The Complete Guide to Smartly Dividing Open Living and Dining Rooms

Open concept home layouts have become increasingly popular over the past decade. Knocking down walls to create spacious great rooms offers a feeling of freedom and flexibility. However, the lack of defined separation between living and dining areas can also present challenges when it comes to decorating and furniture arrangement. Fortunately, with some strategic planning and design techniques, you can easily divide your open floor plan into functional yet cohesive living and dining zones.

From furniture placement to room dividers, lighting, and more, we'll cover the complete process for creating a smart layout that maintains an airy openness while still allowing each area to serve its unique purpose.

Consider Layout and Furniture First

When determining how to divide an open concept living and dining room, it's important to start with the practicalities of layout and furniture placement. Carefully mapping out your space and identifying the best positions for large anchoring pieces will allow you to establish clear zones while enhancing flow and functionality.

Take Measurements and Create a Floorplan

Grab a tape measure and sketch out a basic floor plan for your living dining space. Mark windows, doors, and any permanent architectural details. Having an accurate layout to reference will help immensely when deciding where to place furniture and how to divide up the room. If recreating your floor plan by hand seems daunting, there are many free and paid online room planners you can use to easily create a virtual layout of your space.

Place Anchoring Furniture Pieces Strategically

Anchor your living room zone by placing the main sofa or sectional first, positioning it across from the TV or focal point. Angle seating toward the center of the room to create an inviting gathering area. Similarly, place the dining table as an anchor in the designated dining zone. Consider traffic flow as you experiment with arrangements to allow openness while defining each space. Placing these large, fixed pieces provides natural separation between the two areas.

Arrange Furniture to Define Spaces and Flow

Fill in the rest of the furniture, using additional chairs, tables, cabinets and shelving units to further distinguish the living and dining zones. Face all seating toward the appropriate central point in each area. Allow adequate walkways through and between arrangements. Leave some openness between furniture groupings to maintain an airy, cohesive feel. Testing different configurations will help you find the best furniture placement for balancing separation and flow.

Use Design Elements for Visual Separation

Strategic use of colors, materials, flooring, and decor elements can build on your furniture layout to provide attractive visual separation between open living and dining areas. Tying the rooms together through cohesive finishes prevents a disjointed, abruptly divided look.

Consistent Paint Colors and Finishes

Choose a cohesive color palette using the same hues throughout the living and dining spaces. Neutral tones like warm grays, tans and whites give flexibility. Incorporate accent walls in a bold tone unique to each zone. Consistent paint colors connect the rooms, while the accent walls define them. Hardwood flooring that flows across the entire open area also promotes seamless flow.

Area Rugs and Flooring Patterns

Area rugs help frame and anchor seating arrangements in both the living and dining zones. Varying rug shapes, sizes and patterns can delineate each zone. In dining spaces, a rug placed underneath the table foundation creates an intimate seating area. Unique rug shapes also lead the eye toward a specific furniture grouping. Using one large area rug that spans the entire open concept room helps maintain an open feel.

Decor and Accessories

Wall art, shelves, plants and other accents provide visual interest while distinguishing the living and dining zones. Place photos or art above furniture arrangements relevant to each area. Floating shelves are ideal for displaying decorative objects to personalize each space. Greenery softens and adds life, so place plants strategically within each zone. Targeted decor establishes two distinct areas without harsh separation.

Employ Room Dividers for Flexible Separation

If your main furniture pieces alone aren't providing sufficient definition between the living and dining areas, consider incorporating room dividers. Screen panels, curtains and storage furniture create customizable separation allowing you to adapt the layout as needed.

Folding Screens and Curtain Partitions

Folding screens, curtains or other fabric room dividers inject style while introducing flexible separation between living and dining zones. Choose screens with metal, wood, or rattan frames complementing your decor. Hang curtain partitions from discreet ceiling tracks to sweep across openings. Open airy partitions maintain light and space while closed accents provide privacy when entertaining. Screens easily tuck aside when not in use.

Tall Storage Furniture

Bookcases, hutches, cabinets and other tall storage pieces double as decorative room dividers when positioned thoughtfully. Placing a solid wood bookcase perpendicular to a seating grouping defines that space without closing it off. Backless shelving units allow some visibility through the piece. Multi-functional storage options like a hutch combine dining storage and display while delineating the dining area.

Decorative Screens and Room Dividers

Decorative screens and modern room dividers made of materials like wood, metal, or glass introduce another stylish solution for flexible separation. Choose folding panels or movable screens that complement your decor. Place a glass room divider near the dining table to define the space without obscuring light and views. Move screens aside when a more open layout is desired. Free-standing screens lend privacy and definition wherever needed.

Use Strategic Lighting

Task, ambient and accent lighting work together to illuminate the open living dining space while differentiating distinct zones. Overhead fixtures provide overall illumination. Targeted lighting highlights architectural details, artwork or furniture to delineate individual living and dining areas.

Install dining room chandeliers or pendant lighting above the dining table anchor. Add adjustable track lighting or picture lights to accent artwork in the adjoining living room. Wall sconces flanking a sofa visually frame the seating area. Lighting allows each zone to stand out while cohesive fixtures maintain harmony in the overall space.

Test Different Layouts Before Finalizing

When first attempting to divide your open living dining space, experiment with different furniture and divider arrangements. Shift pieces around, placing them in various positions and observing how the layout impacts functionality. Determine if any placements make certain areas feel cramped or disjointed. Test a particular setup for a few weeks before making permanent decor changes. This allows assessing if the division between spaces feels organic. Make adjustments as needed until arriving at a layout that optimizes openness, flow and livability.

Dividing an open concept living and dining space requires some strategic furniture placement, design elements, and flexibility. Begin by anchoring each zone with large furniture like sofas, dining tables, or storage units. Build on this using decor, lighting, area rugs, and screens to delineate the spaces. Maintain an organic flow through consistent colors, hardwood flooring, and movable dividers. Test different configurations, making tweaks until you achieve a seamless, livable layout perfect for your unique open concept home.

Employing this complete guide's tips for functionally dividing your wide open living dining room allows you to enjoy the airy quality without sacrificing comfortable, well-defined spaces perfect for living and entertaining.