12 Ways to Make Your Open Floor Plan Feel Cozy

Being able to see the kids watch TV or play while you make dinner is great, but sometimes an open floor plan can pose a few design challenges. We've got 12 easy design solutions to try.

When it's time to start arranging furniture, a large, open room can seem intimidating. Let the room's focal point guide you. If you have a fab fireplace or amazing gallery wall, start there. Arrange larger furniture pieces around that, then work your way out from there.

While most people love the architectural drama a vaulted ceiling brings to a room, it can add to that not-so-welcoming, cavernous feeling. Hanging a large light fixture over your main seating area will help tone down the height and provide a nice wash of diffused light overhead.

In large rooms, area rugs not only protect the floor and keep things soft underfoot, they help ground the space visually. A well-placed rug can also help define an area's function or traffic flow.