Open-plan living room ideas for a multi-functional, family space

Looking for open-plan living room ideas? Open-plan living has slowly become part of our everyday lives, from a home office within a living room to a kitchen-diner.

These spaces should be well designed and able to utilise the best of the overall room in their function. Clever decorating and styling ideas will keep the spaces looking separate but seamless.

Sounds complicated? Well fear not as we have compiled our top tips for making the most of your open-plan space, without breaking the bank. You’ll be the envy of your friends and family.

1. Add personality with painted zones

Image credit: Dulux

Open-plan needn’t be devoid of different personalities for different purposes. While lounging, eating and working may all take place in one large open-plan area, it doesn’t mean you can’t zone each area with a different colour. Signify a change of purpose with a splash of colour. Create a feature wall behind the sofa, perhaps using a cocooning dark shade such as Dulux ‘Cobalt Night’ (left).

Paint a block of colour to zone a home office space, within the open-plan layout – working with an engaging colour such as Dulux ‘Night Seas’. Using a light neutral on the remaining walls, one such as versatile colour of the year ‘Brave Ground’ to harmonise and create a seamless flow with accessories and furniture pieces.

2. Create distinct areas with different textures

Image credit: Polly Eltes

This barn has been converted into one long open-plan living space. It is light and airy and has a dark blue and green colour scheme running throughout the space. However, different textures and materials have been used to create a distinct divide between the dining area and living space. The area surrounding the wood-burning stove, features plush crushed velvet sofas in turquoise and mustard with an aged rug underfoot. In contrast, the dining area is tied together by the natural wood of the table and the wooden bar stools lined up by the kitchen breakfast bar at the far end.

3. Go green indoors

Conjure the illusion of an amazing landscape with a trompe-l’oiel feature wall. A wall mural depicting a lush green forest or meadow can help to welcome the greenery of the garden in, adding to the illusion of extra space. Give the space a further botanical feel with luxe green velvet upholstery and an array of houseplants.

4. Define areas with platforms and partitions

Partially divide an open-plan space with a central column. Within that partition wall add handy alcoves to provide extra storage. This also helps to add a decorative touch to the living room decor. If you have the layout try raising the floor level in an awkward nook and add storage beneath it.

5. Open up your period property

Don’t let the age of your property deter you from making modern alterations. Formal front rooms in older properties can often feel dark and enclosed, so knocking through to form an open-plan living room is a popular choice.

Removing a wall between rooms offers greater flexibility for the space and enhances the light in townhouses and terraces particularly.

Before undertaking any work make sure to consult a structural engineer and research any permissions required.

6. Be smart with colour and shapes

Use bold prints and patterns to zone spaces. Use graphic mid-century shapes and strong lines to define areas of an open-plan space.Trying varying the flooring to help further the separation of the spaces. Pick a carpet for the main living area and laminate for adjoining kitchen or hallway spaces. Patterned rugs can add to the look and add more clear zonal definition.

Go for a walnut finish on a partition wall to add a classic mid-Century vibe.

7. Make rooms work on another level

Photo credit: Laura Ashley

Not all homes have horizontal ceilings and single-level floors. Highlight these features by building clever storage and outside-of-the-box zones. Play with the levels. Be savvy with heigh ceilings and create a mezzanine to act as extra living space – such as a home office or guest bedroom. Using a tonal colour palette throughout will help tie the areas together.

8. Get in the zone

Image credit: Colin Poole

Open–plan living is a great choice as the social aspect is perfect for family interaction. Design allocated zones for lounging, dining and working to keep the room organised. Use soft textures and calm colours to create a welcoming, relaxed vibe while a long-pile rug and pouf are comfortable for little ones. Arrange your room around a large window or French doors to make the most of the natural light.

9. Let the light in

Image credit: David Still

Think about natural light sources to ensure the room stays bright. Making the most of natural light is a great way to keep a room feeling vibrant and lively and can even help a space feel larger than it actually is. Here, a run of sliding doors leads directly on to a patio area, providing a seamless connection to the outdoors.

10. Get smart with furniture

Image credit: Lisa Cohen

Section off the living area of an open-plan space with careful placement of furniture. The benefit of a large, open-plan space is that everyone can spend time together without being on top of each other. Not only that, but as there’s direct access to the garden, children can happily head outside to get some fresh air. Aside from its spacious layout, this room’s winning features are the dramatic walls and beautiful fireplace, which contrast perfectly.

11. Look to the sky

Image credit: Claire Lloyd Davies

The beauty of open-plan living room is the sense of space, keeping the mood as light and airy as possible aids this effect. A skylight is the ideal solution for single-floor spaces. Spotlights have a clean, modern feel that add to the ambience.

Here, an elegant fusion of old and new gives a timeless feel to a living room. A painted yellow chair brings a splash of bright colour to this minimal space. A pale wood floor reflects light from the opening to the garden and the hits of strong yellow and bright and cheery touches.

12. Connect with the garden

Image credit: James Merrell

Optimise your open-plan living room by designing it to flow seamlessly out to an adjacent outdoor space. Consider wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling patio doors – they will extend your room and optimise light. Make the transition from inside to out seamless by colour-matching internal flooring with external decking. Choose a decorating palette that complements the garden and position all your furniture to take in the views so it’s easy to supervise little ones when they are outside.

13. Choose an L-shaped sofa

Use a corner sofa to define the seating area in a multi-functional open-plan living space, and add a sense of intimacy to a large room. Create a comfy haven and nestle a rug and coffee table into the gap made in front of the sofa to give a friendly, more cosy feel. To further enhance the warm mood and create a cosy feel, paint the wall in this area a darker shade than used in the rest of the room. The moody colour behind the sofa helps to enhance it and make it even more inviting.

14. Keep it tonal

Image credit: Colin Poole

Let the outdoors become part of your home with a natural palette. Large windows enhance the light in this open-plan living room. Neutral-toned blinds and curtains with a restful hare motif frame the windows and pick out the stone-coloured kitchen cabinets. In the foreground an uplifting soft blue sofa creates a year-round summery feel in this welcoming room.

15. Make it family-friendly

Image credit: Colin Poole

Living rooms are meant to be lived in, so make sure your space is somewhere that everyone in the family will enjoy. This cosy open-plan living room combines modern and traditional furniture to create a welcoming, family-friendly space. The solid wood dining table is complemented by modern white chairs, which tie in with the white of the large sideboard. The fireplace tiles introduce a rustic, tactile edge, while a large wall-hung mirror helps to open out what is a very busy, multifunctional space.

16. Consider placement

Image credit: Nicholas Yarsley

As one of the most social spaces in the house, your living room needs to look good, work hard and function well. Before you begin any work, take a little time to work out how the space functions for you. Is it a relaxing haven, and entertaining space of family central? A sophisticated neutral palette helps create a comfortable feel in this kitchen living area.

The trick is to pay attention to balancing the colour scheme and keeping everything in proportion. An open-plan layout is a fundamental part of modern family schemes and this one incorporates all aspects of living.

17. Join two rooms with cohesive colour

Image credit: Catherine Gratwicke

Where two rooms are linked but not entirely open, create flow by painting both the same shade. A neutral colour scheme allows the freedom to ring the changes using accessories, giving each room its own personality without the risk of jarring. Turn an open plan space into a functional family living area with clear zones for relaxing and dining. Soft taupe walls in a matt finish unites the two rooms and forms an elegant base for this traditional neutral decorating scheme. The space has been cleverly divided up with two textural rugs and the positioning of the furniture.

48 Open Concept Kitchen, Living Room and Dining Room Floor Plan Ideas

We cherry picked over 48 incredible open concept kitchen and living room floor plan photos for this stunning gallery. All interior design styles represented as well as wall colors, sizes, furniture styles and more. You’ll love this gallery.

Tear down the wall. Many contractors these days have been told that by homeowners as the first order of renovation business. Many homeowners want to turn older homes into contemporary open concept kitchen, living room, and dining area floor plans.

I can’t blame them. Our home was built in the 1980s and it’s not an open concept. My wife and I often wished it were. It’s a great layout; makes your home feel bigger without adding square footage. It’s a great way for everyone to hang out together without being on top of one another.

To that end, we cherry-picked over 50 open concept kitchen and living room floor plan photos to create a stunning collection of open concept design ideas.

Photo Gallery

Our gallery focuses on open-concept spaces that include a kitchen and living room. Most of these also have a dining room. An alternative concept is just a kitchen and dining area, but the inclusion of living space such as a family room makes it a true open concept home.

Sleek Contemporary

A contemporary home with an open concept style showcasing concrete tiled flooring, wood-paneled ceiling and glazed walls that bring plenty of natural light in. It houses a comfy living space by the fireplace and a kitchen on the side equipped with modern appliances. Photography by: Joe Fletcher, Jason Liske

Pristine White Room

A classy white room with shared living and dining spaces features wainscoted walls, parquet flooring, and a round tray ceiling mounted with a contemporary chandelier. The room is furnished with a modern dining set and a comfy sofa set that sits on a velvet rug.

Industrial Style

An open concept home decorated with stylish mirrors and various wall arts mounted on the white walls. On its left is the living area with comfy seats and a glass top coffee table over a jute rug. Then we have the dining space and kitchen across showcasing top of the line appliances and a cozy dining set lighted by a black dome pendant.

Bright Contemporary

This is a bright and spacious Contemporary style home that has a great room housing the living room, informal dining area as well as the formal dining room at the far end. These are illuminated by the wide wall that opens up through folding glass doors. Another eye-catcher here is the unique design of the wooden ceiling.

Wood and Stone

This elegant home has a great room that houses both the kitchen and dining room under one wide wooden ceiling with exposed wooden beams. This is matched by the wooden dining table while the gray marble flooring is matched by the stone textured kitchen island.

Light and bright Reno

I love this casual light-filled open concept living space which includes a sizable living room, renovated a contemporary white kitchen and large dining space off the kitchen.

Open concept luxury condo

Modular Open Concept Floor Plan

This design is featured on the top of the gallery because it is the perfect example of what an open concept floor plan looks like. The kitchen, dining room and living room are beautifully distinguished by placing large jute chenille rugs in the center of each area while wood is used as a common material in the three spaces to merge them cohesively. Long brunette ceiling panels that match the floorboards and canopy throughout the space are the ultimate way to bring together the different elements of a house in one single room.

Ocean Breeze Open Room Design

This house gracefully blends the kitchen and the living room through the strategic placement of a round dining table in between that serves as a buffer zone. More chairs lined with the kitchen island provide additional seating for the family members. A few potted plants bring life to the place and highlight the various hues of mild blue and ivory, which are at play here.

White and Mahogany Maisonette

This duplex apartment is a graceful mix of pure white furnishings on a two-toned wooden floor. Modern café-style, counter height stools, and the kitchen island serve as a dining area. Subtle touches of light green accentuate the room while sleek wood-top tables with steel bases give the living area a completely chic look.

Decent Cottage Style Open Room

This practical design features a kitchen and dining area that overlooks a well-spaced living room. The milk tea wooden floorboards give the place a neat and tidy appearance while the plush pure white seats further add to the same. Other than the metallic lamps and the LCD screen, this brown wooden themed open room reminds one of a decent cottage.

Most Modern Open Room

A large steel-gray vent hood coupled with more steel accessories and an embedded induction cooking stove add volumes to the trendy industrial style kitchen. The kitchen overlooks a simple but spacious living room furnished with eccentric seats in one half and a traditional sofa in the other. Complete with a mini home theatre system, this open room concept is the ideal place to have fun-filled parties.

Geometric Shapes Grandeur

This beach house is the perfect getaway for the whole family to relax and unwind. A square glass table sits delicately in the center with similar shaped white leather seats. Except for the fairy-like cylindrical light fixture, the place is void of any decorations but still manages to shine brightly. Wall-length windows illuminate the whole place and give an unhindered view of the natural beauty outside. The striped coffee-colored throw rug in the center brings warmth in the otherwise plain white room.

Open Room Design for Organic Living

This open room is a fresh take on the traditional living space. Large crème colored tiles cover the entire space whereas the kitchen cabinets are a soft chestnut shade. Classy jute chairs and conventional sofas can be seen but the pristine steel handles on the cabinets, steel vent hood, and utensils coupled with steel spotlights in the kitchen say hello to the modern style.

Lustrous Living

The natural light and views are important enough to make any house lively and comfortable. This is why designers of this open concept floor plan placed the kitchen, the dining area and the living space parallel to each other, along a wall with numerous ceiling-to-floor windows that provide a dazzling view of the lake outside. An assortment of various pots and plants underneath transparent round globe lights add to the luxurious décor of the place the

Wish Upon a White Washed Open Room

If Snow White had a contemporary house, it would probably look like this. The hazelnut floorboards and a wooden side table are the only breaks in this otherwise bathed-in-white open room. However, the glossy kitchen furnishings and a cheerful peek of the forest outside keep at bay, the dullness that often stems from the excessive use of whites.

Graceful Grandiose

Glorious use of deep brown and soft beige shades, this open room seems more like a five-star hotel than an actual residential place. The kitchen lies in between the living and dining areas for easy access and feasibility. This place is surely grand but it’s graceful at the same time.

Bold in Black

This corporate style open room keeps it professional and strictly says no to any nonsense. Leather lounger with cushions packed in the same material, sleek and slender metal lamps, and an elegant monochromatic kitchen overlooking a spotlessly white dining table and chairs giving a brisk nod to the professional billionaire-style living.

Impressive Italian Living Room and Kitchen

The imposing leather couches in this open room design might look old-fashioned at a glance. But coupled with dark chocolate velvety cushions and dandling vintage lamps in the background, this house boasts of rustic beauty and ancient charm.

Muted Ivory Open Room

This place is compact but the genius use of light beige and muted ivory tones make it far more spacious than it actually is. The wide rectangular window provides the necessary lighting while the pendant bulbs atop the dining table add a hint of studio apartment living.

Dipped in Elegance

Lavender curtains that convey peace and serenity and plush grey lounge that can seat all the family members make this living room the ideal spot to spend a lazy weekend binge-watching your favorite TV shows or quietly reading your favorite book in a comfortable place. We see a table in the back but nonetheless, the kitchen isn’t a part of this design because this open room is exclusively a relaxing recluse. Let those cooking chores remain hidden behind a wall.

The Greek Sailor’s Humble Abode

The untainted white and genial hues of blue and fawn combine elegantly in this graceful living space. A coffered ceiling and matt wooden floorboards along with a granite kitchen island top and an array of fine decorative pieces together make this open room a modern space with character.

Vintage Charm

Raw oak panels that seem to be suspended in mid-air and the low hanging glass balls chandelier chained above the table give this living room magical and mysterious feels. The red-bricked fireplace and French door and windows further add to the rustic charm.

Expansive Design

Situated in the middle of a forest clearing, this open room layout has an ample amount of space. The kitchen is kept simple with rich mahogany wooden furnishings that perfectly counterbalance the hushed gray in the living room. Although the glass wall illuminates the place well, ceiling lights are added for more glitz and glory.

A Piece of Cake

With a snow-white ceiling supported by light mocha coffee walls that further darken to a smooth hazelnut brown in the living room, this living room seems like an architectural representation of a chocolate cake. The majorly white kitchen is cleverly sandwiched between the living room and dining area that is dominated by brown tones. Patterned high gloss floor and ultra-sleek shelves add a touch of extravagance.

A Decent Triplex

This apartment brilliantly houses all the functional zones on one floor. A turquoise sunroof over the dining area that is already accentuated by the bold red velvet seats is a fascinating way to uplift an otherwise plain space.

It’s All About Textures

This kitchen, dining room and living room leave no stone unturned when it comes to using different textures in its interior designing. While the floorboards are the conventional two-toned wood, the kitchen island is composed of matt black polish and a solid marble top. Amber wood is used repeatedly in the living room while the cabinetry features steel as well as a tint of teal.

Mountain Side Living

This residence located on a mountainside uses high ceilings to the maximum advantage. Not only does it give a very open look, but it also allows the owner to introduce a mezzanine floor. Cool blue floor lights in the kitchen add an ultra-hip look while dissimilar chairs in the dining area bring eccentricity.

Honey Dew Cozy Room

With quite a pretentious ceiling coupled with the paraphernalia on open shelves in the living room, this house makes efficient use of limited space.

Coffee Lover’s Dream

Whoever loves minimalism will love this open room. Low leveled coffee table and a geometric wall hang along with a few white decorations that keep the space uncluttered, yet add volumes to its beauty. Milk coffee colors combined with a deeper shade of matt brown go well with pure white and the green outside.

Royal Majesty

Words cannot do justice to the royal sophistication permeating through this place. Giant velvet cushions, woolen rug, tech-savvy fireplace, luminous kitchen, and matching embellishments all together make this open room a wonder to behold.

Lustrous Living

The natural light and views are important to make any house lively and comfortable. This is why designers of this open concept floor plan placed the kitchen, the dining area and the living space parallel to each other, along a wall with numerous ceiling-to-floor windows that provide a dazzling view of the lake outside. An assortment of various pots and plants underneath transparent round globe lights bring the space to life.

Most Comfortable Open Room Concept

Hushed tones of gray in the living room that complement the whites in the kitchen makes one want to snuggle on the plush couch. The island and dining table are kept black which is a stark contrast against the light shades. But this only adds more magnificence to the zone.

Wooden Box

It’s all about wood in this residence. But despite the neutral tone of the material, this place still displays sheer exquisiteness. The floor is a multi-toned tiled floor; the island has thin panels while the ceiling has broader ones. A crystal blue glass wall at the side and this zone are ready to shine.

Stately Simplicity

A lavish ceiling is, without a doubt, the defining feature in this open room concept. But this extravagance is counterbalanced by keeping the furnishings low-key.

Joyful Café Style Open Room

Doesn’t this look like a trendy breakfast café you might visit on a vacation in Paris? Under-shelf light panels, central lamp and a slender one in the corner add the required illumination while also adding a unique quality to space. So many elements are at play here that only an attentive observation can provide you with the full picture.

The Timeless Primarypiece

It’s elegant. It’s stylish. It’s decent yet it’s overflowing with splendor. Featuring white and deep walnut brown that comes close to black, this opulent space is guaranteed to stand the test of time with its undying magnificence.

Rich Beyond Words

With patterned cushions, woolen rugs, leather sofa, and a shiny ceiling, this place uses almost every element available to create an artistic space that is loaded with character.

Profound Refinement

The kitchen and the dining room are slightly shielded from the living room by the stone wall in between, this place speaks of dignity and grace.

Coastal Glam

The kitchen and living room in this design embraces the coastal beauty outside with the wall-length windows that provide a stunning view. The sharp white ceilings match the clear sky while the wooden and blue furnishings merge well with the sand and water in the surroundings.

Tribute to the Common

A round wooden table beside a giant kitchen island that overlooks the living room, this house tore down all walls so that everyone stays connected no matter what they are doing.

The Millionaire’s Mansion

Consisting of all possible shades of grey, this open room design is extravagant all the way.

Perfect and Pristine

This decent open room concept combines the dining table with the kitchen island to save space. Well-spaced panels on the top also add to the spaciousness.

White and Brown Only

Perfect for large gatherings, this design features a table for a dozen guests overlooking a gorgeous pool outside.

Peace and Tranquility

Perfect for large gatherings, this design features a table for a dozen guests overlooking a gorgeous pool outside.

Peace and Tranquility

The light tones of grey and sand brown combined with silver and metallic finishes make this space truly unique.

Modern Museum

This open room is well adorned with contemporary art forms including posters and statues as well as dramatic light effects.

One Wood Wall

With a chestnut wooden wall opposing the dining room and kitchen, this house is a unique mix of elements of the past and present. Old style wood cupboards and suede seats combined with modern metallic touches here and there will make you wistful to upgrade your own place.

Dumbo Loft

An open-concept room featuring a living space with a cozy sofa set, a dining area with a brick wall and an oval-shaped dining table set and a single wall kitchen featuring a breakfast bar island.

Red Brick and Wood

This angle of the large open floor plan showcases the red brick arches on the side of the dining and living room with a view of the kitchen on the other side of the dining area.

What is open concept?

The open concept combines rooms into one larger space. It’s most popular with kitchens, living rooms (or family rooms) and dining areas. There are no walls that separate the space. It’s a very trendy layout these days. In fact, many homeowners get inspired to renovate their homes so that they can open them up into open concept.

What are the typical open concept layouts?

There isn’t a one layout fits all concept. The layout can be one long room with a kitchen, dining room and living room or it can be more a square footprint or L-shape footprint. The key is that space is opened up. Usually, the dining area is in between the kitchen and living space (but not always).

How big are these spaces?

This is what’s interesting about open concept. While one would think you’d need a huge room to fit two or three different rooms in one space, that’s not the case. In fact, open concept is a much more efficient use of space which means you can get more livable space in less square footage. Small condos and apartments are often open concept not because people want that design, but out of necessity (it now turns out people prefer that design so it’s a win/win).

You can create open concept kitchen, living room, and dining room layouts with less than 300 square feet (albeit, that would be pretty much a micro-apartment, but it can be done).

Open Concept Trend (Chart)

As you can see from the chart below, the open concept floor plan concept has grown tremendously in popularity over the last 15 years.