Do you know what an open floor plan is? As the name suggests, it’s a home with a larger, open room that combines functions. The most common one we can think of is the combination of the living room, the dining room, and the kitchen. They’re usually a great way to make a small space more comfortable, but more on that in a minute. What we have for you today are some pros and cons of open floor plans, so check them out!
“Art is man's expression of his joy in labor.” - Henry Kissinger
Why It’s Great
Views + Natural Light
If you’re a fan of natural light such as myself, an open floor plan would be ideal for you. It allows sunlight to travel farther, and that’s because there are no walls to stand in the way. So the whole house will be permeated by the morning rays of sun. Honestly, I can’t think of a better way to start my day other than having a hot cup of coffee while sitting on my couch enjoying a bit of natural light and the warmth of the sun in my skin.
Small Spaces Look Bigger
Since open floor plans can make a space look bigger, they’re a big hit with owners of small houses and apartments. It’s a wonderful solution for homeowners who want to improve their home with a remodel without having to add more square footage.
The open floor plan is also an idea for renters:
When you live in a rental, you usually don’t have the option of expanding or adding a room, but working with an open concept might be achieved if you talk to the landlord. You’d only have to tear down a wall or two, provided they aren’t load-bearing walls.
Unused Spaces No Longer
It’s not uncommon to find homes with unused rooms - maybe it’s a formal dining room that you don’t really use that much, or something like that. But what’s the point in having a room you don’t use?
Sure,
Sometimes we want something a bit more formal, but you just need to spruce up the decor a little bit when the occasion comes. You don’t need to keep a separate, special room for it.
Instead of that,
Make the most out of your home and go all out with the open floor concept. I’m sure you won’t regret it and you’ll feel a lot better actually using all the space you have in your home.
Family Union
When you have every room separated by walls, there’s not really that much of an interaction between the family. The person cooking is in the kitchen, maybe there’s someone in their bedroom, someone in the living room, and so on.
Now, with an open floor plan, you can have a scenario like this:
- You’re cooking
- Your partner is watching a TV show
- One of the kids is doing homework at the dining table
- The other two kids are playing on the rug
That way, everyone can do their own thing and still manage to spend some time together - which lead to a more united family!
That being said, this idea also applies when you have guests over in a…
Friends Gathering
Having friends over is one of the best things ever - it’s just so nice catching up on the new, exciting things happening in each other’s lives! But isn’t it a bummer when you have them over and everyone’s talking in the living room and there’s always someone who needs to leave the room to go and get something in the kitchen? The open layout won’t prevent that to happen, of course, but it will make the conversation a lot easier!
Why You Might Think Twice
Privacy Issues
At the same time that having no walls is a blessing, it can also be a bit difficult to deal with. When you’re not really having a good day, and don’t want to talk to anyone, having the open floor plan might not seem so attractive.
However,
It can also be an alternative to better your mood too. Don’t you feel better once you talk to your family and see that they’re listening and trying to understand you? You wouldn’t get that if you were locked up in a room alone.
Messy Rooms
When you have an open-concept home, there’s no way to hide any mess. It doesn’t matter if it’s the kitchen or the living room, both places will look messy with an open floor. The best thing you can do to contain it is to use smart storage solutions, but when the house is crowded...there’s really no way to run away from the mess.
No Space for Artwork
The open floor plan won’t allow you to pick many works of art to display in your home. So, whether you’re an art enthusiast or an artist yourself that simply loves having paintings all around, you might want to reconsider this idea. Though it could also be a chance to get creative and invest in some easels to display those art pieces.
Big Spaces May Feel Too Big
Okay, it can sounds a little weird to complain about having too much space, but the same way you can feel overwhelmed with the lack of it, you can also feel overwhelmed with having too much space. Feeling overwhelmed in our own home is definitely something we don’t want. You can start getting excited with an open floor plan once you get an idea on how much space you really have and how it’d look - you can even do that through this app.
More than that,
You’d need to reconsider your heating and cooling system to adapt to the new space. And since that’s something only a professional can do, you’d also need to get a quote for the job - I’ll say that prices will vary for different areas, but just so you can have an idea, Charleston, WV has an average of $5,8457 while San Diego, CA stays within an average of $6,551. To get a more accurate quote for where you are, contact a local pro.
No Specialty Rooms
When you have an open floor, you don’t really get the benefit of individual uses for each room. Meaning that your unique, big floor will work as:
- Home office
- Art studio
- Craft room
- Workout room
- Guest room
Of course, it can vary from house to house. The idea is that you clearly recognize what you’ll be giving up from and what you’ll be adding to your home. When the advantages outweigh the disadvantages, then you’ll have your answer to the question: “Should I get an open floor plan?”
Ready to tear that wall down? Get a free quote from a professional to get your open floor plan started!
