Open plan living has dominated home design for years. But is it right for you? Before you knock down walls, consider both sides.
The Appeal of Open Plan
Light and space: Removing walls lets natural light flow through your home. Spaces feel larger and airier.
Family connection: Cook while watching the kids play. Chat while someone watches TV. Open plan keeps families together.
Entertaining: Parties flow better without walls separating guests into different rooms.
Modern aesthetic: Open plan feels contemporary and is what many buyers want, potentially adding value to your home.
The Downsides
Noise travels: The TV, the dishwasher, teenagers' music - everything's audible everywhere. This is the biggest complaint from open plan converts.
Cooking smells spread: Fish for dinner? The whole house knows about it. Good extraction helps but doesn't eliminate this.
Nowhere to hide mess: In a separate kitchen, you can close the door on dirty dishes. Open plan puts everything on display.
Heating challenges: Large open spaces can be harder to heat efficiently, especially in older properties.
Less privacy: Sometimes family members need to be apart. Open plan makes that harder.
Making It Work
If you do go open plan, consider:
Zones: Use flooring changes, rugs, furniture arrangement, and lighting to define different areas within the open space. This gives some sense of separation without walls.
Good extraction: Invest in a quality cooker hood that actually removes cooking odours. Recirculating ones don't cut it.
Acoustic treatment: Soft furnishings, rugs, and curtains absorb sound. Hard surfaces everywhere make noise worse.
A snug: Many families who go open plan find they want one small, cosy room for quiet time. Don't knock through everything.
Broken Plan: The Middle Ground
Increasingly popular is "broken plan" - partial walls, sliding doors, or glazed screens that can open up or close off spaces as needed. This gives flexibility: open when you want connection, closed when you need separation.
Crittal-style glazed screens work beautifully in Victorian and Edwardian properties across South London and Kent, maintaining light flow while allowing doors to be closed.
Structural Considerations
Removing walls isn't always straightforward. Many are load-bearing and require steel beams to be installed. Some walls contain services - plumbing, electrics, gas - that need rerouting. A structural engineer's input is often necessary.
This is definitely not DIY territory. Get professional advice before committing.
Is It Right for You?
Consider your family's lifestyle honestly. If you all like being together and noise doesn't bother you, open plan could be perfect. If someone works from home needing quiet, or family members have different schedules and interests, more separation might suit you better.
We've created open plan spaces in homes across Kent, Sussex and South London - and sometimes we've advised clients that it's not the right choice. Call 01732 905968 for honest advice about your home.