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71 really clever ideas to make open-plan work for everyone

How to master open-plan design
Use coordinated colour throughout
Zone areas with rugs
Side table
Call in the experts
Corner the kitchen
Unify alcoves
Open up with arches
Mix old with new
Zone with wallpaper
Invest in smart storage
Modernise with a mezzanine
Connect the garden
Impart plenty of personality
Divide with plants
Darken the walls
Embrace broken plan
Sink a space
Bring in a barn door
Go dramatic
Plan it out in advance
Design around your daily needs
Don't neglect soundproofing
Reinvent a period property
Design around your dimensions
Bring in a bold contrast
Slip in storage
Make lighting striking
Unify with a theme
Add a double-sided fireplace
Keep thoroughfares clear
Add a corner sofa
Don't overlook heating
Turn up the texture
Make walls mesmerising
Partition with glass
Impart flexibility with pocket doors
Slot in an eating space
Zone with furniture
Choose an L-shaped layout
Make the stairs the star
Make the staircase disappear
Choose a monochrome palette
Add a privacy curtain
Create a coherent backdrop
Utilise the side return
Make walls two-tone
Bring in bookcases
Maximise natural light
Play with paint
Zone functional areas with flooring
Dine around a circular table
Create cohesion with wallpaper
Celebrate structural features
Conceal your kitchen
Slot in a desk
Pick flooring for all zones
Divide with shelving
Make it work for everyone
Streamline appliances
Duplicate furniture
Put a peninsula to work
Add a skylight
Wheel in furniture
Step it up
Make room for play
Plump for a partition
Maximise extraction
Don't skimp on storage
Colour-code zones
Choose space-savvy furniture
Choose the right furniture
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Darlings of Chelsea

How to master open-plan design

An open-plan scheme is a natural choice for sociable, modern living, but a free-flowing floor plan requires careful planning and execution to make sure the space really works. From a large, broken-plan hub fit for the whole family to a multitasking studio apartment setup, here's how to master the secret to open-plan living design, no matter the size or style of your home. Click or scroll on for more...

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Rachel Homer

07 February 2023

Interiors

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