What Is An Open Plan Kitchen?
Open-plan kitchens have been around for a while, being popular with home renovators for over a decade. With 54% of British homeowners keen to open their kitchens to additional rooms, open-plan kitchens are well-liked in the UK. If you haven’t come across open concept kitchens before, you may be wondering - what is an open plan kitchen?
In short, an open-plan kitchen is a room design where the kitchen flows smoothly into other areas in the home, like a dining room or living room. An open-plan kitchen has no walls separating the kitchen from other rooms, allowing natural light and air to circulate through the space.
Open-plan designs were a change from the formality of older, closed off spaces. Cooking and dining were once separate activities, but open plan kitchens helped combine these, creating a casual style of living.
If you’re wondering whether you should add an open plan kitchen to your home, you’re in the right place!
You’ll find out more about what is an open plan kitchen below.
We’ll help you decide whether the open concept style is right for your home by going over the pros and cons of an open plan kitchen, so you can make an informed decision.
Pros of An Open Plan Kitchen
There are several pros and cons of an open plan kitchen. Let’s get into the pros first:
1. Improved Social Interaction
Open plan kitchens remove the barriers between rooms in the home, which can help improve connections between household members. This home design connects kitchens with dining areas and living rooms, creating a space where families can connect.
Whether someone is eating, cooking or lounging in the living area, an open plan kitchen allows family members to communicate, creating a sense of cohesion. This is also great for parents with younger children, as they can keep an eye on their kids while performing kitchen tasks, improving your home’s safety levels.
Open-plan kitchens are also amazing for people who like to entertain. The free space gives hosts the chance to engage with their guests while carrying on with hosting tasks, like preparing food or setting up the dining area.
As a result of improved social interaction within a home, open plan kitchens help make social gatherings and family time more enjoyable.
2. Improved Natural Light
Designers and architects who want to improve airflow and natural light within a home will regularly open up spaces between connecting rooms. Open-plan kitchens let natural light pour through the space, helping to illuminate darker corners and helping fresh air circulate.
Natural light has several advantages in interior spaces, as it is known for its ability to reduce anxiety, increase productivity levels, and improve mood.
Daylight creates a pleasant, healthier setting for working, living, and studying. This is ideal in open-plan kitchens that function as other rooms, as household members eat, work, and socialise within the same space.
Open-plan kitchens let natural light pour through the space, helping to illuminate darker corners and helping fresh air circulate.
3. Improved Resale Value
According to Nationwide, a 10% increase in floor space can add 5% to a typical house’s value. Converting your kitchen into an open plan space is a choice that may improve your home’s resale value.
The open plan design trend is popular within real estate as it matches modern living preferences. Potential buyers are regularly attracted to the roomy, illuminated nature of open-plan spaces, but it's important to note that this isn’t the case with all buyers.
Some people may have concerns over a lack of privacy and increased noise levels, preferring traditional, divided homes instead. That being said, several potential buyers desire the benefits open plan kitchens offer.
Though open layout plans aren’t universally preferred, the advantages of increased light, multifunctionality, and modern design make open plan kitchens desirable in the housing market. If you’re thinking about improving your home’s resale value, an open plan kitchen may help improve your property’s value and marketability.
4. Modern Contemporary Aesthetic
Open plan kitchens evoke contemporary home design. They have a sleek, modern look that is popular with many homeowners. As there are no walls linking the kitchen with adjacent rooms, the open space, with it’s continuous, uninterrupted lines has a smooth, unified appearance.
Open plan kitchens are great for homeowners to display their personal home tastes. With less walls and increased visible space, home decor pieces, like lighting fixtures, artwork, and decorative furniture, turn into focal points. This gives a home character, adding to an open plan kitchen’s modern aesthetic.
Open plan kitchens evoke contemporary home design. As there are no walls linking the kitchen with adjacent rooms, the open space’s uninterrupted lines gives a smooth, classic aesthetic.
Cons Of an Open Plan Kitchen
Though open plan kitchens have their benefits, like anything, they come with drawbacks. Here are some of the cons of an open plan kitchen.
1. Lack of Storage
Open plan kitchen storage solutions can be functional and aesthetically pleasing. Kitchen islands are often seen in open plan kitchens, giving people a space to chop vegetables, socialise over drinks, or store common kitchen items in their shelves. Other options include pull-out pantry units and multifunctional furniture.
However, if you have many kitchen appliances, utensils, or crockery that need sufficient storage, you might prefer a closed-plan kitchen. Closed kitchens have the advantage of storage cupboards and shelving integrated into walls, but open plan kitchens lack the space needed for these storage options.
If you’re interested in custom storage solutions for your kitchen, our skilled designers at Cwtch Haus can help.
We can help you create kitchens with intelligent storage solutions that are functional and aesthetically pleasing, which all match your lifestyle.
Get in touch with our team or book a free design consultation today.
Closed kitchens have the advantage of storage cupboards and shelving integrated into walls, but open plan kitchens lack the space needed for these storage solutions.
2. Hard To Keep Clean
Open plan kitchens make the most out of space within a home, but this means that kitchen mess is always on display, making connecting spaces feel messy as a result. If you struggle with keeping your kitchen flawlessly tidy, or if like to hide your cooking mess away when you entertain, you may do better with an close plan kitchen.
Additionally, kitchen smells from cooking can waft through your home, lingering on soft furnishings in other living areas.
If you do opt for an open plan kitchen, opt for furniture made from resilient materials that stand up to cooking oils and smells. If you prefer more comfortable furnishings and softer materials, you may want to settle on a closed plan kitchen instead.
3. Lack of Privacy
If cooking or baking is one of your hobbies that you take seriously, you may prefer to cook alone, without being interrupted. Open plan kitchens improve the social flow within a home, but they can dampen your productivity if you’re trying to focus on a cooking task.
If you want to make a kitchen cosy and private, a closed plan kitchen will give you the dedicated space you need, keeping the cooking and eating experience separate. These divided areas can also help contain odors and noise, which is good if you like to experiment with bold flavors in the kitchen.
Is An Open Plan Kitchen Right For My Home?
If you’ve gone over the pros and cons of an open plan kitchen above, but aren’t sure about whether it’s the best choice for your home, think about your budget, preferred decor style, and lifestyle.
For instance, if you love to host dinners with friends, have a reasonable amount to spend on a kitchen renovation, and like the modern appearance of open plan kitchen, it could be a great addition to your home.
However, if you like your privacy and are only looking for a subtle home update, it’s best to look into other home update options. Your property’s architecture also plays a factor as knocking down walls may not be possible. There’s also the added cost of rebuilding the walls if you want to close your kitchen off in the future.
If you are wary about knocking down walls, but want to increase the flow throughout your home, there are other options you can try. Adding more windows in rooms, using open-base furniture, or decluttering your belongings can improve your home’s circulation.
If you’re unsure about what to do, you can hire a professional kitchen design and renovation service to help you make an informed choice.
How We Can Help
Whether you want an open plan kitchen with modern storage solutions, or a closed plan kitchen with contemporary features, at Cwtch Haus, we’ll work with you to make sure your kitchen meets your lifestyle preferences.
We use industry-leading design software to create high quality 3D photo-realistic images and virtual reality walk throughs of your kitchen design, so you can visualise the results before you commit to a purchase.
There we have it! We hope this post helped answer what is an open plan kitchen, as well as the pros and cons of an open plan kitchen design.
Cwtch Haus dedicates time and attention to understanding our customers’ lifestyles and habits to create a space that is perfectly tailored to their needs. We work to ensure that your space is not only beautiful but practical for your everyday use.
Get in touch for your free consultation and design from one of our experts. For more advice, head to our blog page or contact us about our renovation services.
Written by Rosh for Cwtch Haus.
