Open-plan homes have garnered such popularity in recent years that in many ways they’ve become the default style for our modern understanding of the home. In other words, it’s “the” style. It might be popular now, but will it stay that way moving forward? Let’s take a look at the current state of open-plan homes, why people love them, and why they might not be around forever.
An open-plan home is one that reduces the barriers between the defined living spaces. This means that the living room, dining room, and kitchen all likely flow together without any walls cutting them off from one another. People enjoy open-plan homes because they encourage sociable living. It’s a communal style that puts everyone together in the same space and reduces isolation. It also promotes indoor/outdoor living since many open-plan homes also have easy access to a back deck area. There’s often an extra focus to have a room flow right into an outdoor space as easily as if walking to the living room. It’s also great for smaller homes, since it has the ability to create more open space!
On the flip side, there are often reasons why rooms were divided in the first place. For instance, the kitchen’s main function is as a utility room for preparing food. This doesn’t exactly vibe with the mood in the living room where people are trying to relax and watch TV. The noise from the kitchen can be very distracting and an open-plan home doesn’t offer as much respite or escape from it. That goes double for cooking smells, which will manage to be whole-home smells with an open-plan home. Open-plan homes also have a tendency to look messier since there isn’t anywhere for items to hide. This leads directly into the next problem, which is that this home layout reduces the amount of potential storage. Plus, there’s just a complete lack of privacy in an open-plan home and that can be problematic for families.
Open-plan homes probably aren’t going anywhere anytime soon, but it’s likely that they’ll start to change. The home of the future might be a combination of open-plan and a more traditional layout. There will probably be an emphasis on multi-functionality with walls that can swivel and move to fit the occasion. Check out all the info you need on open-plan homes in the article below!
Read the full article here: Is Open-Plan Living a Fad, or Here to Stay?