When you think about interior design you tend to think about the rooms themselves, the living room, the kitchen, the bedroom, the bathroom. You’re looking at the furniture, the finishes, the colors, the detail in the room and so on, trying to create beautiful individual rooms.
There’s another aspect of the home that certainly deserves just as much attention as the rooms themselves: the spaces between the rooms.
Hallways, doorways, entrance areas and the various passageways between rooms all have a massive impact on how people move through a building and how they experience the interior. They dictate what you see when you enter a room, how easily one area flows into another and whether the overall plan feels coherent or rather disjointed.
A house can have beautifully designed rooms and yet still feel uncomfortable if the way the rooms flow into each other is poor. A narrow corridor, a badly placed door or a jarring change in floor can all break up the flow of a room.
Thoughtful transition design brings the separate spaces together to create a home that is coherent, practical and considered.
1. Understanding the role of transitional spaces
Transitional spaces are the spaces that link the various areas of the house. These would be the entrance hall, corridor, doorways, stair landings and the passages between the open plan living areas.
Although they may not always be places you go to, these spaces are absolutely vital in the organization of the home.
The journey from the entrance to the living room: the entrance is the first impression, the corridor is the way you move through the property and the living room is the principal social area.
When they’re designed as a sequence rather than as discrete elements the experience is much more natural.
Transitional spaces can also be used to define the boundaries between different areas of the house. A short corridor leading to the bedrooms creates a clear separation from the rest of the house, whereas a large opening between the kitchen and the dining room will obviously create a much more integrated space for the day to day activities.
The aim isn’t necessarily to make every transition obvious. In some cases a seamless transition is the right thing to do. In other cases a more pronounced change is the way to go in order to communicate the nature of the space.
The correct solution will of course vary depending on the layout, the degree of privacy you require and how you actually use your home.
2. Designing hallways that feel like they’re part of the home
Hallways are frequently just seen as the areas that connect the various rooms and as such can be very much overlooked during the design process.
However a well designed hallway can go a long way to improve both the look and the usability of a property.
The first thing to consider is movement. People should be able to walk about freely without having to go around furniture, decorative objects or doors which would otherwise impede the way.
The wall space that’s available can then be used in a considered way. Artwork, a well chosen wall finish, some built-in storage or a small architectural feature can all give the corridor a real identity.
Lighting is equally important. A long corridor with poor lighting can feel quite uninviting whereas a well lit corridor can feel quite open and connected to the rooms around it.
Where there is natural light available the design should make use of it without creating excessive glare. In the darker areas a combination of general lighting and some well placed accent lighting can go a long way to creating depth.
Not every corridor needs a console table, a decorative chair or a host of other bits and pieces. In a very narrow corridor it may well be better to keep the floor clear and allow the architecture to show.
A corridor should be purposeful in its appearance, but it should never at any point sacrifice its fundamental purpose.
3. Doorways: small architectural details with a big impact
Doorways have an effect on how rooms are visually and physically linked. The position, size and form of the door will impact furniture layout, circulation, privacy and the character of the room.
A doorway situated too near a large piece of furniture can have a detrimental effect on the range of possible layouts. A door opening into a narrow corridor will obviously impact on the flow of movement and will be particularly problematic if you have a number of doors in the vicinity.
During the planning phase it is vital to consider the full movement of each door; its swing, its handle and its relationship to the adjacent furniture.
Where the right circumstances apply sliding or pocket doors can be a very flexible solution, particularly in smaller spaces. They do of course require the wall to be of the right sort and proper planning to get them to work.
The presence of doorways also matters.
Flush doors give you a clean uninterrupted wall surface, framed doors can have a more traditional feel. Wider openings can be used to link up the spaces, narrower or more enclosed openings can create a greater sense of separation.
Consistency is of course useful, but every door doesn’t have to be the same. It should be appropriate to the function of the room and to the architecture of the building as a whole.
4. Creating continuity through flooring and materials
Flooring is one of the most effective ways of linking together different areas of the house.
Using the same floor material in adjacent areas can create a sense of continuity (this is particularly effective in open plan apartments where the living, dining and kitchen all flow into each other visually).
A continuous surface will of course give the overall layout a more cohesive feel as the eye isn’t interrupted by a change of material or pattern.
However using one material throughout is not necessarily the best option. The requirements of different rooms will vary in terms of function, in terms of maintenance and in terms of exposure to moisture.
In those instances the transition between materials needs to be thought through very carefully.
The colors, textures, patterns and the way the flooring is installed should all work together. A sudden change in the direction of the floor or poorly defined edges can give the impression that the join is accidental rather than a deliberate one.
The same applies to walls and ceilings. You can create a sense of visual linkage between rooms by repeating a finish, a trim detail or a material in certain locations rather than having every room be completely identical.
The aim is to create a consistent design language, whilst at the same time allowing each space to have its own character.
5. Using light to connect separate spaces
Lighting can be used to guide people through a house and to create a sense of relationship between adjacent rooms.
For instance a softly lit corridor leading into a brighter living room can be a very effective visual destination. The reverse (a dark corridor joining two well lit rooms) can feel rather alienating and uncomfortable.
The solution is not to provide every area with the same level of lighting. Different areas have different functions and will require different lighting.
An entrance may require fairly direct and practical lighting, whereas a corridor can be lit in a more subtle way to highlight its length or the architecture of the space.
In an open plan, lighting can also be used to define the various functional areas without the introduction of any physical barriers. A pendant above a dining table is a good example of this, defining the dining area whilst still maintaining a visual link with the living area.
When you’re choosing lighting think about how the lighting fixtures relate to the doorways, the ceiling heights and the sight lines. A very prominent fixture right in the middle of a narrow circulation path can be quite intrusive. A more subtle recessed or wall mounted light is likely to be preferable in that situation as it will actually help to maintain the sense of space.
Light should serve to guide the way people move through the property rather than create a competing series of focal points at every corner.
6. Striking a balance between openness and privacy
Open plans are frequently preferred in modern house design since they promote interaction and enable natural light to pass from one area to another.
However, a completely open setup does not work for every activity.
Rooms such as bedrooms, bathrooms, work areas, and other private spaces might need more separation from the common areas. The passage from one of these areas to another should indicate a change in function without causing the entire arrangement to seem fragmented.
A way of doing this is to include intermediate spaces, for example a short corridor or an entrance area, between the private rooms and the main living area.
A different possibility is to make use of sliding partitions, glazed doors, or furniture placed with care in order to establish a visual separation without losing any sense of openness.
It will depend on how much privacy is needed, on the amount of floor space available, and on the importance attached to sound control.
For instance, a transparent partition can allow daylight to pass through without, however, offering the same level of acoustic privacy as a well-built solid wall and door.
A good design of transitions understands that visual openness, physical access, and sound privacy are related yet distinct factors.
7. How to make small houses seem more connected
In small houses it is necessary to take special care when planning transitional areas since each square meter affects the overall functionality of the property.
Corridors that are too long and unnecessarily walled in can decrease the amount of space available for other purposes; on the other hand, getting rid of all the partitions between rooms may lead to privacy issues and make it harder to place the furniture.
The best approach is to think about incorporating circulation into the layout.
For instance, the entrance area can be directly linked to the living area and at the same time offer a proper spot for shoes, coats, and other everyday items. A storage unit placed with care can define the entrance without forming a full-height barrier.
Similar flooring, matching wall treatments, and unobstructed views can also contribute to adjacent areas seeming more linked.
It is useful to have mirrors in some places, but their position must be carefully considered in order to prevent unwanted reflections or visual confusion.
In small rooms it is usually better to go for simplicity rather than decorating every corridor. To make the arrangement seem more comfortable it is helpful to keep the pathways clear and to allow natural light to pass through where you can.
The aim goes beyond just making a house appear larger; it is to get the space that is available to work more efficiently.
8. Integrating Different Design Styles Around the Home
A house can have many rooms each with a different purpose and character, but the way in which the rooms connect should still be thoughtful.
For instance, a modern-day living room could be linked to a bedroom that has a more traditional and conventional style. It is not necessary for the two styles to be identical, as long as there is a clear connection between them.
Materials that are used in common, finishes that are similar, shapes that repeat, or a consistent method of detailing can all contribute to establishing that link.
The change could also be gradual; for example, a certain type of wood finish might be used on the cabinetry in the living room and then carried on into a detail in the hallway before showing up again in the bedroom.
It doesn’t mean that the same feature should be used in all areas, since too much repetition can make the interior seem predictable.
Rather, select a number of features which ensure continuity and enable the other details to correspond with the specific purpose of each room.
A home will not be coherent if all of its rooms have the same appearance; instead, it is coherent when the rooms seem to fit within a single, unified design.
9. Common Mistakes to Avoid in Transition Design
Attractive interior designs can also be the result of bad connections between the different rooms. There are a number of errors which are especially important to avoid.
If the flow of people is not taken into account, then a splendid hallway will fail because people will not be able to move through it comfortably or because furniture will block the way.
Making changes to the materials without having a clear reason; too many sudden changes to the flooring or wall finishes can make the home appear visually fragmented.
Putting too much decoration in narrow corridors. Having an excessive amount of furniture and accessories can decrease the amount of usable space and result in unnecessary obstacles.
Looking at the movement of doors, since doors that hit furniture or obstruct important routes can cause daily inconvenience.
The use of uneven lighting can cause areas that are adjacent to each other to appear disconnected, especially if the transition between them is not well illuminated.
Setting up openness without taking privacy into account. Although removing the boundaries between rooms can improve the visual flow, it might also expose private areas or lead to more noise.
Considering the transitions afterwards. The edges of the flooring, the trim details, the thresholds, and the finishes at the doorways should be coordinated with the overall design and not be dealt with until the final stage.
If you deal with these problems at an early stage then both the practical performance and the visual quality of the final home can be improved.
A practical checklist for improving interior transitions
When you are deciding on an interior design, you should carefully examine the arrangements between the rooms just as you do the rooms themselves.
Is it possible for people to move comfortably from one main area of the home to another?
Must doors be opened in such a way that they do not block furniture or the paths of circulation?
Is the flooring and the wall finish coordinated in the rooms which are next to each other?
Does lighting help to ensure safe and comfortable movement?
Are private areas far enough from shared spaces?
Does the fact that the transitions take place keep the beneficial natural light and the important views?
Should decorative features be suitable for the space available?
Can the design deal with ordinary activities, cleaning, and maintenance?
It would also be useful to look at the floor plan from the point of view of a person who is visiting the house for the first time. Think about what they notice right away, the path they will naturally take, and whether the way to the principal rooms is easy to understand.
This simple exercise is capable of showing faults which might not be apparent when each room is looked at on its own.
Conclusion
The spaces between the rooms are an important element in achieving a successful interior design; hallways, doorways, thresholds, and the areas that connect the rooms all have an effect on movement, privacy, natural light, and the way in which the various parts of the house are related.
If the various elements are carefully planned, the whole property has a more unified appearance; the rooms are easier to move around in, the materials seem more linked, and the architectural features of the house can be enjoyed as part of the overall design.
The most effective transitions don’t always draw attention to themselves, for their success usually comes from the way everything fits together smoothly.
A well-designed house is not just a set of attractive rooms; it is a series of interconnected spaces which make daily life more comfortable and pleasant.