HGTV's Jasmine Roth's furniture secret will transform an open plan space instantly

This refreshingly simple solution will transform your home without the investment – and it's designer approved

Wallpaper in a hallway
(Image credit: Little Greene)

HGTV star Jasmine Roth is no stranger to the world of home improvement. The Help I Wrecked My House host, and author of House Story has picked up a trove of transformative tips on her way to the peak of the design world, but none are quite so invaluable as her latest furniture tip. 

While open-plan living room ideas have their perks, the last two years may have made us (ever-so-slightly) rethink our design decisions. It's hard to fault the spacious style of an open-plan layout, but it's also understandable that you want a separate space to work, rest, and socialize. Because no one wants to party in the same space where you just had a video call. This is where Jasmine Roth comes in. 

In an exclusive interview with Real Homes, Jasmine revealed how to go open-plan in an old house and new property without sacrificing that all-important feeling of distinction. The secret? It comes down to your furniture choices. 

Jasmine Roth's secret for an open-plan space 

Jasmine Roth

(Image credit: Alamy)

'Open concepts can be tricky, but there are a few tried and true ways to make your space feel intentional, cozy, and functional,' Jasmine says. Here's where she recommends beginning. 

1. Create a boundary with your floor covering

A modern living room with rust / burnt orange wall paint decor and blue abstract pattern rug decor

(Image credit: Habitat)

'Be really specific about which parts of the room are used for what and define each space with a floor covering,' Jasmine explains. This living room floor idea can be anything from using a rug to suggest warmth and comfort – to a hardwood option for places of work.

'A rug in the living room can immediately show what part of the open space is the 'coziest' and make you feel like you're in a comfy room in the middle of your open space,' Jasmine explains. 

2. Use lighting strategically 

pink living room with fireplace, white ceiling and woodwork

(Image credit: Little Greene)

Lighting can be an open-plan owner's best friend, but it's important to get it right. The key, Jasmine suggests, is in choosing pieces that match – so you can designate each area without losing the flow. 'Define each area with its own lighting plan, but use a collection so that all the lights match,' she says. 

The designer recommends Hunter Lighting's new lighting collection, which has pieces for every part of your space. 'The pendants in the kitchen, the chandelier in the dining room, and the flush mount in the living room can all be different but have the same finish (I love their 'painted modern brass' finish) or be part of the same collection,' she says. 

We're reinventing our flooring and lighting ideas pronto.

Megan Slack

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