Should I Connect My Living, Dining & Kitchen Areas – Open Floor Plan vs Closed

We are all aware of how covid-19 pandemic has forced us to stay at home and significantly transformed our way of living. And no doubt it’s also influenced the home design and build industry. For many years, open floor plans (in which numerous rooms merge into one) were trendy and in high demand. Homes built in the mid-1990s often have separate dining, kitchen and living rooms.

Nowadays, most homes have an open floor plan in which the kitchen, dining and living area are all connected into one large space. One of the benefits of a combined living, dining, and kitchen is that it creates more open visual space and smoother movement in the home. On the other hand, a closed floor plan, also known as a conventional floor plan, has smaller-sized areas dedicated to cooking, dining, relaxing, or working. The closed floor plan has undergone a slight comeback due to the many benefits of privacy and efficiency, among many other things.

It all comes down to individual preferences and desires when it comes to open vs. closed floor plans. Do you require an open space where the kitchen, living room, & dining room are all connected or merged? Or do you want slightly more distance between the three? This blog will help you determine which floor plan is most suitable to you and your family’s lifestyle, as well as if you would connect your living, dining, and kitchen areas!

Open Floor Plan

In an open floor concept home, there are no barriers between the home’s three most important spaces: kitchen, dining, and living room. Walls are not in the way, allowing for a more open style. We create additional living space by minimizing hallways and doors in open concept floor plans. Today, open plan living is a popular choice of American homeowners, and for a good reason! This way of life promotes a flexible way of life, giving your house a more general sense and allowing free movement of light and air.

An open-plan home is excellent for your lifestyle if you enjoy hosting parties at your home. Your guests may congregate in the kitchen while you prepare supper, and they can freely mix in the adjoined rooms. This planning approach also features a minimalistic interior concept and modern furnishings.

Closed Floor Plan

This conventional floor plan may still be seen in many older, unrenovated homes. As you may expect, it means that many rooms are divided by walls and have doors to separate every area further. It’s almost as if every room in the house, including kitchens, living rooms, and play areas, has its own allocated place. A classic closed floor plan home is ideal for individuals who appreciate room separation and like to keep living and dining areas separate from the rest of the house.

Changing Preferences of Homeowners

There are some new benefits to living in a closed concept home, which is growing more popular. As previously stated, the most fundamental reason driving this development is an increase in the number of individuals working remotely. It is beneficial for people who work from home to have their own dedicated home office. Furthermore, closed floor plans:

Make it simpler to arrange (or hide clutter).
We can save energy since rooms that aren’t utilized may be left alone, while the warm or cold air you’re searching for remains in the home’s popular areas. Lowering utilities is a result of increased efficiency.
Give you more control over the noise. If you have children, you know how well travels sound; they will inevitably appear much louder in an open concept house.
They are more attractive since each area may have its own theme/feeling. In an open concept floor layout, it’s also more challenging to display bookcases or portraits.

Some Drawbacks of Having a Closed Floor Layout

You lose broad knowledge of what’s going on in the home when you have the privacy of a closed floor concept.
If you have kids who like to run around, a closed design may limit your ability to keep an eye on them.
With closed floor plan, you’ll also get a lot less natural light.

Finally, while this specific floor plan is experiencing a modest rebound, the resale value may not be as high.

Preferences For Connected Living, Dining and Kitchen

A closed concept home has both benefits and drawbacks, as we just have shared above. However, things are a little different when it comes to the kitchen, dining, and living spaces. These are the places where family and friends sit together. Whether it’s a celebration with a home full of guests or simply a regular meal with the family, here is where we catch up and exchange anecdotes about our days.

The open floor concept creates a sense of spaciousness. Because there are no walls, doors, or other structures to divide rooms, barriers are gone.
In essence, an open floor plan may make the interior of a home appear larger than it is.
Another advantage of open floor plan living is its flexibility to the area. You are not committing to a long-term layout.
Aside from the kitchen, where appliances have been placed, you may make the area whatever you want anytime you want.

These modifications may even be temporary. Assume you’re having Thanksgiving or another large gathering and require the living room to double as a dining space. Or you may need to improve traffic flow. When it comes to home renovation with an open floor plan, the choices are unlimited.

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The lighting will usually lean on the bright side in an open floor plan, and homeowners choose large bay window frames to bring natural light inside. It’s no surprise that sunlight influences our moods and our mental wellbeing. When there is no wall between the living, dining, and kitchen, light fixtures from the kitchen can gently peel back the gloom.

Benefits To Keep The Living, Dining, And Kitchen Connected

More room to live. Walls aren’t present in an open concept design to break up your house’s flow and foot circulation.
People who use mobility assistance will benefit from an open concept floor layout. Otherwise, navigating hallways and entrances can be problematic.
When you’re in the same room as the kids, it’s easy to keep an eye on them at all times. It means you can cook dinner while keeping an eye on the kids as they watch TV.

You’ll notice a lot of natural light. Because there are no walls to divide the room, the light may diffuse, producing a warmer, brighter environment.

Some Drawbacks of Connected Living, Dining & Kitchen Areas

Smells may spread much more efficiently throughout the home; this is ideal while preparing a cake, but it is not always the case.
It might be tough to converse in the kitchen when the TV is only a few meters away.
Larger rooms might seem draftier, and regulating the temperature is more complicated.

Consider Your Budget

Creating a new home is simple to create an open area integrating the living room, dining room, and kitchen. However, remodeling a closed concept home to eliminate walls and open up the area may be time-consuming and expensive. It is anticipated that structural repairs will be required. You should engage with a qualified home renovation contractor who can assess what can be removed, what may need to be rebuilt, and if new support beams are required. Aside from costs, you’ll want to discuss the length of the renovation and whether or not you’ll be able to access the space, particularly your kitchen, during the renovation.

Wrap-up

When it comes to deciding between open floor space and closed floor plans, it is a matter of personal preference, requirement or desire. However, some factors must be considered while selecting any of the two: open floor plan or closed floor plan.

Open floor layouts are ideal for homes with small floor space. Undoubtedly, it enhances the home’s visual appearance as spacious and light. Open floor plans are suitable for singles and small families. However, people living in joint households with children require their own space, and a closed floor area design provides an orderly private space. So the decision to link your living, dining, or kitchen spaces is entirely up to you.

So, if you have decided to connect your living, dining, and kitchen spaces, strive to give each place equal prominence and clear definition without overpowering the other. Maintain the visual connection between places while not sacrificing interior design or functionality. Remember that well-placed artwork and innovative lighting may bring the proper amount of warmth and texture to your space. If you’re thinking about your new open concept area with the living room, dining room, and kitchen all connected, contact homednb for professional help!