jCam (and others - Interior Decorating ?)

MrsC968

As you've seen via photos, our living and dining areas are open to each other (as well as the kitchen). I want to make the living and dining space feel more separated but I'm at a loss for what to do.

Our long couch ends in the middle of the shared wall. Then there is a window in the dining room on the same wall. I want to get china cabinet, which could go on either side of said window. I could also hang pictures.

Any ideas, suggestions? TIA!

jCamsquared

You could put something tall between the couch and the china, but just having the china might be enough. When my non-friend opened her living/dining she was worried about that too, but the two spaces ended up being defined by the furniture alone, and it worked fine.

Rock-n-Voll

In addition to furniture you could also define the areas using rugs.  I don't think I've seen enough pictures of how they flow into each other to give you more specific suggestions, but I agree with jCam that often furniture placement will automatically define a space for you.

If you really want to separate them, you could get those free-standing shelves with, say, 6x6 open squares that you can fill with pretty things.  Kind of like this (there's a good example/prettier display at Jordan's Furniture like this):

MrsC968

jCamsquared:

You could put something tall between the couch and the china, but just having the china might be enough.

There is probably only enough space between the two windows (one in living and one in dining) to put the china hutch right next to the couch. I don't really like the idea of it being right next to the couch and thought it would be better between the window and the back wall. But then it leaves an open wall above the couch, so I thought maybe pictures. However, one would look awkward because if it was centered on the wall it would be uneven with the couch and two wouldn't really help define the space.

Here is a picture of the dining room before furniture (there's a table in the middle now):

The couch ends just to the left of the picture (see siggy).

MrsC968

Rock-n-Voll:

In addition to furniture you could also define the areas using rugs.

Good call. We will be getting one, so that should help out a bit.

jCamsquared

MrsC968:

Rock-n-Voll:

In addition to furniture you could also define the areas using rugs.

Good call. We will be getting one, so that should help out a bit.

Ya that will help a lot. She's right about the rugs too - 'changing' the flooring makes a lot of difference.