Design experts agree. A common thread that runs from room to room in the house creates a more harmonious scheme. So yes, to some extent, the living room and kitchen should match.
But how do you do this effortlessly in two spaces with such different uses and moods? The key is choosing complementary colors, materials, flooring and even hardware.
Below, we’ll show you how to design an open-plan kitchen combined with a living space, or two completely separate spaces.
Should the living room and kitchen match?
If your living room and kitchen are in one open-plan space, that’s a resounding yes from designers. Here’s how to match your living room ideas with your kitchen ideas.
1. Connect connected spaces with colors
(Image credit: Farrow & Ball)
Decorating with a neutral color as a background that connects the two zones of the room is the easiest way to make the living room and kitchen blend seamlessly.
We asked Patrick O’Donnell, Color Consultant and Brand Ambassador for Farrow & Ball. (opens in new tab), how to choose the right shades if you want to match these two rooms. He chose gray as an example.
“As with all color choices, consider natural light when choosing grays, and the time of day you will be using the space. It comes down to which shade of gray (black/blue) you choose (base), and if light is an issue (e.g. north facing), accept this limitation by venturing towards the darker end of the gray and choose Mole’s Create atmospheric spaces using warm hues such as Breath.
However, if you want to keep one space gray and mix it with another shade, Patrick has this advice:
“Gray is incredibly versatile in the living room and can be layered happily with a variety of colors, including inky blues, smoky greens and rosy pinks. Often seen as a clean aesthetic, grays used on the deeper ends of the scale can stand up beautifully to more traditional designs.
2. Use the same flooring for binding
(Image credit: Smile Kitchens)
“Especially in an open plan, connecting the kitchen floor to the living room helps connect the two zones visually. It only serves as a visual link,” says Deputy Editor-in-Chief Jo Bailey. home and garden“I recommend this because it gives an overall cohesive feel, but this almost certainly means using wood floors that go well with every room.
“If you are looking to link your open plan kitchen and living room, I recommend further zoning the flooring with kitchen rugs and living room rugs. I think it’s best not to look like one, which helps connect the two spaces but also helps define them.
3. Use the same decorative elements in both spaces
(Image credit: Regan Baker Design/Suzanna Scott)
“Apart from the obvious white walls, two distinguishing features of each of these spaces are the painterly rugs and the murals. It perfectly creates subtle links in the space of , but still has its own style,” says deputy editor-in-chief Jo Bailey. home and garden.
4. Select hardware to work with
(Image credit: Sophorology)
“Good design relies on creating a common thread in each room of the house,” says Gisela Lancaster, Purchasing Manager at Sofology. (opens in new tab)You can do this by choosing materials for your cabinet hardware and kitchen lighting ideas that complement your living room furniture.
“When I design or renovate a space, I start by creating a color palette for each. I sit them next to each other so that they flow and work together. You don’t have to design a scheme, using the same or similar shades creates a cohesive feel in both the living room and kitchen, which works well in open-plan designs, but complements You can also use bold hues to make the room feel like it’s been hand-painted in the same way. you will get.”
For this space, the rink surfaces are gray and metallic accents. Choosing the same metal finish like warm brass and letting it flow creates a unified space.
5. Choose cabinets and furniture to match the period style of your home
(Image credit: Davide Lovatti/Future)
“Decorating your home well means defining and being consistent throughout the look you’re aiming for,” says Global Editor-in-Chief Lucy Searle. home and garden.
“So if you live in a modern farmhouse, it makes sense to have a farmhouse kitchen with the right cabinetry and color scheme, and whether it’s in the same space or not, you can make this your living room.” It makes sense to continue on to.. And of course, applying this theme throughout the interior enhances this even further.
‘I start by defining the style of your interior. The architecture and era of your property will guide you. Then choose furniture that fits this aesthetic, from kitchen cabinet ideas to living room side tables.’ I choose.
6. Connect spaces with accent colors
(Image credit: Julie Soefer)
“This open-plan living room and kitchen are artfully linked with accent color ideas,” says digital editor Jen Ebert. home and garden‘The blue/green of the sofa leads to the upholstery of the bar stools. Less noticeable is the central light fixture, which is painted in the same color as the side table.
‘The use of this accent color can be performed to varying degrees as a ‘red thread’ to the rest of the interior. Larger for rooms facing west or facing west. Their usage is not always obvious, but they create a harmonious and very manageable scheme.
7. Connect spaces with upholstery
(Image credit: Martin Moore)
As mentioned above, upholstery is a clever way to harmonize the living room and kitchen, and in small or open-plan spaces, using upholstered chaise lounges can help create a sense of space between the kitchen and the living or dining zone. It’s a clever way to blur boundaries.
“Introducing soft elements into the kitchen always creates a cozy atmosphere,” says Lucy Searle. It’s incredibly space efficient and even hides storage under the seat. It’s often most successful when it’s covered in bold, bold fabrics that catch the eye. This allows you to have a safe and neutral kitchen, but still enjoy your love of color and pattern.
8. Soften the angle and change the mood
(Image credit: King Living)
There is one important difference between the kitchen and the living room. It’s the difference between the hard lines of the kitchen and the soft curves of the living space.
“The kitchen is all about practicality and functionality. It can and should have soft elements, but choosing curvaceous living room furniture in an open-plan space creates contrast and definition. The easiest way to create.
“The kitchen here is very square and modern, with straight lines and high-gloss finishes. The living area is the opposite: soft colors, matte finishes, and curved furniture. Oval coffee table. Also keep an eye out,” says deputy editor-in-chief Joe Bailey. Home & Garden.
Should the kitchen and living room be the same color?
When the kitchen and living room are in the same open-plan space, it makes sense that the color scheme across the two zones is complementary. “My house has this arrangement and defines two spaces. My living room area has all white walls and my kitchen has one dark wall. is reflected in the upholstery of our living spaces,” said Lucy Searle, Editor-in-Chief. home and garden“It feels like two realms are defined, but they don’t contradict each other. This is important in any scheme.”
How do you blend your living room and kitchen?
The easiest way to harmonize your living room and kitchen is to choose a color scheme that traverses the two spaces. Pick one dominant color for your kitchen cabinets and walls, and make sure that color gives weight to your living space. By choosing flooring and hardware that match the two spaces, from kitchen cabinet handles to lighting to furniture finishes, you can further integrate your living room and kitchen. Finally, to define and blend the two zones, I use accent colors in both areas to varying degrees.
