Comments on: How to Style & Layout an Open Plan Living Dining Room: 10 Tips to Get it Right

By: Annie

Annie — Tue, 12 Jul 2022 19:58:29 +0000

great article, i was worrying about the strange layout of the dining room and I didn’t know if I could pull off putting the sofa back to the dining table.

By: Chris Carroll

Chris Carroll — Thu, 09 Jun 2022 23:38:10 +0000

In reply to Debbie James. That's so great to hear Debbie. Glad you're loving the new vibe! :)

By: Debbie James

Debbie James — Thu, 09 Jun 2022 23:24:17 +0000

I have a large open plan living and dining. I’ve been one to always think sofa against wall, art above sofa etc, but after reading this article I’ve moved my sofa 60 cm off the wall and now I have a walkway behind sofa and feel it looks more cohesive. Great article.

By: Chris Carroll

Chris Carroll — Tue, 07 Jun 2022 02:52:53 +0000

In reply to Shellie Styles. Probably no chaise from how you've described it.

By: Shellie Styles

Shellie Styles — Tue, 31 May 2022 21:29:17 +0000

We have a small room 4.3w x 5.7D to the island bench which we want two stools under. We need to fit a lounge and dining table in that space . We are thinking about a small round glass dining table 1.2 and not sure about the lounge type – chaise or no chase. The lounge and dining table must be on the same wall as tv unit on the other wall. Thanks Shellie

By: Chris Carroll

Chris Carroll — Thu, 18 Nov 2021 02:57:05 +0000

In reply to Alicia. Hi Alicia, sorry the team and I don't have the capacity to offer individual advice on the blog. Post your question and pictures in the FB group.

By: Adriana McCormack

Adriana McCormack — Thu, 11 Nov 2021 10:36:15 +0000

I have two leather couches facing each other and a chunky heavy coffee table. Great open space . I NEED HELP !!!! I need a second pair of eyes to create a NEW concept that goes with the rest of the space.

By: Gayle

Gayle — Thu, 23 Sep 2021 07:56:39 +0000

I have a large, open plan living area in our apartment that encompasses kitchen with scullery, dining and living room. My problem is accessories. So a plant on the buffet, and a vase on the dining room table, and a vase under the mirror in the living area. Suddenly I look around and realise I have what to me looks like a florist store on every available surface and I hate it! But no way am I going to put say, a statue in the middle of a dining room table… I have just run out of ideas for making it homey yet not looking like I’m a shop where all these things are for sale!

By: Pippa

Pippa — Tue, 21 Sep 2021 03:11:08 +0000

Hi Chris
I don’t watch The Block but love all your critiques.
We are moving into a new apartment off the plan and open plan) Am planning on having dining table with bench seat on one side near the wall and chairs on other side. In time I would like to replace bench seat with a built in banquette. You didn’t mention this type of set up do you think it can work in a small space??

By: Wendy

Wendy — Tue, 21 Sep 2021 02:06:09 +0000

Love your advice Chris.. Just signed to followed your FB page..

By: Alicia

Alicia — Sat, 11 Sep 2021 10:08:26 +0000

Hi Chris,
I just came across your article (and fb group!)
I’m just starting to style our new place, and I’m stuck on the woods matching/colours.
I don’t even really have a “theme” per se!
(Open plan living dining) I have a lovely leather brown couch, and a wood + metal black leg coffee table. Dining table is a different hard wood with velvet green chairs + black legs.
My question is – is a wood buffet unit too much? Should I incorporate white buffet or TV unit?

Ta!

By: Chris Carroll

Chris Carroll — Wed, 16 Jun 2021 04:52:32 +0000

In reply to Orjan. Hi Orjan, hello to you all the way in Norway! Would love to visit there one day. Good idea pausing the purchase of the matching chairs. With a leather sofa and brown (wood I assume?) table, you have lots of options for dining chair colours, styles and materials. Just about anything will work. Maybe something armless like this to add another texture and colour to work with?

By: Orjan

Orjan — Thu, 10 Jun 2021 20:24:50 +0000

Hi,
I am from Norway and came across your article. I have an open plan and ordered a tan color leather sectional. I was about to buy the dining set in brown table and leather chairs but stopped myself. It wold have been very matching with to much of brown everything. Now searching ideas for dining table / chairs to go with the sofa. Any tips on that?

By: Chris Carroll

Chris Carroll — Tue, 01 Jun 2021 04:55:59 +0000

In reply to Beth. Hey Beth, glad you didn't make the error! Thanks for the comment.

By: Beth

Beth — Mon, 31 May 2021 03:32:04 +0000

Hi Chris I’m just attempting to purchase new sofas for a recent open plan living space build at coastal mollymook nsw . Found your tips to be very helpful thank you! Yesterday I nearly made an expensive mistake of purchasing lounges with higher backs but felt they would cut off view and not ‘feel right’ in separating lounge and dining spaces so thankfully decided to go home and think about it . Then I read your tips today and this confirmed my amateur gut feeling . Your other tips re connecting but not matching spaces in open plan were very helpful too. Still trying to decide whether to go modular or classic separates ……. Cheers Beth

By: Praveen

Praveen — Tue, 25 May 2021 20:38:07 +0000

I was about to do buy dining chairs matching the color of the sofa. Good that i came across your article. I have an open plan living/dining and ordered a L-shaped leather sofa in light brown color and have 2 glass door cabinets in oak finish.
Any suggestion on choosing the color of the dining chairs and table ?

By: Chris Carroll

Chris Carroll — Tue, 18 May 2021 04:45:16 +0000

In reply to Rajarshi Goswami. Thanks Raj!

By: Rajarshi Goswami

Rajarshi Goswami — Sun, 09 May 2021 07:37:27 +0000

Very nicely explained. I am from Amsterdam and recently bought an apartment. I found your ideas very helpful. Thanks.

Raj

By: Chris Carroll

Chris Carroll — Mon, 11 Jan 2021 05:34:49 +0000

In reply to Valeria. Hi Valeria, without seeing the space myself, my best tip to tie it all together is to use similar colours in your decorative pieces and tableware. Your placemats and coasters on the dining table should speak to the ones on the coffee table. If you're styling with books on the coffee table, think about the colours matching your placemats. Try to think of it all as one room and how things would look if they were sitting next to eachother.

By: Valeria

Valeria — Wed, 30 Dec 2020 23:39:10 +0000

Hi Chris,
We are moving in ti a new house with an open plan kitchen+dinning+living room. It’s not quite big (5 * 6 mts). We bought a kind of farm house style dinning table ( white legs and creamy grey timber at the top) with a matching buffet , and for the living are we have a coffee table (acacia timber) with a matching tv unit.
It was very hard to agree in furniture with ny husband so that’s what we could buy. I wonder if they match and how I can make the whole space flow. Can you give me some advise? Thanks!