Break Up Open Spaces Into Manageable Units

We hear it all the time: Geez, I wish I had more room. This place is just too small. If I take more than five steps in any one direction in any one room, there’s a good chance my nose will be rubbing drywall.

Easy enough to understand. But what about the flip side of the coin? The trend in some of today’s housing is to more open spaces. The great room has become a given in many newer tracts. And open floor plans - with few barriers between living and dining areas, even kitchens - are even more pervasive.

So what do we hear? And please try to have just a little compassion, small-space people. Here goes. What do I do with all this space? How can I decorate it so that it doesn’t look like a disorganized landing strip for sofas, chairs, tables, you name it? Problems, problems. Time for solutions, solutions.

The key to managing all that space is to treat it as if it were several smaller spaces. Instead of looking at the space as one unit, break it into several activity areas. Once you do that, you won’t feel so overwhelmed. You’ll have more-manageable, smaller decorating projects to tackle.

For starters, get a grip on the primary function of the room, then design the dominant furniture arrangement to handle that activity. Maybe it’s a place for family and friends to gather to watch TV, listen to music, read. For these kinds of activities, a modular grouping would fit right in. It anchors the room, is a focal point, and provides the beginning for the rest of the project.

That out of the way, balance the room with a few complementary arrangements to break up the space. Turn a corner into an area for doing homework or playing on the computer by installing a desk. In another corner, team a couple of comfy chairs with a coffee table and floor lamp. Instant conversation center. Got a bay window? Cozy it up with a chair, ottoman and lamp. Easy reading. An attractive setting, too.

When you’re deciding on furnishings, keep in mind that medium-to-large-scale pieces fit best in large spaces. Smaller pieces can make for a cluttered look, and they can appear lost, seem to float in a big room or open floor plan.