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A report by Ideal Home highlights Miranda Hart’s open-plan living room as an example of zoning with furniture rather than partitions. Interior designer Blanca Sanchez says a low-backed sectional defines the seating area while keeping sightlines open, and the same pale timber flooring connects it to an adjacent exercise area.
Miranda Hart’s open-plan living room has been cited by Ideal Home as an example of how furniture can define separate uses in a shared space without enclosing it with walls. Interior designer Blanca Sanchez says Hart’s low-backed sectional marks out the seating area while preserving views across the room, with continuous pale timber flooring helping connect it to what appears to be an exercise area.
The report describes Hart’s room as having different levels and distinct areas, with the sofa doing much of the work of separating the living space from the area beyond it. Sanchez, director of Halo Design Interiors, said the arrangement makes it apparent where the seating zone begins and ends, but the sofa does not block the view because it sits low.
Sanchez said the area beyond the sofa appears to be used for exercise, based on equipment and artwork visible in a video featuring Hart and her dog, Patti. The report identifies a possible yoga mat, but does not confirm exactly how that part of the room is used. Its pale timber flooring continues through both areas, offering a visual link rather than a hard boundary.
The article presents the layout as an example of zoning through furniture placement, not as a formally documented design project. It notes that rugs can also define a seating area, but Sanchez’s assessment is that Hart’s room does not need extra objects to make its zones legible. The report says the sofa is complemented by soft lighting and furnishings suited to the seating area.
How the Sofa Defines Each Zone
For people living with an open-plan room, the example addresses a practical design problem: a space without walls can be difficult to arrange so that its uses feel clear rather than cluttered. A sofa can act as a boundary while still allowing light and sightlines to pass through, making it a lower-impact alternative to a divider or partition.
The continuous flooring also illustrates how separate activities can remain part of one coherent room. Sanchez’s comments suggest that zoning does not require every area to have a different floor covering or a collection of decorative markers. Instead, furniture, lighting and the layout of walking routes can distinguish uses while retaining a connected appearance. These are design observations, not a claim that one arrangement will suit every home.
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A Layout-Based Approach to Open Plan
Open-plan rooms combine functions such as sitting, eating, cooking or exercising in one larger area. The Ideal Home report says that this flexibility can make furniture placement challenging, particularly when residents are trying to decide where belongings and activities should go. Zoning is one way to give those uses clearer places without putting up walls.
Sanchez advises starting with the room’s largest piece, usually the sofa, and using its position to establish a boundary. She also recommends planning the main walking route before adding smaller pieces, such as side tables or chairs. The report includes a separate suggestion from Lizzie Mosley, creative director at Hug Rug, who says rugs can anchor furniture and add comfort and visual interest. The Hart example, however, relies chiefly on layout and a consistent floor surface.
“The room has clear separate functions and doesn’t look too divided up, so this is definitely a good example of zoning.”
— Blanca Sanchez, director of Halo Design Interiors, as quoted by Ideal Home
What the Room Image Does Not Confirm
The supplied report does not give a date for the video or establish when Hart’s room was arranged. It also does not provide measurements, a floor plan or details about the home, so readers cannot tell how closely the layout would translate to a different space. The apparent exercise area is an interpretation by Sanchez based on visible equipment and artwork; its precise purpose is not confirmed.
The article is a design assessment rather than a statement from Hart about her decorating choices. It does not say whether she intentionally planned the sofa placement as a zoning technique or whether the arrangement developed through everyday use. The report also does not establish that this layout is the only or best solution for open-plan rooms; its advice is presented as one practical example.
Applying the Layout at Home
The report does not announce a forthcoming project or change to Hart’s home. For readers considering a similar arrangement, Sanchez’s suggested next steps are to identify the largest piece of furniture, use it to set the edge of one area, and map the main route through the room before placing smaller items. Lighting can then be adjusted for each use, with softer lamps in a seating area and brighter task lighting where work, cooking or exercise takes place.
Rugs remain an option for people who want a more visible boundary or added comfort, as Mosley’s comments indicate. The central test in Sanchez’s advice is whether each zone feels distinct in use while remaining connected to the rest of the room. Whether Hart’s exact arrangement works elsewhere will depend on the room’s dimensions, furniture and daily needs.
Key Questions
How does Miranda Hart’s living room create separate zones?
According to Ideal Home, a low-backed sectional sofa marks the edge of the seating area, while continuous pale timber flooring connects it to the adjacent space.
Does Hart’s layout use a wall or room divider?
The report describes the zones as defined by furniture placement rather than a wall. It does not report a separate partition between the areas.
What is the area beyond the sofa used for?
Designer Blanca Sanchez said it looks like an exercise area, pointing to equipment and artwork. The report does not confirm its exact use.
Can a rug be used to zone an open-plan room?
Yes. Hug Rug creative director Lizzie Mosley says a large rug can anchor furniture and help define a living area. Hart’s reported layout, however, is presented as an example of zoning mainly through furniture placement.
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