As a custom home builder, it is essential to understand the current trends in home design to offer the best value to your clients. One such trend that has gained popularity in recent years is the open floor plan. In this blog post, we will discuss the open floor plan, its benefits, and alternatives, and how to decorate it.

What is an Open Floor Plan?

An open floor plan is a home design that features a large common area where all the common spaces are located, including the kitchen, dining room, and living room. The great room, as it is called, is an open space without walls separating it from other areas of the house. In contrast, areas that require privacy, such as bedrooms and bathrooms, have doors.

Benefits of an Open Floor Plan

The open floor plan has several benefits that make it a preferred option for many homeowners. The first is that it allows for a family to carry on with their individual activities, like crafting, homework, or viewing television shows all in the same general area and still have that coexistence. It makes entertaining easier too, with the kitchen opened into the great room, unlike the old-style living room and dining room.

The second benefit of an open floor plan is that it allows for better natural lighting. Without walls separating certain areas into their rooms, the decorative style blends between the areas, and there is no distinction. In contrast, closed floor plans allow each room to be individual in color, style, and theme.

Thirdly, an open floor plan makes the home feel more spacious. With the flow open, moving between areas of kitchen to living room to dining room isn’t hindered by walls. This is perfect for households that entertain a lot, and when it comes to decorating and designing, there is more flexibility.

Fourthly, with an open floor plan, there is a better view of what elderly or handicapped persons, or even small children, are doing. You can be cooking and still have an eye on what those you care for are doing.

Finally, cleaning open floor plans is much easier and quicker!

Alternatives to an Open Floor Plan

While an open floor plan is a popular trend in home design, it is not the only option. One alternative to an open floor plan is using the barn door look, which is so popular today. Instead of tearing down connecting walls to create those open floor plans, replace one or two interior doorways with barn doors. These are the new pocket doors and provide a decorative and effective way to gain that openness that an open floor plan offers without tearing out walls.

Open Floor Plan vs. Closed Floor Plan

An open floor plan vs. traditional or closed floor plan is when each area becomes a room with walls and a door that separates them from each other. Open floor plans do not have walls separating certain areas into their rooms. There are seven key things that each of these offer or don’t offer.

Aesthetics-wise, open floor plans are considered a modern style, like those we mentioned earlier on television shows. Space-wise, open floor plans have more flexibility when it comes to decorating and designing, but closed floor plans allow each room to be individual in color, style, and theme. With regards to safety, open floor plans allow for a better view of what those you care for are doing. Regarding privacy, open floor plans offer little to no privacy. The aroma of cooking dinner will permeate throughout open floor plans, while in traditional floor plans, the odors aren’t as strong and less offensive to those that don’t care for certain foods. Cleaning-wise, cleaning open floor plans is much easier and quicker, but it can be a big issue for roommates. Finally, regarding resale value, open floor plans are appealing to most potential homebuyers, depending on where you’re located.

When it comes to home decor, the architectural style of your home and the area it’s located in can play a big role in determining the best way to decorate it. If you’re planning on selling your home in the next five years, it’s important to keep up with current trends to appeal to potential buyers. Open floor plans have been popular for some time now and are likely to remain so in the future. However, decorating open floor plans can be a challenging task.

With an open floor plan, you have to identify each area while still maintaining a cohesive design. One effective strategy is to repeat colors throughout the space. This creates a consistent color scheme while allowing each area to have its own unique shade due to variations in lighting.

Another way to add interest to an open floor plan is to repeat patterns. Whether bold or subtle, patterns, textures, and colors can all play a significant role in creating a stylish interior design. From pillows and rugs to window treatments, each piece can have an impact on the overall look of the space. While it’s important to maintain cohesiveness, each area can still have its own style.

Consistent flooring is one of the best ways to unite open floor plans. Choosing one type of flooring for the entire space creates a seamless look. However, for rooms that are walled off, such as bathrooms, adding a funky tile can add some personality and flair.

In terms of paint, it’s best to keep things consistent throughout an open floor plan. Using the same color on both the walls and trim can create a cohesive look. However, it’s important to test different colors with the lighting in the space to find the best color that works for all areas.

Rugs are also an effective way to define different areas in an open floor plan. For example, a large rug in a dining area can help to define the space and add style.

When it comes to an open floor plan that includes a kitchen and living room, it’s important to strike a balance between creativity and cohesion.

While the kitchen is often a place for creativity, it’s important to tone down some of those features when they extend into the living room. While open floor plans have many benefits, they may not be for everyone. It’s important to consider the costs associated with remodeling to create an open floor plan as well as the ongoing costs of cooling and heating a larger space. Additionally, open floor plans offer less privacy and quiet time due to the lack of interior walls. Clutter can also be more noticeable in an open floor plan.

In conclusion, decorating an open floor plan requires some careful thought and planning. If you’re interested in decorating with an open floor plan, it’s always a good idea to seek out the help of a professional team, such as Open Prairie Custom Homes, to ensure that you’re getting the best possible results.