Small open-plan kitchen and living room design ideas

Small open-plan kitchen and living room design ideas

Anyone with a small, open-plan kitchen and living room will know the challenges of incorporating fresh ideas to make it feel more homely. You'll want to achieve a space that blends comfort with functionality, so you can prepare meals, unwind in the evenings and enjoy family time with ease.

Fortunately, there are a few simple design tricks that let you transform this area into one you can cherish and can't wait to spend time in.

Create zones

Establish zones for specific functions to help each spot feel unique and make it easier to decorate accordingly. Some ideas for partitioning your small open-plan kitchen and living room include:

  • Using colour to make the cooking and relaxing areas feel more separate. You might keep the lounge part more neutral by using whites or greys and the kitchen more colourful, with bright walls and vibrant cookbooks on shelves.
  • Taking advantage of rugs to incorporate a cosy effect in each area. These décor pieces can show you where one place ends and another begins.
  • Placing a sofa and other seating arrangements to mark the boundaries of the living room area. This can also help to make it feel snugger when you wind down to watch a movie or TV show at night.
  • Adding lamps so you don’t have to rely on the main overheads. Each one can be used for a different function. For example, a desk lamp with bulbs that mimic daylight is superb for productivity and lets you know it's time to work, while a floor one with a dimmer switch can be ideal for getting lost in a book or a binge watch on the sofa.

Sleek storage

When you’re working with limited space, stay on top of clutter. Not only can clutter create an uninviting atmosphere but it can also lead to potential mental health issues. Thankfully, there are readily available solutions to ease your worries.

Consider aesthetically pleasing fitted storage for awkward spaces so you don’t have to compromise with a bulky alternative. These clever ideas for open-plan kitchen and living rooms work brilliantly around alcoves, bay windows, eaves and sloping ceilings. Plus, they're made to your requirements, so you can ensure they have all the components you need.

Don’t forget to utilise your walls as well. These often go unused but are incredibly useful for storing cherished possessions and enhancing the room's aesthetic. Floating shelves could be used to provide easy access to recipe books, or you can pop your favourite family pictures on them.

Multifunctional furniture

Avoid furniture that doesn’t fit and think about multifunctional solutions throughout your home. Kitchen islands can serve various purposes, making them a good option for smaller properties. They can hold utensils, increase counter space and double up as a breakfast bar. 

You could also add a coffee table in front of your chairs and television unit. These pieces are ideal for holding drinks and can include drawers for devices like remotes and game controllers, ensuring your décor doesn't become an eyesore due to unwanted items being on show.

Keep it light and airy

There are many simple ideas if you're worried about how small your open-plan kitchen and living room is.

Enhancing natural light where possible is an option, as this instantly makes interiors seem bigger. Consider sheer curtains or bi-fold doors if your budget stretches that far. These are perfect for when the summer weather arrives, as you can invite nature in.

Using mirrors alongside the increased brightness is also effective. They deflect light around the room, tricking the eye into believing it's larger than it is.

Book a free design visit to incorporate open-plan living ideas

Whether you're looking for expert ideas to transform your small open-plan kitchen and living room or just need professional support to bring your vision to life, we can help. Book a free design visit and our team will do their best to assist you.

You bring the space, we bring the inspiration

Whether you have an exact vision in tow, or are just at the beginning stage of your home renovation, we have heaps of inspiration for you to get stuck into. 

Find a wealth of design tips, trends and inspiration in the pages of our brochure, magazine and on our blog. Our experts are always ready to help you create dream home, pop in store or book your free design visit for experts to help on bringing your vision to life.