12/02/2023
Are You Planning Your Open Plan Kitchen? Read on 👇
If you are designing an open plan kitchen or even just in the planning stages and weighing up whether to go open plan or not, you are in the right place. Our ultimate guide will take you through everything you need to know about open plan kitchen design, just keep on reading.
SO WHAT EXACTLY IS AN OPEN PLAN KITCHEN?
Open plan kitchens are one of the most sought after features of a modern family home, thanks to their light, spacious feel and versatile design. They usually combine the kitchen and dining area of a home, while you can also include a lounge setting as part of yours. They are in fact completely versatile which is, quite frankly, the reason why we love them so.
HOW DO YOU CREATE AN OPEN PLAN KITCHEN?
The first step when it comes to designing an open plan kitchen, is considering the layout of the kitchen and how it functions with the rest of the zones of an open-plan arrangement is vital, especially if you're thinking about creating a practical family kitchen, which needs careful planning.
We also have plenty of tips on how to create a family kitchen, should you need them.
Bear in mind that once a kitchen is part of an open space it will impact on every other area – there’s no closing the door on noisy appliances and clutter left on worktops after preparing a meal. Likewise, the cabinetry will be in plain view all of the time, so it needs to look stylish.
Getting it right needn’t be tricky, though. Whether you’re working with a kitchen designer, architect or builder (our guides are designed to help you source each) use this guide to create a stylish, open plan kitchen and living space. We start with all the practical stuff up top, and then move onto inspiring ideas to get you excited about your project.
WHAT ARE THE PROS AND CONS OF AN OPEN PLAN KITCHEN?
PROS
One of the biggest pros is that open plan kitchens really do bring the whole family together and therefore reinforces that the kitchen is the heart of the home. They also create a spacious feel, as there are no barriers visually which allows the room to flow. If you love entertaining they’re a great option - you can be cooking and still talk to your guests - less walls make for a more sociable space.
Kitchen islands with breakfast bars become the hub where homework can be done whilst catching up with the day’s news. Or if you have young ones, they can be watching TV from the sofa whilst you’re in the kitchen, and the open plan area allows you to keep an eye on them all the time.
CONS
They can be pricey initially if walls need to be knocked down, however on the flip side they can then add value to your home - so a bit of a pro and con in one! Because there are no individual rooms, storage can be an issue so it’s worth considering how you might want to tackle that - ideas can include shelving units, extra wall units, sofas with storage underneath and sideboards.
Due to the kitchen, dining and living areas all becoming one, noise can be an issue – for example, there's no room to relax if the kids are being noisy in the living space! Also, sometimes in an open plan kitchen the mess can spread easily – and if you’re relaxing on the sofa you may well be able to see the dirty pots and pans that need washing up.
