Tomás Elías González Benítez on Designing Privacy Without Completely Closing a Space
Privacy in interior design does not always require a solid wall, and Tomás Elías González Benítez approaches separation as a question of degree rather than a simple choice between open and closed spaces.
In many homes, offices and hospitality environments, users need moments of retreat without losing natural light, visual continuity or efficient circulation. The challenge is to create boundaries that feel intentional without making the plan fragmented or restrictive.
That balance depends on understanding what kind of privacy is actually needed. A work area may require visual separation but not complete acoustic isolation.
A bedroom transition may benefit from a stronger sense of enclosure, while a shared living space may only need subtle cues that distinguish one activity from another. Good spatial planning begins by defining who needs privacy, from whom and at what moments.
Tomás Elías González Benítez and the value of partial separation
Partial partitions offer one of the clearest ways to divide a room without closing it completely. Screens, open shelving, slatted panels or low storage units can establish boundaries while allowing light and views to move through the interior.
Furniture orientation can achieve a similar effect. Turning a sofa, desk or dining table can visually define a zone without adding construction. This approach is particularly useful in open-plan interiors where activities need identity but should remain connected.
The most effective solution depends on the intensity of separation required. A decorative screen may be enough for visual privacy, while a more substantial divider can create a stronger sense of retreat.
Privacy can also be created through spatial cues
Physical barriers are only one tool. Changes in ceiling height, flooring, lighting or level can signal that one area serves a different purpose.
A slightly raised platform, softer lighting or a change in material can make a zone feel more private even when it remains visually connected to the rest of the room.
Storage also plays an important role. Carefully positioned cabinets or shelving can protect views into specific areas while adding practical value rather than functioning only as dividers.
Designing different degrees of exposure and retreat
Privacy should respond to activity. Reading, working, resting, dining and socializing each require a different relationship between connection and separation.
In a flexible interior, those needs may also change throughout the day. A workspace can remain visually open when unused and become more protected during meetings or focused tasks. Movable screens, curtains or adaptable furniture can support that shift without permanently altering the layout.
For Tomás Elías González Benítez, the goal is not to isolate every function but to create appropriate levels of exposure. A successful interior allows people to feel connected when they want interaction and protected when they need concentration or rest.
The strongest privacy strategies therefore work with the space rather than against it. By combining partial partitions, orientation, lighting, storage and material changes, designers can create boundaries that preserve openness while still giving each activity the degree of separation it needs.
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