Zoning is one of the most important elements of interior design. Zoning is the separation of a space, or a whole house, into distinct areas for different activities that can be performed without one type of activity encroaching on another. Think of how much better it would feel to relax in your living room without having a large dining table in the middle of it, or how hard it would be to work from home with your bed right behind your desk. This method uses the lessons learned from the way we move through our spaces, the way we interact with different parts of the house or a single room. Proper zoning can help turn a room with a confusing layout into a well-designed space. I found that it’s always best to try zoning in a space while actually using it, rather than basing decisions solely on a 2D floor plan.
Ultimately, zoning is not just about building walls and demarcations. It can also be about using light, different shades of colours, and furniture to demarcate zones and differentiate functions within a single space without using walls. For example, in a studio apartment, a rug can demarcate a seating area while a lowered ceiling can demarcate a kitchen area. Not only does this save space in smaller homes, it also makes larger homes feel more human in scale. This is, of course, on the condition that the demarcations do not impede circulation or that they are easily adaptable to different lifestyles. If done right, zoning is a means of customisation, one that is suited to an individual’s way of life.
My third point on zoning, which is less commonly talked about, is that it should incorporate flexible spaces. For example, a room might serve as a home office during the day, and as a guest bedroom at night. It should be furnished with a wall bed and a desk with a retractable wall screen, so that the room’s function changes without permanent conversions. A well-designed zoning plan will prevent a room from becoming too cluttered, or too empty, as the user’s needs evolve. For urban residents, in particular, it’s essential to consider how multiple functions can overlap harmoniously, given the constrained amount of space available. The beauty of zoning lies in this flexibility.
The power of good zoning should not be underestimated as it affects how you feel, work, and interact with your household. Good zoning protects the sanctity of your personal spaces (say a peaceful reading room) from other areas (a rambunctious playroom) and makes the home feel much less stressful and more restful. Bad zoning is infuriating: when you can’t get any work done because the TV is blaring in the next room. Creating good zoning involves thinking about acoustics and line of sight, for example, and other considerations that allow different spaces to coexist peacefully. This perspective on interior planning makes zoning an art, not just a series of invisible demarcations.
The last point to make in our mini crash course is that studying the fundamentals of space zoning enables the creation of practical and people-oriented interiors. The study of the basics allows beginners to take micro steps that help them to add value to their existing living conditions, which will consequently lead to an improvement in quality of life and enhanced sense of wellbeing. Through this exercise the concept of zoning goes from basic to bespoke and from theory to a reflection of personal design style. Whether working on an existing space or a new build, zoning is the starting point for anything that comes after. With zoning you lay the foundations for a well-designed space.
