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12 Ways to Make Your Open Floor Plan Feel Cozy

August 10, 2016

By: Brian Patrick Flynn

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Make sure your rooms feel intimate and inviting without sacrificing those sight lines.

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White Transitional Living Room With Globe Pendant Light

Photo: Flynnside Out Productions. From: Brian Patrick Flynn

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Make Your Open Floor Plan Feel Intimate

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.

Living Room With Large Black Metal Globe Light

Photo: Flynnside Out Productions. From: Brian Patrick Flynn

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Arrange a Room Around a Focal Point

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.

Black-Metal Globe Pendant Light Fixture on Chain

Photo: Flynnside Out Productions. From: Brian Patrick Flynn

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Tone Down the Height

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.

Area Rug Under Wood-Frame Chair

Photo: Flynnside Out Productions. From: Brian Patrick Flynn

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Define Spaces With Rugs

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.

Pair of Chairs in Living Room

Photo: Flynnside Out Productions. From: Brian Patrick Flynn

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Create an Intimate Seating Area

While it's tempting to buy that huge sectional sofa, turn it toward the TV and call it a day, providing a variety of seating throughout the room can be a great way to give the space a more intimate feel. A couple of comfy accent chairs oriented toward one another looks polished and encourages conversations.

Small Workspace With Glass-Topped Desk

Photo: Flynnside Out Productions. From: Brian Patrick Flynn

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Create Functional Zones

Make the most of an open family room by creating functional zones, like this compact workspace that's right at home in the corner of the living room.

White Console Table Under Round Black-Frame Mirror

Photo: Flynnside Out Productions. From: Brian Patrick Flynn

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Opt for Shallow-Depth Furnishings

Good furniture arrangement includes taking your room's traffic flow into consideration. Keep high-traffic areas open yet functional by opting for shallow-depth furnishings like console tables and shelves.

Live-Edge Wood Coffee Table With Decorations on Top

Photo: Flynnside Out Productions. From: Brian Patrick Flynn

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Bring Organic Shapes Into the Mix

Large rooms are really just a series of straight lines, which is why including organic shapes and materials instantly helps bring visual balance to the space.

Blue Throw Pillows on Neutral Sofa

Photo: Flynnside Out Productions. From: Brian Patrick Flynn

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Mix in Cozy Accessories

Keep lots of pillows and soft throw blankets on hand. Just having a few laid about adds a cozy vibe.

Pair of Table Lamps With White Lampshades

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Add Multiple Light Sources

A large room always feels warm and inviting with a variety of light sources. At minimum, an overhead light and a few table lamps scattered about the room will give the space, no matter the size, a welcoming glow.

Gold Sunburst Mirror Surrounded by Artwork

Photo: Flynnside Out Productions. From: Brian Patrick Flynn

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Fill Empty Walls

Large, open spaces often come with large, empty walls. Group medium- or large-scale art, rugs and mirrors together at eye-level or higher to help fill the void.

Living Room Full of Plants and Natural Light

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Green It Up!

Houseplants and flowers are a great way to make an airy space feel more vibrant and lived in. From the eight-foot-tall variety (hello, fiddle-leaf fig!) to smaller houseplants with lush foliage, you can't go wrong with greenery. Several placed around the room will go a long way to bringing the outside indoors.

Sheer Draperies Next to Small Workspace With Desk

Photo: Flynnside Out Productions. From: Brian Patrick Flynn

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Add Some Privacy

If you have an oversized room full of echoes, hang draperies — the fuller, the better, too. The folds of the fabric will absorb the sound, offer privacy and soften the space.

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