FIF Blog
FIF Blog
mobile logo How to Choose a TV Unit for an Open Plan Living Space

open plan Tag

How to Choose a TV Unit for an Open Plan Living Space
July 9, 2026

How to Choose a TV Unit for an Open Plan Living Space

Open plan living blends cooking, dining and relaxing into one flowing space, bringing light and sociability but asking more of the furniture within it. The television unit plays a surprisingly important role, since it can anchor the living area, guide the layout and even act as a gentle divider between zones. This guide explains how to choose one well. We look at sightlines from several angles, since the screen is often viewed from both the sofa and the kitchen, and how a unit placed behind a sofa can subtly separate functions without walls. We cover choosing a finish that relates to the wider room, prioritising storage that keeps an open space clear, and getting the scale right so the unit neither looks lost nor blocks the flow. Lighting and cable planning for a shared space complete the picture. Whether your home is newly opened up or built that way, these ideas help you select a unit that works from every angle....

Continue Reading
Living Room Furniture Ideas for Large Open Spaces
July 9, 2026

Living Room Furniture Ideas for Large Open Spaces

Large open living spaces offer wonderful freedom, but they can feel bare or awkward without careful planning. This guide shows how to furnish a big room so it feels both impressive and genuinely welcoming, from generous corner sofas and large rugs to console tables and bookcases that give structure. We look at how rugs and layered lighting define separate zones, how to guide movement through the space with clear walkways, and why the scale of art and mirrors matters on large walls. There is advice on filling vertical space and matching the proportion of each piece to the size of the room, so nothing looks lost. With considered planning, a big open room can feel warm and cohesive rather than cavernous, striking the balance between a sense of grandeur and the everyday comfort that makes a space easy and relaxing to live in day to day. The space then feels balanced from every angle you view....

Continue Reading
Best Furniture Ideas for Modern Family Homes
July 9, 2026

Best Furniture Ideas for Modern Family Homes

A family home works harder than any other, hosting meals, homework, play and rest all under one roof, so its furniture has to be both durable and welcoming. In this guide we share practical ideas for furnishing a modern family home without sacrificing style. We look at choosing hardwearing seating and dining tables that stand up to daily life, building in generous storage to keep clutter under control, and selecting practical materials that let the whole family relax. We also explain how to use furniture to define zones within open plan living spaces, and how to create calm, restful bedrooms for both children and parents. Throughout, we show how to balance substance with style, so your home feels relaxed and happy as well as functional. With the right choices, a busy family home can be both hardworking and genuinely lovely to live in....

Continue Reading
Modern Sideboard Ideas for Open Plan Living
July 9, 2026

Modern Sideboard Ideas for Open Plan Living

Open plan living has become a defining feature of the modern British home, creating bright, sociable spaces where cooking, dining and relaxing flow into one another. Yet these large rooms bring challenges, chiefly how to define zones and provide storage without breaking up the openness. This article explores how a well chosen sideboard answers both. We look at using a low, clean lined piece as a gentle divider that signals a change of zone without blocking light, and choosing light or glossy finishes that amplify the sense of space. There is advice on coordinating across the whole room, since an open plan space is seen all at once, and on maximising closed storage where clutter has nowhere to hide. We also cover styling the piece as part of the bigger picture, with a few larger objects that read well from a distance. A short set of common questions covers zoning, height, clutter and coordinating with the kitchen....

Continue Reading
Best Console Tables for Open Plan Homes
July 9, 2026

Best Console Tables for Open Plan Homes

Open plan living replaces separate rooms with one flowing space, and while that freedom is wonderful it can leave a large area feeling undefined. This guide shows how a console table brings gentle structure to an open plan home, marking out zones without building walls or blocking light. We look at the classic move of floating a console behind a sofa to separate the seating from the space beyond, and explain how to get the length and height right so the piece feels intentional. There is advice on building in storage that the whole space can share, pairing a console with a sideboard or room divider, and styling it to look good from every angle. By choosing a console that suits the scale of your layout, you can organise an open plan home while keeping the light and flow that make it so enjoyable. We also look at styling both faces of a mid room console....

Continue Reading
Best High Gloss Dining Table for Open Plan Kitchen Dining Rooms UK
July 3, 2026

Best High Gloss Dining Table for Open Plan Kitchen Dining Rooms UK

Open plan kitchen dining rooms are a hallmark of modern UK homes, bringing cooking, eating and relaxing into one flowing space, and the dining table sits right at the heart of it. This guide explains how to choose a high gloss table that works in a connected layout, starting with how the table can define the dining zone without walls. We cover matching or contrasting the finish with your kitchen units, choosing flexible extending capacity for guests, and selecting seating that bridges the kitchen and living areas in both style and function. You will also find advice on keeping sightlines clear with slim legs or a pedestal base, anchoring the zone with a rug and pendant light, and coordinating storage to keep the shared space tidy. The result is a reflective, practical table that feels considered from every angle in an open plan home. We also cover coordinating with the living area, managing wear and positioning it for connection....

Continue Reading
Best High Gloss Dining Table for Open Plan UK Dining Rooms
July 3, 2026

Best High Gloss Dining Table for Open Plan UK Dining Rooms

Open plan living has reshaped the British home, blending kitchen, dining and lounge into one flowing space. A dining table in this setting has a bigger job to do, marking out the eating area while sitting comfortably alongside everything around it. A glossy finish is well suited to the task, catching the light and giving the zone a polished focal point. This guide looks at how to choose a reflective table that works in an open plan room, from defining the dining zone and connecting finishes to scaling the table, building in flexibility and coordinating with the living area. It helps you create a dining space that feels part of the whole....

Continue Reading
Best Glass Dining Table for Open Plan Kitchen Dining Rooms UK
July 3, 2026

Best Glass Dining Table for Open Plan Kitchen Dining Rooms UK

Open plan kitchen dining rooms have become a defining feature of modern British homes, but the dining table needs to connect the kitchen and living zones without overwhelming the room or blocking the flow. In this guide we explain why a glass dining table is one of the best answers, its light see through surface linking the two areas while keeping the whole space feeling open. We look at defining the dining zone with a rug or pendant, choosing a shape that supports the constant flow of traffic, and coordinating the table with your kitchen finishes so the space feels considered as a whole. There is advice on keeping seating flexible with a mix of benches and chairs for sociable living, and balancing practicality with style using toughened glass that wipes clean quickly. Get these elements right and the table becomes the natural heart of a hard working open plan space in your UK home....

Continue Reading
Best Dining Table for Open Plan UK Dining Rooms
July 3, 2026

Best Dining Table for Open Plan UK Dining Rooms

Open plan living has reshaped how many of us use our homes, but it also asks more of a dining table. In a room where cooking, dining, and relaxing share one connected space, the table needs to look right from every angle and tie the different zones together. This guide explains how to choose a table that acts as a connecting piece, from defining a clear dining zone to selecting a finish that works from all sides. We cover why durability matters in the busy heart of the home, how to scale the table to the whole room rather than a small corner, and which shapes aid flow and sociability. You will also find advice on positioning the table to support the natural movement between kitchen, dining, and living areas. A short FAQ answers the questions UK homeowners ask most about dining tables for open plan spaces....

Continue Reading
Best Dining Table for Open Plan Kitchen Dining Rooms UK
July 3, 2026

Best Dining Table for Open Plan Kitchen Dining Rooms UK

An open plan kitchen dining room asks a lot of one table, so this guide helps UK homeowners choose wisely. It starts with how the space is really used, from meals to homework, then explains how to match the table to both the kitchen and living zones through colour and finish. You will find practical advice on choosing a shape that supports flow, picking a durable surface such as timber, high gloss or glass, and getting the size right with clearances that keep the room easy to move through. There is guidance on coordinating seating so chairs relate to the wider room, plus tips on lighting the table to define the dining zone within a larger space. A closing FAQ answers the most common questions on shape, clearances and extending options, giving you a clear path to a table that works from every angle in a busy open plan home....

Continue Reading