skip to main content

Need advice for awkward open-plan living/dining room

8 years ago

last modified: 8 years ago

Hi,

So I have just bought my first small two-bedroom flat. It is a new-build and has an open-plan living/kitchen/dining room which is lovely and light but is quite an awkward shape with only one TV point (bottom left corner of plan below), which I think will constrain where we can put the sofa. We like cooking and entertaining, but cannot figure out where to put a big dining table. Because the flooring in the kitchen area is different to the rest of the room, we can't put a table over the divide in the flooring like we could if the flooring was all the same. Any advice? The dimensions of the room are 4.4 x 5.1m.

I could also do with some advice for how to go about decorating such a modern new-build flat and adding some character. I tend to prefer traditional design and natural materials, and don't like the current fashionable mid-century/Scandinavian looks, but recognise that in a new flat modern design might work better. I'd love some tips and links - I don't own much furniture currently. Thanks!

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (5)

PRO
Custom Controls London
8 years ago
You could put a dining table at the end of the kitchen worktop to form an island and then put a sofa on the wall of bedroom 2 (assuming this is big enough to house one), maybe even bring it in a little if the room is big enough. There looks to be space for a nice single chair between the door and window too - depends how many you would like to sit at once.

TV wise you could put one on an articulated arm so that the TV can be swung out when required - should look quite neat. You could even put a small cabinet underneath to house any other audio video equipment.
Jonathan
8 years ago
Anchor the dining table into the space with a rug that will ignore the different flooring.
Changing the flooring may not be too costly. Consider some of the Click together floors in the DIY stores.
Moving the TV point is not impossible and should you have Sky or cable installed you won't need that TV point anyway.
Related Discussions
1940's NZ kitchen - small, awkward-ish layout.
Q
Comments (121)
I would suggest you take out the cabinet that is to the right of the stove and use it elsewhere in the house -- perhaps in the bathroom or dining room with a hutch above it. Then, I would suggest you have someone install a lazy susan cabinet in the corner between the sink counter and the stove, meaning you would move the stove down a bit and have a small cabinet/counter top to the right of the stove. I would suggest you have the cabinets refinished in white and then paint the walls a pastel you like. If you would prefer white walls, then add white-painted crown molding and paint the ceiling a light neutral blue, such as Sherwin Williams Niagara Falls Blue. Then, I would suggest you choose a favorite accent color and use this sparingly in accessories like towels, pot holders, small vases or floral arrangements, and a valence above the triple windows. For a genuine 1940s look, you might have white ceramic square tiles with a rectangular red border installed as a back splash behind and above the stove. If you are replacing counter tops, I would suggest a light color such as white with a beige or light grey vein or striation for some sort of pattern. You might be able to find the same color and design in floor tile OR opt for a wood floor as another poster suggested.
...See More
Feedback on floor plan for open living area in new build
Q
Comments (4)
To me it looks like it would be better to have a smaller kitchen as being a 1 bedroom place the living/ kitchen area is quite small. I think having the essentials along the bedroom wall is good but the island makes the living area too small in the first plan, and in the second the cabinets make the walkway too narrow. I would put sink, fridge, oven along the bedroom wall then make any other bench and storage space more like moveable furniture to make the living area seem bigger. The kitchen may be able to be shut off behind doors (a bit like a euro laundry) when not in use to make a much bigger living room, especially if it isn't used a lot.
...See More
Living/Dining room layout help!
Q
Comments (0)
Hi I have recently moved into a new house and am needing some advice on how best to utilise the living/dining room. The room is a bit tricky as there are very few walls with no windows/doors to place the TV on. Currently with the set up the angle between the TV and the sofa is not great. I also feel that with the current layout there is a lot of wasted space in the middle of the room. The photos are from the house listing so that is not my furniture...I currently only have the furniture in the floor plan (minus to 2 arm chairs but I would like to get some arm chairs for a reading corner) Any advice on where to best position the TV living area and the dining are would be great. Thanks
...See More
Living space floor plan help needed - I’m so confused!
Q
Comments (5)
Provided there is 1200mm clear between the breakfast bar and the opposite bench then by rights, you should have ample room and if that's the case, I think I would opt for the design with the kitchen on the eastern side. My reason; you get a much greater feeling of open plan by having the dining and lounge on the North/South plane. I like the large WIP in this one - on paper at least. The second plan somehow feels wrong. I personally don't like the idea of having the breakfast bar being located in the lounge. If it were me though, I would ask for a 3D CAD plan of both kitchens [to walk through on the computer] before making up my mind on which one to opt for as it gives you a much clearer vision of what the finished kitchen will be like rather than looking at a flat plan.
...See More
minnie101
8 years ago
Hi. I'd put a round table in the .triangular area by the balcony with a large plant in that corner to help disguise the shape. Go for an extendable table with 6 chairs but keep 2 in the (large!) cupboard for when needed. You can go for a wooden table with upholstered chairs which would still suit the room although if you went for a glass table it would make the room feel bigger. I'd have a small 3 or 2 seater sofa just above where it says "living/dining" pointing towards the window. Add a footstool in front with a tray on to be used as a coffee table and extra seating when needed. Place a lamp table next to the sofa arm in the recess where the oven is and put either a console table, low bookcase, wooden butchers trolley etc behind the back of the sofa. I hope that makes sense! I would either use a design tool to work it out properly whichever layout you use or graph paper or paper templates to size before you buy anything, I would stick to pale-mid tones and use darker or warmer colours for accents. Also consider a large mirror to increase feeling of space and light.
PRO
Sophie Louisa Interiors
7 years ago
I would raise the curtain poles up and make more of the windows. I would suggest a round dining table, extendable as mentioned. I think as it is a new build you probably need to keep to modern with an eclectic twist. Changing the flooring doesn't need to be over expensive but would make the room feel bigger and would give you more flexibility. I would use warm neutrals on the walls and use colour in your soft furnishings, rug and accessories. A few fab pieces of art with colour would look great. As mentioned above you could easily change the point for the TV. Use good quality wood floating shelves and you can have a space at the back pre-cut on order for the wires to go down and hide wiring and access by a cable tidy in a neautral colour for the walls. This will take away furniture on the floor taking up space for the TV and digital box, Xbox etc. Making the room feel bigger and this TV was on special bracket so you can bring the TV out and re-position or tilt up and down.

Picture from past project including floating shelves and cable tidy. These shelves are in walnut with oak stripes on the front but there are many different woods you could choose from.
PRO
Wallsauce
7 years ago
Hi Olivia,

Congratulations on your purchase! I agree with the comment above from Sophie about taking the curtain poles higher. This will not only make the most of natural light but will bring the level of the room slightly higher to make it look bigger.

Have you considered a glass top table too? This will complement the modern style of the flat and also make the table seem like it is taking up less space.

A wall mural could also help the steer the direction of the decor, to help you add traditional touches, as you aren't a fan of the Scandinavian trend.

There's hundreds of murals available at Wallsauce.com. They also come in a peel & stick material which can easily be removed and applied without paste to prevent leaving the same marks on your walls as wallpaper does.

Hope this helps,

If you'd like any more info, just get in touch :)

Paula from Wallsauce.

01772 284110 paula@wallsauce.com

Sponsored

More Discussions

Kitchen Redesign

3

Traditional Japanese Timber Frame

0

Rimu Kitchen, help!

3

mid century ceiling

0

Pergola company recommendations

0