HomeBeautiful
  • Open Homes
  • Bathroom
  • Kitchen
  • Outdoor
  • Decorate
  • Hamptons
  • Podcasts
  • Beach House
  • hacks
HomeBeautiful
  • Open Homes
  • Bathroom
  • Kitchen
  • Outdoor
  • Decorate
  • Hamptons
  • Podcasts
  • Beach House
  • hacks
Subscribe
Getting your coastal kitchen floor plan right
Watch 2:03

Getting your coastal kitchen floor plan right

{headline}

{headline}

4 essential tips for painting a feature wall

4 essential tips for painting a feature wall

The rules to painting your walls a dark colour

The rules to painting your walls a dark colour

10 super-stylish bookshelf decorating ideas

10 super-stylish bookshelf decorating ideas

6 ways to spruce up your living room - in one hour

6 ways to spruce up your living room - in one hour

{headline}

{headline}

Style your home for summer

Style your home for summer

Five ways to maximise small space living

Five ways to maximise small space living

Why home cooks and chefs prefer natural gas cooktops

Why home cooks and chefs prefer natural gas cooktops

{headline}

{headline}

The one thing you need to know before buying a sofa

The one thing you need to know before buying a sofa

3 ways to achieve living room cosiness all year round

3 ways to achieve living room cosiness all year round

How to make your living room look bigger

How to make your living room look bigger

Do you still keep a "Good Room"?

Do you still keep a "Good Room"?

10 decorating mistakes you’re making in your lounge room

10 decorating mistakes you’re making in your lounge room

How to decorate a non-working fireplace

How to decorate a non-working fireplace

7 ways to find more space in your living room

7 ways to find more space in your living room

In Partnership With Brighter
  1. Home
  2. Open Homes

Design secrets for creating an inviting open plan living area

Find the perfect balance between space and intimacy - by Chelsea Tromans
  • 02 Sep 2019
Design secrets for creating an inviting open plan living area

Open plan living has been a popular trend for more than a few years now. It enhances the feeling of space and light, improves the flow throughout the house, and brings the whole family together.

But wide, open spaces can feel cold and uninviting if you’re not careful. To make sure your open plan living area feels fresh yet cosy, copy these four essential tips that property stylist Amy Smith followed when she recently renovated her Manly home.

1. Start with cohesive flooring between all rooms

Amy opted for oak floorboards throughout her home, which extended from the kitchen into the living and dining spaces. Having a key element that ties all the rooms together creates continuity and flow, while turning a vast space into a more intimate one. Lighter coloured floorboards with warm undertones give off a homely vibe.

2. Create cosy spaces with furniture

While open plan living has the benefit of each room blending into one large space, defining each area is still important. Without walls, you’ll need to get creative with your furniture. Rugs are a great way to distinguish different spaces. Face your couches towards the fireplace to create a clear boundary around your living area. For the ‘dining room’, a feature light over the dining table makes for an eye-catching focal point.

A fireplace is great centre piece for a living room
Getty

3. Add a fireplace centrepiece

Rather than revolving your living room around the TV, a fireplace is not only striking, it’s more welcoming, too. It draws you in and is the perfect centrepiece to gather around. A natural gas fireplace is an ideal choice for families as it’s safer (no open flames), a time-saver (no need to fuss with wood and stoking the fire), and more environmentally-friendly.  

4. Pull it all together with well-chosen details

Materials and accessories chosen with care are the difference between a room that’s practically functional and one that exudes a warm, inviting ambience. Amy brought in neutral, earthy tones and natural materials like sandstone around the fireplace, cane baskets and wooden décor pieces to create an environment that felt like home.

For more ideas on making your home more comfortable with natural gas click here

  • Open Homes
  • Living Room Ideas

FREE Miranda Kerr Mug-SAVE 31%

by Royal Albert, when you subscribe

Subscribe Now
FREE Miranda Kerr Mug

FREE Miranda Kerr Mug-SAVE 31%

by Royal Albert, when you subscribe

Subscribe Now
FREE Miranda Kerr Mug

Featured Properties

Powered By

Recommended to you

Getting your coastal kitchen floor plan right
Watch 2:03

Getting your coastal kitchen floor plan right

{headline}

{headline}

4 essential tips for painting a feature wall

4 essential tips for painting a feature wall

The rules to painting your walls a dark colour

The rules to painting your walls a dark colour

10 super-stylish bookshelf decorating ideas

10 super-stylish bookshelf decorating ideas

6 ways to spruce up your living room - in one hour

6 ways to spruce up your living room - in one hour

{headline}

{headline}

Style your home for summer

Style your home for summer

Five ways to maximise small space living

Five ways to maximise small space living

Why home cooks and chefs prefer natural gas cooktops

Why home cooks and chefs prefer natural gas cooktops

{headline}

{headline}

The one thing you need to know before buying a sofa

The one thing you need to know before buying a sofa

3 ways to achieve living room cosiness all year round

3 ways to achieve living room cosiness all year round

How to make your living room look bigger

How to make your living room look bigger

Do you still keep a "Good Room"?

Do you still keep a "Good Room"?

10 decorating mistakes you’re making in your lounge room

10 decorating mistakes you’re making in your lounge room

How to decorate a non-working fireplace

How to decorate a non-working fireplace

7 ways to find more space in your living room

7 ways to find more space in your living room

HomeBeautiful
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
HomeBeautiful Magazine Subscribe
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy

Brands

  • Beauty Crew
  • Instyle
  • marie claire
  • Who

Our Network

  • Better Homes and Gardens
  • BHG Shop
  • New Idea food
  • New Idea
  • Girlfriend
  • That’s Life
  • All Recipes
  • Practical Parenting
  • 7plus
  • 7News
  • Health Engine
  • The West Australian
  • Perth Now
  • Airtasker
  • Society One
  • Starts at 60
© 2021 Are Media PTY LTD
Get more from

Magazine Subscription Offer

FREE Miranda Kerr Mug-SAVE 31%

Shop This Offer
FREE Miranda Kerr Mug