Sometimes we get overwhelmed by open floor plans. We might initially think there’s a ton of space to put all kinds of furniture. In reality, it’s typically two or three rooms - with no interior walls.

I’ve got a couple of ideas for you to keep that lovely open feeling while also placing furniture. Last year I worked on a project that put these ideas to good use.

It was in an older ranch style home. The ceilings weren’t high and the rooms felt boxy. So a couple of walls came a tumblin’ down and the result was an immediate breath of fresh air! But the homeowners wanted the dining area to have a slightly more formal feeling than the rest of the room.

This is what we did:

That’s the dining area. After taking down the wall, the contractor built a subtle arch near the ceiling and added about a foot of definition on each side. These give a visual clue that it’s a separate “room” and adds some architectural interest. Adding this is not an expensive project for your house - it’s a bit of framing and sheetrock.

Then we installed wallpaper on the back wall - that’s another visual clue to define the dining space.

You could get the same result with a different paint color or floating shelves on that wall.

Lastly, we added a modern fabric near the floral pattern.

The new fabric on the seats of the old (gorgeous) chairs was chosen to keep your eye moving around the room. Mixing patterns is another way to draw the eye and keep things interesting.

Please don’t put boring fabric on your dining room chairs. They’re almost always pushed in, so only a bit will peek out. Make it lively and colorful!

So those are my tips for today. I hope they’re helpful.

Wait, I found another idea when doing a quick search about half walls. Look at this:

Even a 2-3’ half wall that’s only 36-42” high could establish a parameter. Top that little bit of wall with a piece of marble, granite or stained wood and sit some plants on it. This detail adds instant interest without taking up any of the Open in your open floor plan.

Then add a little color, mix your patterns and you’re good to go!

With sparkle and texture,

Anne