Inspire me

How to zone your home

How do you make each room work for you? The key is to create zones for playing, working and relaxing. You don’t need separate rooms to do this – read on to find some easy solutions for zoning your space.

Paint an area

Colour is a great way to mark out areas in a space, as it can even change the mood from one area to another. Take this kitchen-diner for example, the crisp white kitchen is separated from the cosy eating area by a wall of teal. The inviting colour gives the area a welcoming feel, while the bright kitchen is a space for busy cooking.

Think about how you want to feel in a particular area, and choose shades to match - for example, a children’s play area could be surrounded by fun yellows and blues, while a snug seating zone would work well with calm, warm tones.

Go for half measures

To ensure your painted zones work harmoniously with the rest of the space, try this idea. Paint the bottom half of the area with a different colour, but leave the top half the same shade as the rest of the room. This desk area is actually in a separate study room, but the idea could work well in an open-plan space to zone off a corner for working from home.

Room with desk with split coloured walls

Zone at ground level

A simple, yet incredibly effective way to create zones is by using different types of flooring. A rug is the obvious choice – lay one on the floor to mark out an area that has a separate function from the space next to it. It works particularly well in this room to divide the kitchen-diner from the living space. The smooth flooring in the eating and cooking zone is ideal for easy-maintenance, while the textured rug gives a cosy feel to the lounge area.

Kitchen diner with large mirror and blue sofa

Create a cosy corner

Want a place to sit and read, while the rest of the household eat, play or chill out on the sofa? All you need is one comfortable chair, positioned slightly away from other areas of the room. Add a table for your books and scented candles, as well as a practical floor lamp and you have your own cosy reading zone.

Light coloured living room with large TV and rug

Light up

When planning the layout of an open-plan space, it’s a good idea to consider the position of the lighting. You can use pendants and lamps to effectively create zones in the room. Here, the dining area is perfectly placed below a beautiful ceiling light, which helps to separate it from the seating area and kitchen.

If the position of your existing ceiling lights don’t work for this idea, try using floor lamps, table lamps and even LED strip lighting to create different moods around the space in the evening.