5 Ways to Make an Open Plan Living Space Feel Warm & Cozy

When it comes to home design, open floor plans have taken front and center stage in the last few years. With its bright and airy ambience, uninterrupted lines of sight and spacious feeling, open plan living offers a more versatile and usable space that allows for individual activities and togetherness to coexist. However, when done wrongly, an open plan living space can end up feeling cold and uninviting. Thankfully, there are many ways around this problem and you’re in luck because that is exactly what we will be focusing on today.

Here are 5 ways to make an open plan living space feel warm and cozy, for that snug, homely feel.

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If there is one rule to live by in the world of open plan living, it is to create focal points and arrange your room around it. Since open spaces can often feel intimidating and leave you more confused than creative, a general rule of thumb is break your room up into zones which you can focus on individually. In each of these zones, we suggest highlighting your space by including a focal point that can range from anything such as a shelving unit, fireplace, gallery wall or even just an amazing piece of artwork. With your focal point identified, you can now decorate and arrange your furniture/decor around it and then slowly work your way out.

Don’t forget that this rule applies to all areas of the home, including your balcony, terrace or backyard. Some great ideas for an outdoor focal point include an wall mount heating, a garden bench or even a small hot tub. Thankfully, the world is your oyster, and you can customize your focal points to your personal interests and needs.

If you’re looking to really cozy up a space with warmth, there is nothing better than incorporating a touch of nature into your layout. Natural elements in the form of wood, bamboo, rattan and other eco-friendly materials are easily incorporated in the form of tables, chairs and decor such as woven baskets, planters and more. With so many different elements to choose from, there is certainly no shortage of ways you can furnish your home with a natural flair to create a sense of coziness unlike any other.

While you’re at it, don’t forget to head out to your local nursery to grab a number of different indoor plants that are guaranteed to liven up your space instantly.

Tip: Some of our top picks for low-maintenance plants include Fiddle Leaf Figs, Monsteras, Sansevierias and our all time favorite that basically thrives on neglect – the ZZ plant.

With modular sofas and lounges being all the rage at the moment, it can be all too easy to adhere to current trends when choosing your ideal seating setup. While there is nothing wrong with a modular sofa by any means, if you are looking to truly create a warm and cozy space, we highly suggest looking into other, more intimate options such as a couple of occasional (accent) chairs and a loveseat. Simply orient your seating toward one another for an ultra-personal feel that is accented with a variety of different cushions, blankets and textures for that oh-so-comfy ambience.

Tip: Swap the standard coffee table out for a set of nested tables that you can easily move them around depending on your needs.

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Bare walls in a big and open room can have the potential to feel a little cold and sterile, so be sure to utilize your wall space as much as possible. There are a variety of different ways to do this, from hanging up large pieces of statement art to installing floating shelves that create a new home for your books, knick knacks and other items of decor. Some other fantastic ideas for filling in bare walls include a feature wall, hanging wall planters or a hanging rug that doubles up as an ideal way to add texture, warmth and interesting pops of color to any room in your home.

For more ingenious ideas on how to fully utilize your wall space, be sure to check out this article.

Last but not least, lighting is a crucial component of making any open plan living space feel warm and inviting. As a general rule of thumb, we suggest an option for multiple different light sources to really ingest a sense of coziness into your space. Complement your standard overhead downlights with a variety of different ambient lighting choices such as table, wall and floor lamps. To add more personality into your space, you could also opt for additional lighting in the form of a unique Turkish lamp, wall sconces, elegant cove lighting and/or an eye-catching chandelier.

Tip: Warm globes are always our top choice when designing a warm and cozy space. Avoid cool globes as they can negatively affect sleeping patterns and may feel harsh in the home setting.

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Turning your open plan living space into a warm and cozy personal paradise doesn’t have to be a jarring task. By following these 5 handy tips, you will be able to curate a space that offers you the intimacy and comfort you desire all whilst still benefiting from the airy and spacious nature of open plan living.

Published in: Ideas | Author: Lynn