In many of today’s homes, the floor plans are open, with one room flowing into another. Walk into the front door, and you might catch a glimpse of the living room, kitchen and dining room. With such a vantage point, many homeowners look to create flow from one room to another. If you are among them, here are some tips.

Paint

Paint is one of the most inexpensive ways to create flow. And no, you do not have to paint every room the same color. For interest, select a palette of complementary colors and pull from it for the various rooms. Use a deep brown in your living room and a lighter brown in your dining room with teal accents throughout. Paint the walls of your light-filled kitchen teal and add touches of brown throughout. Creating flow is all about selecting two to four complementary colors and using them in different ways from room to room.

Pattern

Pattern is another way to connect the rooms together. As with paint, you do not have to use the same patterns throughout the rooms. There should be some similarities among them, however, in particular in color and scale. If you use stripes in your living room, make sure you carry the pattern into the other rooms, even if it’s just in a valance or a throw pillow here and there.

Finishes

It’s all in the details, and to maintain flow, the finishes from room to room should be from similar color families. Bronzed and black fixtures and handles will complement each other well, whereas chrome and brass will not. The chrome handles on your kitchen cabinets will clash with the brass sconces, chandeliers and fixtures everywhere else. When possible, try to stick to the same basic finish.

Moldings

Moldings create a line from room to room. Imagine what happens to that line when the baseboards, casings, etc. are of differing sizes and colors. To keep the flow moving from room to room, make sure your baseboards, window casings, chair rails and crown molding are of the same size and color where possible. This is especially important with the baseboards. If you can’t afford to replace the moldings, rework them with some paint or stain to match.

Decor

Finally, there is decor. Nothing disrupts flow more than a western theme in one room and a nautical theme in another. Choose one basic style of decor or complementing styles for the rooms you want to create flow in. If your living room feels rather homey, don’t break it up with a mod kitchen. Keep your cleaned-lined cabinetry and stainless steel appliances, but add homey touches here and there to carry the theme through.

Keep in mind that it takes time to create flow in your home. Don’t expect it to happen overnight unless you have a brand-new home and the budget to shop for all-new things. Work on it one step at a time, and don’t be afraid to mix things up here and there for interest.