Choosing a city to live in is just as important as choosing the property itself. Imagine a peaceful life in a thriving, yet not overly crowded city, one of the safest in California, still part of Silicon Valley. With a strong sense of community, numerous parks and well-regarded public schools. Yes, it’s Mountain View that I am talking about.

Living here offers a unique blend of comfort, safety, and convenience, especially for families. Therefore, it is not surprising that the demand and supply of properties for sale here are at their peak.

The last two gorgeous houses that I worked on are located in this charming part of California. Here’s what I did to elevate their fullest potential.

What is zoning?

A home is more than just a place to live. Whether it's big or small, old or renovated, expensive or cheap, home should always be your happy place.

How to make it as comfortable as possible? It's simple. Make your home fit your needs - whether they are your own or those of potential buyers, the home should meet the requirements for practicality, functionality and coziness.

With the right interior you can get the whole package regardless of the size and cost of the property. And here we go getting to our topic – interior zoning.

What is zoning and how does it make your home appealing?

Good interior design always starts with proper zoning. If the layout of the space is inadequate and doesn't offer coziness and comfort to the inhabitants, the property automatically becomes unattractive to buyers and a true waste of time for the designers and architects who created it.

Proper distribution of living space is the key to creating a comfortable and aesthetically pleasing home. Interior zoning can ensure optimal use of the area and an excellent balance between functionality and coziness. Because a well-organized space always looks tidy and appealing.

How to zone a space?

There are numerous ways to create “rooms” within rooms. With distinct lightning, furniture or flooring you can visually separate a large space into smaller, functionally distinct areas that serve different purposes. This is especially important when we are talking about a big open space areas.

To prevent the interior of such a space from looking like a random arrangement of furniture, everything must be thoughtfully planned in advance, and every corner should have its own clear and visible purpose.

- Rugs

Rugs are definitely an effective tool for defining spaces within an open layout. You can see this in the pictures below. I have used this technique to distinguish dining area and living space.

Different rugs under the seating area and the dining table definitely help create a visual distinction between the two zones. Additionally, the rugs enhance the coziness of the home by adding a sense of warmth and a charming welcoming vibe. Here is a visual example of how we can have a separate dining area and relaxation area with soft furniture in a not very large space. And without having to use walls, which, due to the area, would not be a good idea anyway.

- Colors and lights

Another way to make the zoning visible is to switch colors and add some distinctive lighting. That’s exactly the approach I chose for the other house:

You can see how the spectacular 6-light chandelier serves as an accent, setting the dining area apart. In addition, you must have noticed the change in the color scheme - from light furniture in the sitting area with the sofa to elegant dark wood in the dining room.

And here is another example of changing colors as a method of interior zoning – take a look at both of the kitchens. For the first one I have achieved an instant visual distinction using the contrast of the light wood and the dark flooring. And for the second – some blue can simply work wonders.

- Furniture

Of course, apart from details like rugs, decorations or lighting, furniture is the main way to personalize a space. Furniture defines the place and is the first to suggest what its purpose is. And that's why it has the unique ability to create small and clearly separated spaces in one and the same room.

You can successfully get a small and charming coffee corner for two right there in front of the bed in the bedroom. Or separate a comfortable relaxation corner in your home office space. It takes only a sofa, some pillows and a pair of paintings above to turn this small area into the perfect place for a short nap.

Regardless of how you decide to achieve it, zoning makes your home more comfortable, attractive and cozy to live in. With these techniques that I have shown you today, you can separate different spaces for the needs of the whole family without having to extend the property. It's not all about the area. The key to a practical and welcoming living space is in the correct distribution and zoning.