This list could be completely “pro” in my opinion. But that’s because I love an open floor plan. I also recognize that an open floor plan isn’t for everyone and doesn’t suit every home. Older homes were designed with a more closed-off floor plan, deliberately separating each room.
Much to the chagrin of flippers or people looking for a fixer-upper, they can change to an open floor plan; many of the walls are load-bearing and prevent those changes from happening. People looking for the cozy, closed-off floor plans they provide may find their dream home behind those doors.
Table of Contents
- Space
- All in One
- Flexibility
- Size of Furnishings
- All the Space
- The Need for Defined Spaces
- Too Many Options
- Being Overwhelmed
- Final Thoughts
The Pros:
Space
If you’re going from limited space like an apartment, flat, or even your room at your parents’ house, you might want some elbow room. Going from standing in the middle of a room and touching the walls on either side of you to a large open space that’s all yours can be a breath of fresh air. Getting rid of the combination dining chair and living room chair is a big draw for some, too.
Whatever your reason for more space, an open floor plan provides the space you need to spread your wings.
All in One
I’ve lived in houses with walls dividing every room, and houses with the open floor plan I love. In my youth, the living room was separated from the kitchen, and you had to go through the entryway of the house to get to the dining area and then the kitchen. Some homes have separate dining rooms blocked off from the kitchen by walls. The advent of the eat-in kitchen knocked down one of those walls to bring people closer together.
In homes with open floor plans, you can keep an eye your children playing in the living area while still helping set the table or get the baking pan from the top shelf.
Flexibility
The kitchen is the kitchen, and you’ll want the dining area nearby for easy service. In an open floor plan, you have options for where that table goes. You’re not limited to a designated, closed-off dining room. A large and open living area means you can arrange furnishings like cozy couches, recliners, and coffee tables in a way that works for you – you’re not limited by walls!
Size of Furnishings
When walls close spaces off, they hinder what can be put in them. Some homes have massive dining rooms that fit long tables to seat ten or more, while others have dining rooms that fit a table, four chairs, and nothing else. The walls dictate both the size of the room and the size of the furnishings that can fit in it.
For people wanting a large space for a sectional sofa, multiple recliners, end tables, coffee tables, and even that 10-person dining table, an open floor plan is the way to go.
Cons:
For every “pro” there is the inevitable “con.” Whether you’re talking about floor plans or an everyday decision like what to have for dinner, there are positive and negative sides to each.
All The Space
Home buyers look at a home with an open floor plan and think, “How am I going to fill that space?!” They may be coming from a home or apartment where they could barely fit a dining table and a couch. Potential home buyers coming from studio-style apartments are used to all their stuff in one room, including their bed and nightstand. The open floor plan that can fit all of their belongings in one room with space left over is a daunting thought.
The Need for Defined Spaces
At their last home, your client had their computer and workstation in the living room, along with a couch and TV. The dining table where the kids did their homework was also in the room. The clicking of the keyboard took focus away from the kids, and the blaring of the TV took focus away from the kids and anyone else working.
Potential buyers may be turned off by open floor plans in favor of defined spaces. The dining room is separate from the living space – so kids can do their homework in quiet while others enjoy some free time, and the worker’s keyboard doesn’t bother anyone.
Too Many Options
The need for defined spaces goes hand-in-hand with unlimited options. An open floor plan gives you the opportunity to organize and decorate how you want, free of walls or beams that turn out to be load-bearing.
Those unlimited options are a con of their own. Some people need absolutely defined spaces that tell them where items can go. For people who may not be as design-savvy or have a vision for how they want to organize a space, an open floor plan adds anxiety. What if I put the couch in the wrong place? Where will the ottoman go so it’s not in the way? Should the dining table really go there? All of these questions are answered when rooms give defined spaces: the ottoman goes with the couch in the living room, while the dining room is home to the dining table: problems solved.
Being Overwhelmed
All of the above cons pile up in your head, leading to overstimulation. Considering the location/neighborhood the home is in, the price, and other basic facts of the property, along with the space, your options within the space, doubting what you do will be right, and a seemingly endless list of doubts and discomfort all add up to the worst con of all. Being overwhelmed. There’s so much to discuss and consider that the sheer endless possibilities of an open-plan home can be the straw that breaks the camel’s back.
Final Thoughts
We at Acipe Design know there’s a dream house for every client. We design your dream and bring it to fruition with thoughtful design that puts the needs and preferences of the client first.
Contact us today!