Ask A Designer: What's the Best Way to Decorate in an Open Floor Plan?

And when it comes to décor and furniture layout, there are so many advantages to the open concept design. Open plan living is, at its core, incredibly flexible, allowing you the freedom to change your mind and your space with minimal effort. That flexibility also means that, as your family expands or contracts, or your lifestyle changes, open concept homes can take on new purpose while you avoid the need to move on to new environs.

Many Dixon Leasing properties are open concept, and we're always impressed by how our residents arrange their homes to create spaces that are uniquely their own. Take the parlor level of this great Bed-Stuy townhouse, for example. By shuffling dining and living room furniture, we've created five distinct layouts amenable to different lifestyles preferences. Each option uses furniture to add intimacy and purpose to defined areas or arranges it minimally to keep space airy and the flow open.

Option #1 creates a fireside conversation pit with facing sofas and a coffee table arranged near the fireplace, while the bay window space accommodates a reading nook and the dining area leads to conveniently to the kitchen.

By pivoting a sofa parallel with the fireplace and playing with the position of chairs and the dining table, options #2 and #3 create a more open space that accommodate busy foot traffic from front to back.

Options #4 and #5, meanwhile, invite guests to take in backyard views and interact with the chef of the house by facing the sofa to the rear and elevating the dining table to the bay window/fireplace position.

The possibilities are literally endless with just a little imagination. What if the idea of a formal dining table seems overrated while a home office space is indispensable? If teens and parents typically enjoy different leisure activities, perhaps two living areas is an option. And when small kids rule the roost, a permanent play area may take center stage under that lovely bay window.

Have a question to ask an interior designer? Send it to dixonadvisoryusa@dixon.com.au.