Combination Living/Dining Rooms

In lofts, studio apartments, and open-plan spaces, combination living and dining rooms are a common occurrence. This type of arrangement can create good flow (especially for parties), but it also requires some strategic furniture placement...

The spaces above offer lots of good ideas. In David and Im's small space (photo #1), a table and sofa are about the same length, but the difference in materials creates a sense of separation between zones.

Janet (photo #2) uses a pendant lamp to anchor the dining set in a far corner, while the fireplace creates a natural focal point for the living area. In Kim's loft (photo #3), living and dining room functions are blended by a wall of bookshelves, but an area rug and a set of pendant lamps help to define the dining space.

Kevin and Dop (photo #4) and David and Susan (photo #5) use color to distinguish their dining rooms. Bright chairs, walls, and textiles are a simple way to section off space.

SHOWN ABOVE
• 1 David and Im's OneSpace
• 2 Janet's Peaceful Modern
• 3 Kimberly's Renovated Loft
• 4 Kevin and Dop's Playful Uptown Loft
• 5 David and Susan's Police Precinct Conversion

Photos: David and Im, Janet, Kimberly, Evan Thomas, Susie Nadler

Comments (11)

If you sat on the left side of that couch, you'd bonk your head on the dining room table. Good idea, bad couch for the idea.

posted by Fire Wife Katie on October 27th 2009 at 2:52pm
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where can I find chairs like in picture #4 (the yellow ones)?

posted by eicats on October 27th 2009 at 3:23pm
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I'm with Fire Wife Katie on the couch used in #1 plus you'd be awful close to people's feet on that end of the sofa.
The bookshelves in #3 are great. Love the colors used in # 4 and 5.

posted by GreenJessicaA on October 27th 2009 at 3:33pm
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eicats- those are Ikea Snille visitr chairs, if I'm not mistaken

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/S79864146

posted by CozyLittleCave on October 27th 2009 at 3:47pm
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"If you sat on the left side of that couch, you'd bonk your head on the dining room table. Good idea, bad couch for the idea."

Perhaps they sit on the right end of the couch or lean against the arm on the left as a chaise...
...and use the open end of the sofa as a banquette for additional seating at their dining table during parties?

posted by bepsf on October 27th 2009 at 4:14pm
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In the 3rd picture, what are the dark wood objects under the table for? I thought they were some kind of stool at first, but I see there are 4 regular chairs so I'm not sure what purpose these serve.

posted by Greyhound on October 27th 2009 at 4:21pm
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hi eicats, cozylittlecave is right. those chairs, like... uhhh... pretty much all of the furniture in our place, is from ikea.

posted by kb on October 27th 2009 at 4:40pm
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thanks! are the snille chairs comfy? they look great in the space and the price sure can't be beat.

posted by eicats on October 27th 2009 at 5:04pm
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I completely agree with the dining room pendant tip; it works for us. We are lucky to have a [non-functioning] fireplace on the "living room" side of our loft, which definitely helps to anchor that side of the room as well:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/visualingual/2437958941/in/set-72157594505190197/

posted by visualingual on October 27th 2009 at 6:06pm
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eicats- no prob at all. the chairs are actually pretty comfortable; we use ours quite a bit. they're hard but have enough flex to make 'em not too bad.

posted by kb on October 28th 2009 at 10:38am
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I have almost the same exact setup as the first image, but my sofa has a back to it.

It really is a great setup, because drinks go on the table behind you when you are on the sofa. It's a fantastic place to rest a glass of wine.

posted by JulieLeanne on October 28th 2009 at 12:27pm
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