How to Open up Your Living Room Without Tearing down a Wall

Before the middle of the 20th century, most homes had a separate living room, dining room, and kitchen. Over the last several decades, open-concept homes have become more and more popular, with many homeowners choosing to tear down walls between rooms to achieve this boundary-free layout.

But what if you don’t want to tear down a wall? Maybe you want to preserve the original character of your Victorian-era home. Or maybe you’re dealing with a load bearing wall that would be expensive or difficult to remove. For whatever reason, you don’t want to lose that wall. Is it still possible to open up your living room and achieve that airy, free-flowing feel?

The answer is yes! Here are several ways to do it:

Create a Pass-Through

If what you really want is completely separate rooms, this idea may not be for you, but it can work for people who truly want an open concept but simply can’t or don’t want to make large-scale structural changes.

A pass-through is a strategically placed cut-out in a wall. It gives your home a more connected feel and lets you see and talk to people in the next room. If you have a wall separating your living room and your kitchen, for example, this could be a great place for a pass-through. Or, if your living room borders your dining room, a pass-through can allow you to turn your dining table into extra seating or a buffet table with a clear view of the living room TV.

Bring in Natural Light with Windows

Light is the easiest way to make your living room look and feel more spacious — especially natural light from outside. Here’s how to use daylight to your advantage:

Add windows
Increase the size of your existing windows
Choose adjustable window coverings
If you want curtains, choose something light and airy

You can supplement with artificial light too. Also keep in mind that darker colors absorb light while lighter colors reflect light. That means choosing lighter colors for your walls and ceiling will help open up your living room even more.

Depending on the layout of your home, you may even be able to add a sliding glass door between your living room and your back patio or side yard. Not only does this invite even more natural light to shine in, it also visually extends your living space into the great outdoors.

Would a Sunroom Work in Your Home?

A sunroom that’s attached to your living room can help make the space feel bigger, especially if you connect the two rooms with a big sliding glass door. If you have the right space and layout for a sunroom, you won’t just create the appearance of more space — you’ll actually get more space!

The big windows and skylights in most sunrooms really help to create a warm, open space that adds functionality and enjoyment to the way you use your home.

Create the Illusion of More Space with Wainscoting

Wainscoting is a type of wood paneling that covers only the lower part of a wall. This style may not be for everyone, but it blends beautifully with many of the Portland area’s older, historic homes.

Higher wainscoting can actually make your living room look smaller, especially if the ceilings are low, but shorter wainscoting in a light color can make the room feel grander and the ceilings seem higher.

Have a Focal Point

A focal point draws the eye to one spot, which helps prevent the room from feeling small and cramped. An accent wall, framed artwork, or even an interesting furniture piece can be a beautiful focal point in your living room.

Just remember that it will catch the attention of everyone who enters your living room (including you) so make sure it’s something you love!

Want more help opening up your living room? We can help!

The living room ideas in this post will work well for most homes, but your particular home’s living room is brimming with its own unique potential that a great designer can uncover. Since 1992, the designers and remodelers at Square Deal Remodeling have been helping homeowners in Portland and Vancouver find beautiful and creative design solutions for home layouts of all shapes and sizes. We would love to talk to you about your options for opening up your living room — with or without tearing down walls.