ideas for Open-Plan Decoration

Vibrant open-plan living room

Make your living room an extension of the outdoors with clever use of vibrant textures, fabrics, plants and ethnic furniture.

Bold open-plan kitchen/diner

Red and cream walls highlight the sleek MFI lacquered units and wooden worktops in this kitchen. Two stainless-steel curved cupboards with roll-down doors add a modern edge. A breakfast bar gives extra work space. In the foreground, a glass table and contemporary chairs create a dining area.

Classic dining room table

For an evening table setting, replace chair cushions with smart white box-pleated skirts and transform a New Heights dinner table with a Ralph Lauren runner in delicate shell-pink linen, and co-ordinated place mats in a faded floral.

Modern family kitchen/diner

This kitchen has a wooden floor and simple flush units in lacquered white, both practical choices in a busy family space. The walls, units and paintwork are all in light-reflecting white to make the room seem bigger and keep it airy. The centrepiece is a Terence Conran wooden table and benches from Benchmark Furniture, with bright cushions and accessories and a lime green runner. Simple but striking blinds and glass pendant shades from Baileys Home & Garden complete the streamlined, modern look.

Open-plan contemporary living room

Everything in this eclectic contemporary living room is low-level, from the Designers Guild sofas to the coffee table that is in fact a dining table from Ikea with its legs cut down. The wall print is an enlargement of a Jordi Labanda picture from his book of illustrations, Hey Day.

Zesty open-plan living-dining room

Dark cabinetry in stained oak and high-gloss ties in well with the lime green furniture in this open-plan scheme. The 1970s-style modular sofa in faux suede is ideal for separating the living space from the dining area. Statement furniture like the multi-level coffee table add a modern touch to the retro scheme.

Professional kitchen-dining area

Sleek lines and modern appliances give this open-plan kitchen a professional feel. A breakfast bar zones the modern kitchen, while the chic glass table and chairs add to the sophisticated yet welcoming feel of the room. Solid oak flooring keeps the look from being too stark and modern.

Open-plan dining area

A low shelf unit has been positioned to create a division between the dining and living area of this open-plan space. It also creates storage for the dining area and a handy surface for buffet-style lunches or drinks. A large table is useful for a number of activities such as homework, paperwork, as well as dining. Pendant lights have been hung above the table to add further definition to the area.

Cosy living-dining room

A comfy modular sofa is used to mark out the living zone in this living-dining room. Cushions are piled high for extra comfort and wallpaper is used to create a focal point. Homely accessories and light-wood ensures that the open-plan scheme is cosy. A modular storage and a cream rug is used to define the living space, while handy storage clears clutter.

White open-plan dining area

A reinforced glass panel on the staircase acts as a balustrade while maximising light in this open-plan dining area. White gloss furniture creates a contemporary feel that is softened by wooden stairs and surfaces. Modern orange dining chairs add colourful accents to the scheme.