Open-plan living has become increasingly popular, offering a spacious, flexible layout that allows for seamless flow between different areas of the home. However, one of the challenges with open-plan interiors is defining distinct spaces without interrupting the open feel. Wall art can be an effective tool in achieving this, allowing you to create visual boundaries while enhancing the overall decor. Here’s how you can use wall art to define different spaces in your open-plan living area and add character to each zone.
1. Create Focal Points for Each Area
One of the best ways to define different spaces in an open-plan layout is by using wall art as a focal point in each area. Whether it’s the living room, dining area, or workspace, selecting a bold and distinct piece of art for each zone helps establish clear visual boundaries. For example, you can place a large abstract print above the sofa to anchor the living area, while a different style of art, such as a nature-inspired print, could be used in the dining area.
By choosing different yet complementary art pieces, you can create visual cues that differentiate each space while maintaining an overall sense of cohesion in your open-plan interior.
2. Use Color to Tie Spaces Together
While it’s important to define each space within an open-plan layout, maintaining some level of unity is essential for creating a harmonious environment. One way to achieve this is by using wall prints that share a common color palette. For example, if your living room features shades of blue, choose open-plan wall art with blue accents for both the living and dining areas to maintain visual flow.
Incorporating color is a simple yet effective way to tie different spaces together without losing the individuality of each zone. You can mix different art styles, such as modern prints in the living area and more classic pieces in the dining space, while still creating cohesion through shared colors.
3. Vary Art Styles to Define Zones
To create clear distinctions between different functional areas in an open-plan space, consider varying the art styles between zones. For example, you can use contemporary art prints in your living room and opt for minimalist or nature-inspired prints in your dining area. This contrast in styles helps define the purpose of each space, making it easier to distinguish the living area from the dining or workspace.
The key is to balance different styles without creating too much visual dissonance. You can accomplish this by selecting art pieces that share a common theme, frame style, or color, even if the artwork itself varies in tone or subject matter.
4. Utilize Size and Scale to Your Advantage
In open-plan living spaces, it’s important to consider the size and scale of your wall art. Larger pieces can be used to define bigger areas, such as the living room or dining space, while smaller pieces can work in more intimate zones like a reading nook or workspace. For example, you might choose a large, eye-catching print to make a statement in your living area, while a smaller, more subdued piece can help differentiate the office corner.
Playing with the size of your wall prints helps create visual boundaries and prevents the space from feeling too uniform.
5. Gallery Walls for Multi-Functional Spaces
Gallery walls are a great way to define zones in an open-plan layout, especially in multi-functional spaces. If one area of your open-plan living room serves as a workspace, you can use a gallery wall to mark the division between the office and the relaxation area. Choose a mix of art styles, sizes, and frames to create a dynamic gallery wall that draws attention and clearly defines the workspace.
In the living or dining area, you can use a similar approach by curating a different gallery wall with a cohesive theme to enhance that specific zone. The distinction between gallery walls helps create individual spaces while adding personality and visual interest to the overall design.
6. Frame Consistency for Cohesion
To create a sense of unity across the different zones of your open-plan space, consider keeping the frames consistent. Even if you’re mixing art styles and sizes, using the same frame color or material can help tie the entire room together. For instance, using sleek black or white frames for all your wall art will ensure that the pieces complement each other, regardless of the variations in style or subject matter.
Consistency in framing also helps prevent the space from feeling too chaotic, especially in open-plan living where multiple areas need to flow into one another.
7. Use Wall Art to Highlight Functional Spaces
In open-plan living, certain functional areas may benefit from extra emphasis. For example, you might want to clearly define a reading nook, a kitchen island, or a bar area. Wall art can be strategically placed to draw attention to these functional zones, helping to highlight their purpose within the larger space.
By placing a bold or colorful art piece above the dining table, you can immediately designate that area as the dining zone, while a calming landscape above a reading nook will set that space apart as a place for relaxation.
Defining different spaces in an open-plan layout can be a challenge, but wall art provides an elegant solution. By using focal points, color, scale, and varying styles, you can create distinct zones that are both functional and visually appealing. At the same time, cohesive elements like consistent frames or color schemes help maintain the flow between areas. Whether you’re looking to delineate a workspace, living area, or dining zone, wall prints for open plans can transform your interior into a stylish, well-organized environment that makes the most of your space.
There are different options for drawings and prints for walls, and you can also look at different shops for art materials, plasticine, watercolors. With these materials you can draw on clothes and make different personalized t-shirts.