The glory days of open-concept rooms are slowly coming to an end. While we can definitely see the appeal of this popular layout, there are many drawbacks that come with it as well.
First and foremost, there’s bound to be an overwhelming sensory overload, since both smells and sounds travel much faster in an open-plan space. Next, there’s the inability to disguise clutter. When everything’s out in the open, the mess seems to materialize on its own.
Building another room from scratch can be immensely expensive, but worry not because we’ve got you covered. We’ve compiled a list of affordable yet effective ways to divide your space without breaking the bank.
These options range from getting MgO boards to various shelving solutions, but we assure you that all of them are perfectly adequate and can get the job done.
Keep reading to learn more!
Use Furniture
Your choice of partition will depend on the room combo that constitutes your open plan. If these rooms generally go together, like the living room and the kitchen, the dividers don’t have to be very prominent. There’s absolutely no need for you to use MgO boards to create a new wall. In fact, you could easily separate the two rooms with appropriate furniture.
Depending on the choice of furniture, you can easily divide the space to create designated areas. For instance, a kitchen island can be used to separate the kitchen from the living room. It’s the perfect way to create a clear boundary between the cooking and the living area.
Designers also suggest using smart solutions, like a sofa-back table that can separate your living space from your dining room. This option doesn’t have to cost any money at all — you can easily section off several areas using the furniture you already have.
Use Shelves or a Divider Screen
Strategically placing your furniture to separate two areas is a neat trick. However, if you feel you need something more substantial but still don’t want to commit to a fairly permanent MgO sheet, shelves are a great option. The division they’ll create is much more apparent, so it’s a perfect solution if you want to separate your living room from your sleeping area.
Open furniture like a bookcase or a cabinet will help you create the so-called zones without making your space appear smaller. Pay special attention to colors when selecting these pieces. If your open-plan space is on the smaller side, darker shelves will make it appear even less spacious. The same goes for contrast, stick to colors that complement one another for a more harmonious look.
If you are a fan of vintage solutions, you can even consider buying good old divider screens. Not only do they look gorgeous, but they will also add some of that classic charm to your space. In addition, if you’re still working from home, these make for an excellent backdrop.
Use Magnesium Oxide Sheathing
Those of you who want something more permanent can always consider installing wall dividers. Depending on the area and the overall size of your space, you can even set up a half-wall to create a comfy nook. Magnesium oxide panels are fairly easy to work with, so this is something you can turn into a fun weekend project.
As far as the magnesium oxide board cost goes, they are a pretty affordable option compared to other building materials. What’s more, they are perfectly safe for people who are prone to allergies as they don’t contain any of the harmful chemicals normally present in some other commonly used materials.
Make sure the wall you build doesn’t close off your space completely. While you do want to separate two areas, an open-concept plan is not meant to be turned into two separate rooms. Instead, you should create a clear visual boundary that divides the two areas, and a MagPanel will help you achieve that without too much effort.
Final Thoughts
Deciding to transform your open-concept layout is not an easy feat. It involves a lot of decision-making and plenty of research, like which MagPanel to choose, the magnesium oxide board cost, or the right shelving option. However, all the hard work you put into this project will pay off.
Having clearly designated living, sleeping, and eating areas will make your life easier. Open-plan spaces need distinct sections, otherwise, you’ll disrupt the flow and end up with a mixture of styles and pieces that don’t go together. These simple solutions will make your space more manageable and easy to navigate.