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Sprawling rooms flow into one another, unencumbered by walls! Open floor plans are hard to hate. Since it arrived in New York in the 1990s, the open floor concept in home design has gathered much aplomb for being dynamic and liberating.
Coveted by most home buyers, an open floor plan increases the curb appeal of any house. A designer’s dream, some people, however, do not appreciate open-concept homes. Privacy, as we realized during the pandemic, becomes a vexing issue when your home is one free-flowing area.
Segregating spaces and zoning activities can become a little chaotic. Designing such a vast space also becomes challenging for the average homeowner. However, an open floor plan can flourish in the hands of a competent interior designer and architect.
To help you comprehend these perks better and make an informed choice, we have listed below some of the apparent plusses of an open floor plan.
6 Benefits of Open Concept Floor Plans
1. Better movement and flowing spaces
The lack of walls and doors between shared spaces lends the whole area a fluid form. Square footage comes at a premium, and this style makes the room look more prominent in small spaces with no scope for expansion. The lack of long corridors or passages means you have the freedom of movement.
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2. The Social Connect
An open floor plan idea also breaks down communication blocks along with walls. Ideal for hosting parties, an open living kitchen-dining combo can accommodate a larger group easily. Similarly, the person cooking in the kitchen can interact with their family members in the other rooms and overcome the usual isolation.
3. Pooled natural light
Compact rooms bring added interior walls that may or may not hold windows. Bringing down such walls means every room benefits from sharing external windows.
These windows can also be widened, letting in bright, warm sunlight and clear, crisp air! Natural light and ventilation are thus plentiful in an open floor plan. This, in turn, purges the room of dark corners, allergens, and dust mites.
4. Increased real estate value
An open floor plan boosts the value of your home during appraisal. As per recent findings, for a house with a well-designed open layout, a buyer can be expected to pay 10-15% more than the market price of a sectional floor plan.
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5. Flexibility
For the artistic homeowner, an open floor plan is an empty canvas where they can let their creativity run wild. No walls or partitions mean it’s comparatively easier to configure different layouts for the furniture and other accessories.
One can even move things around according to the season or occasion. For instance, a dining table in the winter can be huddled closer to the fireplace. Whereas, the same seating in summer can enjoy some warm sun rays by being next to the window.
6. The layout can be multifunctional
An open floor plan can transform into several rooms depending on the need of the hour. This pandemic season witnessed work-from-home parents turning their dining room into the home office while keeping an eye on the kids lounging in the living room.
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15 Best Open Floor Plan Design Ideas
It is easy to plan an open layout that’s both practical and stylish. You can start zoning out places such as the living space, dining area, family room, office, kitchen, bedroom, etc. Once you have the zoning ready, you can refer to some innovative ideas given below to level up your open plan.
1. Work with Invisible Walls
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It’s easy for open floor plans to look stark and scattered. To avoid this, zoning is crucial. The easiest way, ironically, is to imagine as if there were walls around. How would you put the living, dining, kitchen, and bedrooms as separate rooms?
Use this as a template to zone out rough placement for each room. Once the zones are marked right, use connectors. Connectors in interior design are elements that bind together different areas. They can be carpets, wall treatments, architectural features, flooring, lighting, or even art. You can use these connectors smartly to delineate spaces, especially when you’re designing open-concept living rooms, or open-concept bathrooms, while also blending them with the overall design.
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2. Kitchen Connection
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Kitchen Islands are the go-to in an open kitchen design. They double up as a serving or dining table during events and offer an unencumbered view. However, u shaped kitchen design can provide the same advantages but with added storage and cabinetry space. Let the flooring flow from the dining into the kitchen for a seamless conversation between the two zones.
Some designers feel an island may not be a great fit for an open-concept floor plan. You’re the best judge of what your space requires.
| Laurel Vernazza, Design Expert at The Plan Collection says, “Situate the cooktop along a wall — not on an island. In an open-concept kitchen, we always recommend installing the cooktop along a counter that runs against a wall. It may look attractive in a photo shoot, but locating a cooktop, be it a traditional stove or an induction cooktop, on a kitchen island runs into risks, challenges, and practical problems.” |
3. Bringing the Outside Inside
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Open floor plans bridge the gap between the exterior and interior impeccably. Sizeable floor-to-ceiling glass doors and windows look right at home in an open layout. Most often, the living or dining space opens into a garden or backyard, thus inviting nature inside and making the rooms look boundless!
Having a home be part of the great outdoors can be very calming. You can utilize the said garden space on special occasions for an al-fresco dining experience easily! For a bold statement, let the same flooring pour onto the patio for a smooth transition.
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4. Highlight Structural Features
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Structural features like beams, columns, and vaulted ceilings can be the superstars in open floor plans if incorporated into the design deftly. Use them to your advantage. For instance, the beam on top of a fireplace can frame the mantle like a crown. Similarly, vaulted ceilings are rare and exquisite. Be sure to draw them out with a few chandeliers for an extravagant overtone.
5. Smart Storage is Critical
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Storage remains a criterion in every interior design scheme. So don’t be afraid to make storage part of the open extension. With an open plan, one should refrain from cluttering up the space with bulky, vertical storage but rather smartly infuse it into the design. For example, you can decide to add wall panels that conceal a hidden storage closet in the living room.
Read also – 20 Best Floor Plan Apps To Create Your Floor Plans
6. Sunken floor
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What if you wanted to demarcate an area without compromising the integrity of an open-concept floor plan? Instead of big visual blockers, create a sink to beautifully underscore the center of the living room. Depending on the depth of the drop, the recessed pit can be lined with comfortable cushions for distinctive floor seating with a low coffee table.
7. Step it Up
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Conversely, you can also consider a split-level floor plan if you have a decent floor height to play with. Imagine adding a raised platform with a few steps leading to the kitchen. This diversity in levels also can be used to spell how communal the area is. For instance, the dining set on a raised level makes perfect sense as the center of attraction. However, a reading nook can sit snugly in a sink near the fireplace.
Read also – How to Draw a Floor Plan & Top Mistakes to Avoid
8. Natural and Neutral
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Other than large, sweeping windows, another way to visually connect the interior of an open plan with the exteriors is through a material palette. Opt for natural materials in neutral shades such as wall cladding, furniture, and even cabinets. This way, the exterior finishes can follow the same language, emphasizing the link. For instance, a tan or deep beige wall can harmonize with the sand outside.
9. Go for an L-shaped open plan layout
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If you are planning the architecture from scratch or have the opportunity to knock down and remodel some walls, consider making an L-shaped open-plan space. Easier than a standard square or rectangle shape to break up, this design will let you zone more efficiently.
The benefit of having an L-shaped open plan is that you can have your kitchen cabinets and utilities tucked away in the corner, and the whole space feels unfettered.
Read also – 15 Modern Dining Room Ideas for Your Home
10. Plant a Barn Door
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Toying with the idea of a possible semi-permanent divider? You can have a channel connected to the ceiling on which the barn door can slide in and out. This suspended door can give you the desired privacy when required and melt away into the walls at other times. Throw a barn door into your design mix and create a unique rustic atmosphere.
11. Exult personality
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It is easy to lose that personal touch when designing an ample open space. To avoid this, you can make an effort to add personal items in common areas to make the room feel closer to the heart.
If you are thinking about a picture wall, then a neutral wall can complement some black-and-white photos of the family on the wall. Thrown in a colorful armchair with a floor lamp next to the images, and you have a cozy family reading corner.
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12. Mixed mediums
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Talking of bold, define each zone with radically different elements. Each area should be highlighted with its very own unique characteristics and personality.
This contrasting scheme, for instance, can house a kitchen that exults moody, raw concrete walls, industrial fittings, and lighting, while the adjoining dining room hosts a rustic barn table and chairs with a dark wood floor. Beware that this style can go horribly wrong if not undertaken prudently by an expert designer.
| Bree Steele, an Interior Designer and Trade Accounts Manager from RJ Living says, “Gone are the days of ultra-minimalist, largely monotone designs. Think colorful shelving, statement lighting fixtures, and a mix of materials like wood, metals, and stone. The key is to use colors sparingly or as accents throughout different components. All in all, this approach allows for personal expression and can make the space stand out.” |
13. Include a corner sofa
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We are spoilt for choice when it comes to sofa designs. Large sectionals or L-shaped sofas are the best way to neatly cordon off the lounge area in an open-space plan. Again available in various materials and finishes, these sofas can automatically become the room’s focal point.
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14. Colorize zones
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A mishmash of colors thrown together haphazardly spells disaster. You can connect all the spaces in the open floor plan by assigning them with a color scheme. You can either pick out the wall paint colors, décor, or furniture in, say, an autumnal color scheme. Or, you can go tonal, using the hues and shades of a single color.
15. Install a skylight
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The crowning glory of any open room plan is its ability to imbibe a skylight in the ceiling. Installing a skylight can bask the center of the room in natural light, giving it that natural spotlight. It’s also a special joy to be able to star gaze from the comfort of your living room!
| Artem Kropovinsky, the principal designer and founder at Arsight says, “Sometimes it’s all about having the right light. It is not about showing your kitchen, but making it real. Combining different kinds of lighting will make an entirely new atmosphere.” |
Create Open-Concept Floor Plan Layouts on Foyr Neo
As a designer, you are often full of ideas but fall short of words to describe them to your clients. When there are so many fantastic decorating ideas to consider while designing an open floor plan, it makes sense for you to call visual tools to aid.
This is where Foyr Neo’s powerful rendering software can help your clients envision the tailored open layout you have been crafting for them! You can build a 3D model with accurate measurements using the vast library at Foyr Neo.
You can add furniture, lighting, home décor, material, and finishes to your model and produce quality renders within minutes. Try the rendering engine by signing up for a 14-day free trial; we guarantee you will never look back!
FAQs
Maintaining sightlines encourages a sense of openness and connectivity throughout the open concept floor plan.
Identifying areas where privacy is essential and integrating solutions like room dividers, sliding doors, or strategic furniture placement ensures comfort and functionality.
Exploring modular furniture, flexible layouts, and multipurpose spaces allows for adaptability and future-proofing of the open floor plan design.
Exploring options like modular seating, ottomans, or convertible furniture allows for flexibility in seating arrangements to accommodate different social gatherings or activities within an open floor plan furniture layout.
Exploring options like soundproof insulation, acoustic panels, or double-glazed windows helps in creating a quiet and comfortable environment within the open layout.
