, but a winning solution is underfloor heating, as this ensures a uniform level of warmth throughout the entire area, and also does not take up valuable wall space.

In many countries, wall-mounted radiators are the most widespread heating technique and obviously in an open plan layout, the key is to distribute them evenly throughout the various zones. The same applies to heat pumps, a popular solution in some areas, while a fireplace, whether in a traditional position against the wall, or used as a zone divider, brings not only heat but also adds a sense of cosiness and atmosphere that other forms of heating simply can’t match. That said, however, in an open plan situation, it will almost certainly need to be complemented by radiators or some other solution.

The placement of the furniture in the centre of the room, brought together on a vast mat, creates a natural delineation of the space while light streams in through the full-length windows, filling the entire area.

The Silo chandelier provides not only a stunning focal point, but also plenty of artificial light, while the Urano floor lamp in Bianco Carrara marble can be moved around as required.

The furnishings are understated and functional, with two coffee tables from the ‘Love me, Love me not’ collection adding just the right touch of sumptuous coloured marble, accompanied by more restrained pieces from the W and Proiezioni ranges and a pair of Theca display cabinets.

An open plan kitchen is an extremely popular architectural choice, both for its smart use of space and the sociable aspect it offers.

This example shows a kitchen and living room combination that strikes the perfect balance between privacy and conviviality, brought together in a pared-back décor that is designed for practicality.

It also follows the cardinal rule when it comes to open plan layouts, with a single style flowing through both zones, with shapes, lines and materials working together in harmony.

The use of Crema d’Orcia throughout amplifies the natural light, creating a bright, airy environment, with interest and movement coming in the choice of different textures, with Stone Parquet on the floor and Raw on one wall.

The placement of the furniture is carefully balanced, with the Balnea modular storage system with its facing in Raw providing a natural focal point, set off to perfection by the Intarsi wall art in natural stone, while ‘Love me, Love me not’ and Proiezioni coffee tables add Made in Italy flair.

Again, we have a layout in which the kitchen and living room are not completely open plan, with a sliding door offering the option of privacy when required.

This versatile and stylish solution ensures cooking odours and mess can be magically hidden, keeping the living room aesthetic unblemished, but ensuring that when the door is pulled back you have a glimpse of an elegant kitchen.

If you love entertaining, an open plan living room is a dream solution and here, if you are going to focus on one item of furniture, there is only one hero and that is the table.

Not only is it the essential functional element for convivial lunches and dinners, but it should be a décor feature and will often also serve to separate the dining zone from the kitchen and living areas.

This luxurious villa shows off to perfection how an open plan layout can incorporate a number of zones. Not only do we have a living room and dining area, but it also contains a bar, setting the scene for fun gatherings, and making it clear that the host understands the art of hospitality.

The floor-to-ceiling windows ensure a well-lit environment by day, but come the evening, the flamboyant chandeliers come into their own, as well as adding a wow factor to the décor whatever the time of day.

Silk Georgette® limestone, with its distinctive greige colouring and waves of veining, is the perfect canvas for this lavish setting, used on the floor, walls and bar.