The Sunday Mail
LIVING rooms and kitchens with an open floor plan can boost your home’s market value, unfortunately the layout does not give you much privacy.
If you need to separate your kitchen and living room spaces, you have a variety of options. Consider the type of partition you prefer: permanent, portable, decorative or functional. Also, set a budget for your partition that you feel comfortable with.
Screens
A budget-friendly portable screen provides privacy between your kitchen and living room areas. Screens are created from assorted woods, metals, fabrics or woven grasses to enhance any decor style or colour palette.
They typically consist of three or four hinged panels that fold compactly together for convenient storage. A canvas screen often depicts a panoramic photograph or full-colour replica of famous artwork on both sides of the screen. Shoji screens created with rice paper panels add an Asian flare to your home.
Permanent fixtures
A fixed partition is constructed as a permanent fixture in your home. Building a knee wall or a low ledge with pillars or columns creates the distinct feeling of two rooms while maintaining an open, spacious feel.
Another permanent option is to install a sliding room divider on a track system that extends from one wall to an opposite wall.
You can close the sliding partitions completely or partially to achieve your desired privacy level. Frosted glass partitions help to divide your kitchen and living room without blocking natural light.
Furniture
Place a piece of furniture between your kitchen and living room to section off the areas. Situate a sofa in your living room with its back facing the kitchen to separate the two spaces. Position a sofa table behind your sofa to enhance the defined partition and provide a spot to set illuminating table lamps. A large bookcase, sideboard, armoire or open shelving unit that’s finished on both sides makes an ideal room divider while providing extra storage.
Accessories
Accessories can separate two spaces with a designer-savvy flair. Try hanging an oversized metal sculpture or a see-through fringe curtain from the ceiling to create a decorative divider between the kitchen and living room.
Separate the two areas with a couple of large potted plants, such as palm or ficus trees. Situate an aquarium atop a fish tank cabinet or stand to provide an entertaining room divider.
– homeguides.sfgate.com
