Pros and Cons of an Open Floor Plan
If you’re planning on remodeling your home, you might consider taking down a wall or partition and giving your home an open floor plan. Open floor plans have been around since famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright began designing homes which combined the living and dining areas into one large room.
Now they have become extremely common, usually combining the living room, dining room, and kitchen into a single communal area. The question is, should your house have one? Here are some pros and cons to consider.
Pros of Open Floor Plans
Spaces Looks Bigger
Even if your home is on the smaller side, an open floor plan can make your living space look large and welcoming. Fewer walls, especially when combined with high ceilings and low-backed furniture, can easily give the illusion that your home is twice the size. Open floor plans also allow for better light, whether from lamps or natural light through windows.
Better Socialization
Fewer walls means that everyone can see and hear each other more easily. You can be in the kitchen while your family is in the living room, and you can still take part in the conversation. This also makes it easier to keep an eye on your kids while preparing dinner, or watch the game on the living room TV. Plus there’s a better traffic flow, so people can migrate in and out of spaces unhindered.
Easier to Decorate
A great thing about an open floor plan is that you’re basically decorating one large room instead of several smaller rooms. You can choose one color palate to use throughout the space, match your kitchen cabinets to your living room furniture, and more. It’s especially great for minimalists or people who like a consistent style throughout their home. It’s also easier to move furniture around for different occasions, whether it’s pulling the dining table chairs into the living room so everyone watching the big game has a place to sit or moving the couches towards the walls to create more floor space so the kids have room to play.
Cons of Open Floor Plans
More Cleaning
If you’re having company over and you’ve made a mess in the kitchen, that will be on full display. You won’t be able to just close a door to hide a sink full of dirty dishes or the remains of the holiday roast. Smells will also travel into the other areas more easily, so if you’ve burned something while cooking, everyone will know. Ensure your kitchen has good ventilation outside and try to keep on top of the dishes as you cook, or at least factor in cleaning time when inviting company over for dinner.
Less Privacy
The downside to those better acoustics and sightlines is that it’s difficult to hold a private conversation. If you’re hosting a get-together and your friend wants to talk to you in confidence, you’ll have to retreat to a bedroom or home office. Basically, if you have an open floor plan, ensure you’ve still got somewhere you can hold a private conversation away from the party.
Expensive to Heat and Cool
Large rooms take more energy to heat and cool, which can be a problem with the rising costs of energy bills. To counteract this, you’ll want to ensure your contractors are using energy efficient components when renovating. Make sure you have plenty of insulation in the walls, as well as replace drafty windows and doors.
An open-floor plan can be great for your home, but it’s important to be aware of the issues as well as the benefits. Contact us today to discuss your dream renovations for your home.
