Knocking down walls: living with one big space

Title: Knocking down walls: living with one big space

It’s great for parties, but sometimes I miss having a quiet spot to hide from the chaos (and the dishes).

I get what you mean - open layouts look amazing and definitely make things feel bigger, but there’s a trade-off. We did something similar because we thought it’d help with family gatherings and just keep things feeling less cramped. But honestly, I didn’t realize how much I’d miss being able to shut a door and just not see the mess for a bit. Also, noise travels way more than I expected - if someone’s watching TV, it’s basically everywhere.

From a budget angle, I found the heating/cooling costs went up a bit too. No more shutting off a room to save energy during the day... Didn’t really think about that before we started knocking things down. Have you tried using furniture or bookshelves to break up the space? We added a big shelf unit between the kitchen and living area, and it helps a little with both noise and hiding dishes. Not perfect, but it makes the space feel a bit less like one giant room.

- Totally relate to the noise thing - didn’t realize how much I’d miss just closing a door and tuning everything out.
- We knocked down a wall between our kitchen and living room last year. Looked great, but now I can’t escape the sound of the blender or the TV.
- Tried using a tall plant and a big rug to “zone” things off. It helps a bit with making spaces feel separate, but not so much with noise.
- Also, heating/cooling is trickier now. Used to just close off the dining room in winter... can’t do that anymore.
- Sometimes I wonder if we should’ve left at least one wall up, just for a little peace and quiet.

Yeah, the open concept life is all fun and games until someone fires up the vacuum during your Zoom call. I tried hanging some heavy curtains as a “wall” - helped a bit with noise, but mostly just confused my dog. At least there’s less wall to paint now... silver linings?

Title: Knocking Down Walls: Living With One Big Space

I get what you mean about the vacuum - noise just travels everywhere now. In our 1920s place, taking out that wall felt almost sacrilegious, but the promise of “light and flow” won out. Now, I’m not convinced it was the right call. The openness is nice for gatherings, but day-to-day? There’s nowhere to escape when someone’s watching TV or clattering around in the kitchen. I’ve tried rearranging furniture to create a sort of “zone,” but it’s not the same as a real room with a door you can close.

Curtains are clever, though I imagine my cats would have a field day with those. Honestly, sometimes I think older homes had it right - rooms for different moods and activities. Maybe we’re all just chasing HGTV trends and forgetting why those walls were there in the first place.

Totally get where you’re coming from. Open concept looks great on paper, but yeah, the noise is real. I’ve seen folks use big bookcases or those folding screens to carve out a little privacy - less tempting for cats than curtains, maybe? Sometimes I miss doors too, honestly.

Bookcases are a lifesaver for that, honestly. In our old place (built in 1910), there were so many tiny rooms, and I never thought I’d miss them until we went open concept. Now, when the dishwasher’s running and someone’s watching TV, it’s like being in an airport terminal. I do love the light, though… just wish I could close a door sometimes, especially when the dog gets the zoomies.

It’s funny, people always dream about “open concept,” but they don’t tell you about the echo chamber effect.

Now, when the dishwasher’s running and someone’s watching TV, it’s like being in an airport terminal.

Now, when the dishwasher’s running and someone’s watching TV, it’s like being in an airport terminal.

That made me laugh - totally get the airport vibe. I actually ran into the same thing after opening up a wall between my kitchen and living room. At first, it felt so much bigger and brighter, but once the novelty wore off, I started noticing how every little noise just bounced around. I tried a big rug and some curtains, which helped a bit, but it still gets pretty lively when there’s more than one thing going on.

Curious if anyone’s tried those acoustic ceiling tiles or if that’s overkill for a home? I’ve seen them in offices but never in a house. Also, for folks who went back and added some sort of divider - did it actually make things cozier, or did it just feel like you were undoing all that work? Sometimes I wonder if we all just miss having a spot to hide out for five minutes...

Tried the acoustic tiles in my basement once (long story involving a drum set and a teenager) and honestly, they helped, but they’re not exactly pretty unless you go all-in on the “modern office chic” vibe. For open living spaces, I’ve had better luck with bookshelves as dividers - bonus points if you fill ‘em with actual books instead of just knick-knacks. Gives you a visual break and soaks up some sound, but doesn’t make it feel like you’re undoing all your hard demo work. Sometimes I do miss having a wall to lean against when I’m hiding from chores, though...

Bookshelves are a solid move - I've used those cube organizers as makeshift “walls” before, and they’re surprisingly sturdy if you want to lean for a chore-avoidance break. If you ever want a bit more privacy or sound dampening, I’ve had luck with hanging fabric panels or even big plants. Not as much sound control as tiles, but way less “office supply store.” Plus, watering a plant feels way less like work than dusting a bookshelf... most days.

I get the appeal of using bookshelves or plants as dividers - I've tried both in my old Victorian. Thing is, those cube shelves always seemed a bit too “temporary” for me, like I was still living out of boxes. Maybe it’s just the creaky floors and tall ceilings talking, but I ended up going back to actual folding screens. They’re not exactly modern, but they do the job without making the room feel cluttered or blocking all the light.

Plants are great until you forget to water them for a week (guilty), and then you end up with sad brown leaves everywhere. Plus, in these drafty old houses, half my plants just give up by February. Fabric panels look nice, but if you’ve got pets or kids running around, they don’t last long. Guess at the end of the day, I’m a fan of things that can take a little beating and still look alright - old habits die hard.

“Thing is, those cube shelves always seemed a bit too ‘temporary’ for me, like I was still living out of boxes.”

Totally get that vibe. Cube shelves just scream “college apartment” to me, even if you try to dress them up. I’ve had better luck with some old industrial shelving - heavy enough not to budge, and they actually look intentional in a big space. Folding screens are underrated though, especially if you find one with a cool pattern or texture. Drafty houses and plants... yeah, that’s a losing battle by February. Maybe something like sliding barn doors could work? They’re sturdy and you can open or close them as needed without blocking all the light.

Totally get that vibe.

Sliding barn doors are a solid idea, but I’d be careful about sound transfer - they don’t seal tightly, so noise can still travel pretty easily. If you’re looking for something that feels more permanent than cube shelves but less industrial than heavy shelving, have you considered partial-height walls or built-in bookcases? They can define zones without closing things off. Plus, if you use reclaimed wood or salvaged materials, it’s a lot more eco-friendly than buying new. Just a thought - sometimes the “temporary” look is more about the finish than the form.

Partial-height walls are a great call - I've used them in a couple of open-plan flips, and they really help define spaces without making things feel boxed in. Built-in bookcases do double duty for storage and division, but I’d say watch the depth so you don’t eat up too much floor space. One thing I’ve noticed: using glass panels or even open shelving up top can keep sightlines open and natural light flowing, which buyers seem to love. Reclaimed wood’s a nice touch, though sometimes it’s pricier than you’d expect depending on the source. Just my two cents from the resale angle.

using glass panels or even open shelving up top can keep sightlines open and natural light flowing, which buyers seem to love

That’s spot on - natural light makes a huge difference. I’ve run into situations where folks wanted to go all-in on open shelving, but then realized later they missed having a bit of privacy between zones (especially kitchen/living). Ever tried mixing in sliding panels or pocket doors for flexibility? Curious if that’s worked for anyone else trying to balance openness with the need to hide a little mess now and then.

Sliding panels are a lifesaver in my old house, honestly. I love the open feel, but sometimes you just want to hide the chaos (or the dishes piling up). Pocket doors work too, but they’re a pain to retrofit in thick plaster walls - ask me how I know... Glass panels look great but don’t do much for privacy if you’re trying to block noise or clutter. It’s always a trade-off, isn’t it?

Totally get what you mean about the trade-offs. I’ve tried sliding panels made from reclaimed wood, and they’re a good middle ground - block the view, soften sound a bit, and you can DIY them to fit weird old frames. Not perfect for total silence, but better than glass. Ever considered using heavy curtains instead? They’re surprisingly effective for both noise and hiding mess, plus easy to swap out if you want a change. Curious if anyone’s gone that route in an open-plan space?

I’ve actually worked with heavy curtains in a few open-plan projects, and I agree - they’re surprisingly effective for both sound and visual separation. The flexibility is a big plus, especially if you want to change up the look or just open things up for more light. One thing I’ve noticed, though, is that the type of fabric makes a huge difference. Velvet or thick wool blends tend to absorb sound better than lighter materials, but they can feel a bit heavy visually.

“Curious if anyone’s gone that route in an open-plan space?”

I’ve seen people layer sheer and blackout curtains together for more control, which works well if you want to soften the space without making it too dark. Have you found any issues with airflow or dust collecting behind the panels or curtains? Sometimes clients mention that as a downside, especially in older homes where ventilation isn’t great. Wondering if anyone’s tried combining curtains with something like acoustic panels for extra noise dampening...

I’ve gone the curtain route in my 1920s bungalow after opening up the main floor, and I’d echo a lot of what’s been said here. Heavy fabrics like velvet do wonders for sound, but visually they can feel a bit imposing, especially if your ceilings aren’t particularly high. I ended up using a double track - sheers for daytime, heavier drapes for evenings or when we want to dampen noise. It’s a decent compromise.

“Have you found any issues with airflow or dust collecting behind the panels or curtains?”

That’s definitely a thing, especially in older homes where air circulation isn’t always ideal. I’ve noticed dust does collect behind the curtains, particularly in corners where air doesn’t move much. I try to vacuum behind them every couple of weeks, but it’s not perfect. As for airflow, the heavier the curtain, the more it blocks, so in summer I sometimes pull them back just to keep things from getting stuffy.

I haven’t tried combining curtains with acoustic panels, but I imagine it could work well if you’re really struggling with echo. The panels might be less visually intrusive than super-thick drapes, too.