How to Break Up a Long Dining and Family Room

Add a buffet bar in between the dining and family areas. This creates an extra surface for placing food and drink in the dining area, while offering a distinct barrier between the two spaces without blocking out light or losing the spacious effect.

Place a decorative screen in between the two areas. An open shelf divider offers a functional space to store books and decorative accessories,while translucent screens allow light to travel through, and Asian-style screens are great for a minimal Zen effect or rich Moroccan-style decor.

Fit ready-made pillars or columns to the wall on either side of the divide between the two spaces. These make an attractive statement without eating into the width of the room or creating a distinct barrier.

Place furniture, such as a long or L-shaped sofa, across the room, creating a low and functional divide. If the room is wide as well as long, place two sofas on either side of the room or combine a sofa on one side and an open shelf divider on the other.

Wallpaper the dining area and paint the family area. This works especially well if you place columns on the side walls to mark the switch in wall coverings. Choose a wallpaper that is a similar color to the paint on the family room side or take a sample of the wallpaper to a paint supplier and ask them to match the color of the wallpaper. Choose a wallpaper with a pattern so that you see the distinction.

Attach curtain poles to the ceiling. Hang a sheer fabric such as tulle, gossamer or shimmera from the curtain poles and use ribbon to tie back the curtains, so they create a soft and gentle room divider.

Display a collection of wall art in both areas, using different frames and a different style of art in each space. For example, in the family room display personal photographs in stylish, modern frames. In the dining area, hang paintings or prints in vintage frames.