All You Need to Know About Separating Your Open-Concept Home with Furniture

Open-concept homes are gaining momentum in Singapore as new homeowners increasingly prioritize flexibility and connectivity in their living spaces. Creating the illusion of a spacious home with modest square footage, this trend has even brought about the Housing and Development Board’s (HDB) ‘white flats’ — a new variation of Build-to-Order (BTO) flats sans the partitions and beams. 

As buyers scramble to snag this newly announced layout, questions about how we can effectively segregate and define an open-concept home arise. This article discusses what this “blank canvas” floor plan entails and how homeowners can optimize their living space for a superior multifunctional, practical and comfortable home. 

What is an Open-Concept Home?

Also referred to as an open-floor plan, an open-concept plan is a largely unstructured design concept that removes barriers, such as walls and doors, found in traditional floor plans. Unlike the latter, it tends to combine two or more rooms together — such as by fusing the living room and dining room — for a single, large and connected common space. 

Open-floor plans are known for creating seamless and airy spaces that provide immense flexibility for reconfiguration and ease movement from room to room (or rather, zone to zone).

How Do I Define Spaces in an Open-Floor Plan?

Defining and dividing spaces in your open-floor plan can do wonders for your interior design. Without allocating distinct zones, your space can feel like a jumbled mess. The key is to create an environment with separate zones for different functions, while ensuring they harmoniously flow together.

1. Furniture Grouping

Grouping furniture is one of the easiest ways to visually define a zone. You can achieve this by identifying furniture pieces that serve a specific purpose and clustering them together. As you arrange them, ensure there’s enough space for traffic flow and easy access. Placing them close together naturally signals a special, cohesively designed area.

2. Colors and Accents

Proper use of colors and accents can not only define a space but also infuse it with personality. Group similar-colored pieces to visually unite them, and incorporate pops of contrasting colors or metallic accents to add a glimmer for extra visual appeal.

3. Angles and Decor

Angles in furniture placement can suggest boundaries or focal points within a room. Likewise, decor elements like rugs and artwork can enhance the purpose and ambiance of a space. If you find that a specific area lacks clear separation, consider adjusting the angles of your furniture and refreshing the decor to make it more cohesive. 

What Furniture Can I Divide a Space With?

In lieu of fixtures like walls and doors, furniture pieces such as sofas, L-shaped desks, tables, rugs and different kinds of lighting can help to designate and delineate an area. 

1. Sectional Furniture

Sectional furniture stands as a practical replacement for walls. Explore essentials — such as sofas and tables — in different sizes and layouts to help you outline distinct zones in an open floor plan. U-shaped sofas can add sophistication and character while L-shaped tables can maximize corner spaces for functionality and style.

2. Bookshelves and Storage Furniture

You can choose to either open up or close off a zone with storage solutions like bookshelves. By utilizing vertical space, shelves can direct flow towards other areas or create a sense of privacy. Experiment with the heights of these items to find one that meets your needs; lower shelves create more breathing room, while higher ones can tighten up a space to make it feel cozier. 

3. Desks and Tables

Desks and tables provide a platform for storing essentials and showcasing decor. These additions serve as visual dividers, and can feature centerpieces that draw attention to a space. Note that it doesn’t have to be placed on the sidelines to section off a space, it can also be positioned smack dab in the middle to achieve the same effect without coming off as constricting. 

4. Rugs and Lighting

Rugs and lighting, subtle yet impactful, can imbue each space with distinct moods and effectively highlight zones in an open-concept home. They act as the finishing touches after organizing furniture, choosing colors and adjusting angles. Opt for a large rug that extends beyond furniture edges, allowing it to anchor the space. On the other hand, pendant lights can serve as focal points that guide the eyes towards a specific area within the room. 

5. Plants and Greenery

Tall plants have long been selected as living privacy screens for outdoor spaces. But have you considered using them indoors too? Besides being natural dividers, greenery can tie together the space and provide a touch of nature that promotes relaxation. For some, being surrounded by nature indoors is almost as liberating as having no walls at all. 

Key Considerations

Open-floor plans are valued for their multipurpose qualities, but can feel distant and uninspired without careful planning. 

It’s crucial to consider the impact of their chosen color schemes and furniture options before implementing them. A cohesive design, along with thoughtful consideration of furniture proportions and scale, is essential for making an open-concept home successful. 

Additionally, avoid overcrowding the room and ensure clear pathways for foot traffic through strategic space planning and maintaining flow. 

Additional Tips

Explore some additional tips below to facilitate designing your new open-concept home. 

• Measure and Map: With an open floor plan, the footprint is truly in your hands. Take control by measuring your furniture and furnishings. Just because there are no walls for boundaries doesn’t mean there aren’t principles to follow in interior design!
• Open and Closed Storage: You would be surprised by how much open and closed storage solutions can impact a space. Conventional “out of sight, out of mind” works well for minimalist designs, but special spots marked by functional and decorative items can cap off a zone with charming intentionality.
• Mix and Match Styles: Your zones, and overall open-concept home, should reflect your unique personality. Avoid coming off as drab by adding depth and intrigue with a patchwork of different styles, creating a timeless look that transcends momentary trends.

Ready to start designing your open-concept home? Our guide will help you begin with confidence and clarity. Let your first stop be MyDesk.sg, where we offer a wide range of furniture suitable for both traditional and modern setups. Shop online or visit our showroom for more details.