Open concept condos have become popular in recent years, and for good reason. An open floor plan involves combining at least two areas of different functions to maximize your living space. Think of a condo unit where everything seamlessly connects, from the kitchen to your bedroom to your living area. The practicality that goes with it makes open floor plans an in-demand option when decorating a small condo.
Of course, implementing this type of floor plan takes some skill. You can only imagine the level of strategizing that comes with having to organize a single space for multiple purposes. In this article, we give you some tips on how you can achieve the same home interior design that should work for you.
3 Designing Tips for Open Concept Condos
Millennials love well-executed open concept condos. They’ve become a home of choice for this particular generation, what with the openness and practicality that too few commercial residential spaces in Metro Manila are able to offer.
You, too, can create a sanctuary you’ll love coming home to. Here are practical tips for turning your condominium unit into an upscale oasis of serenity.
1. Make each area of your open concept condo distinct.
Here’s one thing we should establish right off the bat. Even if the purpose of open floor plans is to incorporate two or more rooms into one, you should still set distinctions between different areas. These are still separate functional spaces that serve varied purposes. While you can place a kitchen space parallel to your bedroom, you’d want to make sure that it doesn’t feel like they’re in the same space.
You can do this by using strategic furniture placement and lighting. Use strong lighting that specifically caters to your kitchen needs, and then softer ones across your living space and bed area. Furniture and home furnishings like a sofa or carpet can also help build these area distinctions by setting visual “cut-offs” from one area to another.
Take for example one of our previous projects at IEO: this studio-type condo unit located in The Rise, Makati. The space is very limited, so the goal of our team is to avoid making it look cramped. Notice how the small kitchen design for the condo (sink, refrigerator, cupboards, stove-top oven) is mere steps away from the sleeping area. In order to build a seamless flow between these areas, we’ve placed a mini living area (sofa, coffee table, and even in-wall shelves) to make the transition less awkward and more organic.
2. Maintain design continuity.
This step may sound obvious, but sticking with a singular aesthetic is vital to creating well-designed open concept condos. As much as possible, make the color palette consistent across the entire space. While lighting and furniture will vary depending on the purpose of an area, try to make them complementary to the design elements of other areas.
This condo unit makes excellent use of neutral shades. While this can be credited to the practicality of featuring blacks, whites, and grays, the end-product gives off an elegant finish that makes the space much more liveable and appealing.
To break the monotony, we’ve added some lush house plants and subtle tones of metal through the home decor. When shopping for furniture or home accessories that work for open concept condos, you should make sure that every piece works with the overall aesthetic of the given space.
3. Keep the space open.
The main purpose of open floor plans, after all, is to make your room as spacious as possible. Open concept condos have become the design of choice of interior designs as it allows homeowners to maximize their living spaces without the extra costs of actually adding square feet. When you’re designing open concept condos, keep in mind that less is more.
Avoid buying bulky furniture, and accessorize in moderation. Think a carpet won’t do your space good? Skip that and invest in items that will help build the illusion of a larger room.
Our studio-type condo at The Rise is proof that having less furniture can actually bring more to the table. For one, it allows our clients to enjoy their home better with less clutter and more leg room.
Learn About Open Concept Condos and More Straight from the Experts
Whether you’re itching for open concept condos or even modern two-storey house designs, you can never go wrong with enlisting the help of a team of seasoned interior design experts. With IEO Interior Design & Construction, we can transform your space and bring out the best of its potential. Build a home that perfectly encapsulates your personality and fits well with your lifestyle.
Get the best interior design tips that you can actually use from IEO. Schedule a free interior design consultation with our team to get started.