·

10 Pros and Cons of Open Concept Living

In an open-concept floor plan, no walls exist in between the living room, kitchen, and sometimes the dining room. This floor plan has become more and more popular over the years. My husband and I have tried to find a house plan that we can agree on. We finally agreed on a modern farmhouse that has an open kitchen, living area, and eating area. I like the openness and the windows from the living room will help to brighten up the kitchen. I decided to make a list of the pros and cons of having an open-concept floor plan to help us decide if we really wanted this particular layout. After a little research, this is what I came up with.

PROS

  1. It gives the impression of a larger living area. Without walls to divide the square footage, your kitchen and living room will feel much larger.
  2. Open floor plans tend to let in more natural light. There are fewer walls to block windows, which will allow the sunlight to come in.
  3. It’s great for entertaining. Those in the kitchen can easily see and talk to guests that are in the living room.
  4. Open-concept makes it easier to keep an eye on your children. You can cook dinner while you watch your children play in the living room.
  5. It adds value to the home. The open floor plan is a major selling point for a lot of potential buyers.

CONS

  1. Open floor plans tend to be more expensive to heat. When there are walls, the room heats much faster. Without walls, you will need to heat the entire space, which will cost more.
  2. A multi-function area is usually noisy. The sound of the dishwasher may drown out your dinner guest or your kids may complain that they cannot hear the tv while you are making dinner.
  3. It is difficult to hide a messy kitchen. Most of us have felt the embarrassment of unannounced guests seeing a pile of dirty dishes. I know I have. Everyone uses our side door which leads straight into the kitchen. Hello, dirty plates.
  4. Lingering smells can also be a problem. You will be able to smell that delicious fish that you cooked for dinner while you try to eat popcorn while you watch a movie.
  5. There is less privacy. Over the past year, most of us have realized how important privacy is. Sometimes it is nice to have walls to block out the loud TV or the screaming children.

Similar Posts