The Death of Open Plan Living?

With so many of us still having to work from home, the sense of space, cosiness and privacy have all been a priority. As you know, the open-plan kitchen-living room has been a feature of modern homes for decades. The architect in me, loves knocking down walls to create a decent-sized living space and flood some natural light in from different directions. But is it too much of a good thing?

Once upon a time

There was a time when people wanted more division between the kitchen and the other rooms in their house. This can be seen in most period properties, where you find a series of rooms and doors along your path. Partly it was because of heating purposes, so much easier to deal with one fireplace at a time. As we are more time at home, the line between the kitchen and living room is again disappearing. Even though we are not entertaining, an open concept helps to include all family members and makes it easier for parents to supervise kids as they prepare a meal. But what happens when everyone is focused on carrying out completely different tasks from one another?

Technology

Technology has been wonderful. It has kept us engaged and connected, basically acted as our unconditional friend and family. Can you picture living through the pandemic without it? Like it or not, it has been instrumental in making most of our lives easier. How has it affected the way we live? Put simply, that one big room does not necessarily work anymore when members of the family want to do different things. It can become a bit chaotic when you have one person eager to watch TV, while others are happily messaging away on their mobiles or watching Netflix on their laptops. And of course, let us not forget about those that are just in need of some me, quiet time, where can they retreat to? The open concept just seems not to work that well when so much is going on.

Best of both worlds

Who says you can not have it all? Yes, it is a cliché, but life is short. We should all strive to be better and live better and most important, be happy. A large room does not need to be divided up again with walls. I am a true believer that your surroundings directly affect your mood, and it is important to the sensation of space and the connection with the natural world through having clear views through as many windows as possible. This is where good design comes once again to save the day!

The What?

Open plan is still extremely popular, but it comes with its downfalls. Many people struggle with planning one huge, open space, specially without the help of an interior designer or some expert advice. Dealing with such a blank canvas and having to consider different activities can become overwhelming. The solution is to break the space into several different zones, not with walls but with more creative solutions. This is where the broken concept comes in.

The How?

So, how do you achieve a broken concept? Think of using plants and furniture to create partitions within a room. Patch Plants is great for delivering plants straight to your door. FYI, through my trade discount, I am able to get a great deal for you on them and also if you are looking to change up your furniture. Just remember, if you are going to do it yourself, make sure to choose the right style and size for your room. They can be bookcases, sideboards, or a high back chair. The important thing is to keep a free sightline. This allows the space to be both free-flowing and divided, magic!

Colour and texture can also be introduced to create different zones, not only on walls but also as flooring. Such distinction in material provides each space sense of division and its own personality. This all becomes handy when deciding how to place furniture in the space. Like it or not, we all need some direction and yearn for flexibility. The aim is to create a cosier feel and more privacy. Feel free to get in touch if you need a little more guidance in deciding how best to tackle your open plan space, I am always happy to have a chat!