Creating Two Small Spaces in a Large Living Room

If you have a very large living room, you are probably aware of how difficult it can be to make it seem cozy and usable. While a large living room seems like a desirable space, it can actually work against you if you don’t know how to make the most of it. But, with the right plan and furnishings, a large living room can be a great asset to your home, as it can provide you with two different living spaces in the same room.

Determining Your Two Living Spaces

To begin, you must determine what you need to do in your living room so that you know what each space will be used for. You likely want a place to watch television in your living room. If this is the case, then one of your living areas is already decided for you. To determine what to do with the other space, or with both spaces if you don’t need a place to watch television, consider the needs of you or your family. Do you need a table on which to play games? Would you like to create a breakfast nook if you have a kitchen that is too small for one? Do you need a home office space? Even if you simply want a separate conversation area to make your living room more functional, you can determine what each space will be used to do in your living room. Once you have done this, the project is as simple as creating two defined spaces in the same large room.

Creating Definition Between the Two Spaces

There are many ways to create definition between the two spaces, depending on how much work you want to do. To really make the second space separate from the first, you can use small stages to actually raise the floor a little bit, creating a definite difference between two areas. Choose a part of the room that does not connect to any doorways, as you don’t want people to frequently trip when entering the living room, and purchase enough small stages to cover the area you need. Then furnish the space and you instantly have another smaller room inside your large living room. You can also easily create designated spaces with area rugs. Buy two large, different rugs that complement each other but have obviously different patterns or even color schemes. Then use each rug as the base for each compartment of the room. Arrange furniture on or around the rugs and have the furniture at the dividing line face away from the opposite space.

The best way to make the most of your large living room is usually to divide it into two smaller rooms, even if they don’t have specifically different purposes. If you have limited space in the rest of your home, this technique can not only make your living room cozier, but it can provide a much needed function, like a home office or a craft space. Make sure that the décor in each space is similar, but not exactly the same, so that it looks good in the same large room but also has its own defined look.