No matter its shape, size or layout, the living room and dining room are the first things you see when you come home. Here is a guide to help you make the most of these spaces.
Creating zones.
An open concept space is very popular, especially in Singapore where space is limited. From studio apartment to btos, home-owners are hacking walls to make home look more spacious. However, it is still a good idea to do some segregation for a sense of cohesion. Instead of adding partitions, you can play with different types of flooring, colors or theme. A simpler alternative is to use furniture or decor to subtly delineate the areas. Adding rugs also helps to separate different areas and create a cosy vibe at the same time.
With such effortless segregation, we re-create spacious homes with purpose in every living area. Common areas to use this method: Living room, bedroom, kitchen.
Borkell Rug
https://www.etchandbolts.com/home-decor/rugsandcarpets/borkell
Arrangements matters
We do agree that every inch of space is precious. But making full use of the space does not mean that we should clutter every area with things. When you're making do with the space you have, it helps to create a natural flow of space. Think of how you move about at home and design the living space accordingly. Move your furniture pieces to one side to form a natural walkway that doesn't obstruct you in any ways. Areas like foyer or walkway should be free of things for easy movement, you wouldn't want to knock over delicate display pieces. This is a practical planning that you will benefit in long term.
Duncan Chesterfield Armchair
https://www.etchandbolts.com/living-room/armchairs/duncan-armchair
Proportion is the key
No matter the size of your living room or dining area, the most important thing is to find the right type of furniture for the space. A beautiful over-sized dining table will not be usable if your dining area isn't large enough to fit it. A bigger ceiling fan may generates more wind but it will not be able to fit if your space isn't big enough. Proportion plays a big part too. If the ratio of your furniture is off, it will make your space look cramped, resulting home to be visually smaller than it already is.
Anton Dining Table
https://www.etchandbolts.com/dining-room/dining-tables/Anton
Create a focus point
Don't feel restricted by smaller spaces. There are many ways to play around with small spaces too. Instead of trying to squeeze everything into one room, or going minimalist and leaving the room almost empty, there are a few tricks you can try. Create focal points and display areas throughout the room. These are spots that naturally draws attention and distract you from the limitation of a space. It could be a tasteful artwork, or a statement-making armchair. Adding spotlights or tracklights to shine on these areas will enhance the focus point.
Soleil Spotlight
Vanta Tracklight
https://www.shioklighting.com/product-page/vanta-tracklight
Split it up
Having a larger living space is a plus point. There will be more freedom when comes to space planning. But you should be aware of that a large room and empty room can feel cold and uninviting. The solution is to create multiple zones in one room, all within close proximity of one another - and dedicate each space to its own function.