We've all watched home renovation shows where they bust down walls and open up rooms to transform the home into an open concept living space. All of a sudden open concept was the thing to do, even though the shift to open concept floor plans began happening in the late 1990s
Open floor plans are so popular because, as a society, we lack the formality of needing separate entertaining spaces from the utility space of the kitchen. The kitchen is the heart of the home, and as such, most people want site lines into other rooms instead of being separated from their guests.
As with most things in design, what was out a few years or decades ago eventually becomes popular again. We are seeing this happen to some degree with closing spaces back up and adding walls so things aren't quite so open. Open concept floor plans are here to stay, but there are a few things to consider when deciding if opening things up is right for your home…
1. Open Concept Floor Plans Lack Privacy
While it's great to have larger, open spaces for entertaining guests, it can sometimes be too open for everyday living. There can be a lack of privacy, and it can be harder to find privacy for quieter conversations or tasks like reading. It can be frustrating in smaller homes if you open things up too much, and it feels like just one big room. In our last house, a small rancher, I was very conscious of this, which was a significant factor in the design and deciding where exactly we would open the walls. That was why I left a 1/2 wall between the kitchen and living room, to help create a sense of separation between the spaces.
2. Open Concept Spaces are Substantially More Expensive
There is always that pesky budget to consider when opening up walls, and you only know what you'll find once you open them. If you are modifying a load-bearing wall, there will be substantial costs in deciding how to handle the new beam and any structural supports needed for other floors. This is especially true in older homes, and it can be a real challenge to open up smaller rooms just because of how the house was built.
An often overlooked expense is additional costs to heat or cool the larger rooms. Proper handling of any HVAC changes, such as air vents and returns to make sure the room is comfortable, also needs to be carefully considered in the design.
3. They are More Difficult to Maintain
When we opened up the wall between our living room, dining room, and kitchen in our last home, one of my main concerns was that it wasn't too open so that guests couldn't see the mess in my kitchen sink from the front door. This is often a concern for most clients because you can't hide any of the mess of daily life in an open concept. That's why building and integrating smart storage solutions throughout each room for our clients is a must.
There is much to consider before deciding if an open concept or closed floor plan is right for you. Each client and home has its own unique factors that weigh into the decision process because not all open concepts have the desired effect. The key things to always consider include lifestyle, function, and overall aesthetic of the home.
In our new home, we plan to do a first floor renovation (one day, when we can pause all the exterior work), including tearing down walls and putting some back up. Our home was built in 1984, and while I immediately was like, "This kitchen's gotta go,” it's been interesting to live in it for a while and have some takeaways about the current layout functionality. Many of the guidelines of designing a kitchen hold true for the way it's currently laid out, even if it's not my ideal layout. Here's she is in all her original glory!
Before you break out your sledgehammer, it's crucial to talk to knowledgeable professionals about your vision and ensure you're making the best use of the space.
If you would like some support designing your perfect home floor plan, we would love to help. Reach out, and let's get to know each other.
Warmly,
Carrie
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