Home Zoning
Enjoying the luxury of having a separate room for every function or activity is rare for many of us. So how can you create a set of individual areas without going to the expense of extending, or installing dividing walls that cut out space and light? One solution is ‘home zoning’ – an increasingly popular home organisation method using furniture, flooring, lighting, shelving and décor to subtly distinguish between specific sections in one room.
Broken plan living
Home zoning – sometimes referred to as ‘broken plan’ living - allows you to make the most of your space in any part of the house. Take the family room in a property like our Richmond.
By placing an L-shaped sofa around a focal point, like a wall-mounted TV, and fitting a rug that sits snugly within the space, you can create an intimate, cosy area that’s clearly designated for relaxation. You can then create a ‘reading corner’ by the window with the addition of an accent occasional chair and a large plant, separating the space from the kitchen area.
Maybe that still leaves some space over by an alcove? Rather than let it go to waste, consider turning it into a workspace, with a desk illuminated by angled lighting or a place to display your accessories with some standalone bookshelves. One room: three distinct zones, each with its own function.
Defining your space
To maximise space in a small bedroom, use rugs to create different zones, or create a wraparound effect with feature paint colours or wallpaper to define focal points, like a workspace or dressing area.
In the kitchen, there are opportunities to create defined areas for cooking, dining and living / socialising. If the room is large enough, you might consider installing an island which, like those we offer via My Redrow. As well as providing extra storage space, a kitchen island acts as a low-level physical barrier that doesn’t impede the natural light and can even double as a home workspace.
With a Redrow home an island either comes as standard or as an optional extra. However, if you don’t have one there are other ways to differentiate between the zones. A tiled or hardwood floor will give the cooking area a very different feel to a cosy rug in the family area.
When looking at all three zones, also think about how each could be individually lit, or decorated with complementary hues or patterns. Consider a feature paint colour in the family area in a statement tone, and use the same paint on one wall in the kitchen to create coherence.
Make use of window dressings
Window dressings can also create distinction between spaces, while ensuring they still feel part of the same scheme. Roman blinds work well in kitchens, while curtains on a track in the same fabric work brilliantly for patio doors. If your blind pattern is too much for curtains, just opt to introduce it within the bottom band, using a more neutral fabric for the rest.
How To Maximise Kitchen Space
When you zone your kitchen to take advantage of every square centimetre, a good declutter every now and again is beneficial. At Redrow we have given homeowners a helping hand by including a range of storage features including under-hob drawers, racks and tiered cupboard organisers for staples like herbs and spices.
Tricks to a Keep a Kitchen Tidy
We love a good kitchen decluttering hack and some of the quickest and easiest include:
- Decanting bulky items: Many products, like cereals, come in outsized packages that take up lots of storage. Emptying them into sleekly designed glass containers, complete with stylish labels to identify contents, not only frees up space: a neat row of them gives your shelves a cohesive and stylish look.
- Hanging hooks: Perfect for suspending cups or even herb pots, these humble curved pieces of metal are also ideal for holding pans, chopping boards and tea towels. Put them at eye level and you’ll never forget where they’re stored.
- Going vertical: If you’re running out of cabinet and drawer space, wall storage organisers are a great alternative. And, just as hanging baskets bring a splash of colour to the front porch, a wall mounted fruit bowl or herb garden makes a style statement in the kitchen.
Spare Room Ideas
Many of our homes offer flexible layouts which give you the opportunity to live how you wish too. Our three-storey properties for example provide versatile rooms spread over three floors. Or you may be lucky enough to have a spare bedroom you can transform to make the most of your space in a variety of creative ways.
If you like peace and relaxation, simply install a comfy accent chair, lamp and bookcase – and you’ll have yourself a simple yet effective reading space. Alternatively, install a large wall mounted TV or projector, break out the popcorn - and enjoy the luxury of a home cinema room.
Hobby Space and Playroom Ideas
If there are children in the house, you may be searching for playroom ideas. If so, relaxed flooring, and plenty of storage for toys and costumes are considered must-haves. An appropriately sized table and chair set up is where the kids can read and do crafts, along with wall space for their artwork displays will also be useful.
For older children and adults, the unused space could also be perfect as a ‘hobby room’. Wherever you indulge a passion - be it painting, crafts, model trains or sewing – you’re likely to need a workspace, lots of storage and a display area to show off your collectibles.
Create a Home Gym
Finally, if you want to stay fit – and save on health club membership fees – you might consider installing your own home gym. If that’s the case, make sure to measure the room first to double check the equipment will fit.
Also factor in any door-swings, and – if you’re planning to use any electrical kit such as a Peloton - make a note of where the plug sockets are located. If you want to be entertained (or at least distracted!) while burning up the calories in your gym at home, a wall mounted flat-screen TV will save you some floor space. And talking of floors, do make sure to choose material that offers stability as well as cushioning support.
If your budget doesn’t stretch to shock-absorbing ‘workout tiles’ or rubber flooring, then either custom mats made from foam, or even thick carpet, should do the job. Maximising space at home could also include creating additional ‘room’ in your garden.
Our new garden pods – available as an ‘extra’ through My Redrow – could give you the extra space you crave for a gym or yoga zone or simply serve as another multi-use family room.
Home Office ideas
Following the Covid pandemic, millions have had to adjust to working remotely, either permanently or for part of the week. So how to organise a room so you can remain organised and efficient whilst looking as professional as possible on Zoom? Firstly, choose your location.
Whilst a spare room is ideal, you might be able to utilise an unused corner of the living room, kitchen, bedroom or landing. Also look at the loft and any understairs cupboards, although make sure they have good wi-fi connections first. Take care to invest in good lighting, as no-one likes working in gloomy surroundings. And choose a chair that’s at the right height and ergonomically comfortable.
Flawless Home Office Furniture
Now that many offices are paperless, a desk doesn’t have to be large. We offer a range of stylish home office furniture via My Redrow to suit different sized rooms. To avoid unnecessary clutter, think about ditching angle-poise lamps, and going for wall mounted lighting instead.
Hanging storage pots and racks are also great for holding pens, notebooks, scissors, staplers and other stationary, alongside some natural greenery to oxygenate your surroundings and boost your mood. A single shelf placed above provides the perfect home for bulkier items like box-files and reference books, and another great place for trailing pot plants to sit.
If you do have a dedicated room that can serve as an office, you can close the door at the end of the day and leave any work troubles behind. Switching off from the daily grind can be harder if your workstation on full view in the living room or kitchen. So, to avoid mixing business with pleasure, think about screening it off, or clearing enough storage space so you can hide your office equipment at night.
Dressing rooms
Whether you consider them the ultimate luxury or a modern-day essential, dedicated dressing rooms are increasingly in demand. So much so they now come as standard in several of our designs, such as The Highgate, The Blenheim and The Richmond.
If you have an unused spare bedroom, it’s the perfect place to put your own dressing room ideas into practice. As a first step, look at all the clothes, shoes and accessories you own, so you can work out the amount of storage you will need. Next, consider which items you use the most, and make sure to put them where they are easiest to reach. With a small room you can – with careful planning – make use of every centimetre. Wall to ceiling wardrobes will help maximise space but also inspect alcoves and the space above the doorframe to see if you can add extra shelving. These can be ideal for seasonal or ‘special occasion’ items that you only use rarely.
Make sure to leave room for a dressing table and a full-length mirror. Crucially, pay attention to the lighting, too. Although natural light is best, the room may be windowless, or you may be using at night – in which case, consider installing LED strips which can be softened with dimmers.
For more organisation tips read our stylish home storage ideas.
