I'll admit, I'm a bit of a design traditionalist. Though I enjoy curved shapes and shiny surfaces, I've always preferred the cocooning convention of a closed-plan layout to more modern setups. Shakira's Barcelona living room has changed my mind.
I spotted her open-plan living room idea in an Instagram reel showing off her gymnastics moves. The video shows that Shakira has lined her white, L-shaped sofa against the corner of her living room. She has placed a white coffee table at the arm, and a console table housing the television across from the couch. This setup leaves the center of her room empty, defined by a small white rug.
The space is undeniably modern, but for me, the cohesion between the furnishings and the living room layout makes it more attractive than any other open-plan layout I've ever seen. Rather than fighting with the furnishings, Shakira's layout flows with them.
Shop the white living room edit
This stunning chair is upholstered in a light, neutral fabric and features a low back and flared arms, creating a perfect silhouette for small living rooms. Pairing two is the perfect way to break up the space in an open-plan living room.
I keep these easy burn ivory taper candles on repeat order from Amazon. They look so elegant on a table and the smoke-free, odor-free design is perfect for entertaining.
Create a calming and sophisticated bedroom decor scheme with this textured cream pillow, complete with fringed edging for added interest. The interesting feel is the ideal addition to a monochromatic scheme, bringing instant visual appeal.
So, what makes Shakira's design so appealing to me, when the look has always been, in my opinion, a living room layout to avoid? First, I really love how it works with her monochromatic color scheme. Because everything in the room from the sofa to the coffee table to the console table to the rug is white, an open plan layout makes these details blend together, causing the room to feel more expansive. It's the perfect choice for giving dimension to a small living room.
Second, I really enjoy the combination of an open plan design with a wall-length window. Though it's dark at the time of Shakira's filming, the skyline of the city of Barcelona stands out in the background. One can imagine that it's even more striking during the day. This is the kind of view you don't want to miss, and an open plan layout helps to emphasize it as a key feature of the room.
Though I can't say I'll be completely changing my home into an open plan layout, Shakira's home has inspired me to rethink the form. It's a beautiful imaginging of what unstructured spaces can be.
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