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Are you considering turning your closed-off kitchen into an open plan space? Well, there are plenty of advantages and disadvantages to consider. Here are the key benefits you should make yourself aware of if you’re serious about knocking down walls…
Entertain easily
If you like having people over for dinner, an open plan kitchen really is the best way to go. It will ensure you can carry on preparing a meal for your guests while they’re seated around the table, continuing the conversation and making sure everyone’s wine glass stays topped up. Of course, you’ll need to keep on top of the mess you’re making as it will be in full view, but opening up the space will mean you’re not separated from your guests or limiting your menu to dishes you’ve cooked ahead of time.
Join your family
Cooking in the kitchen, and cleaning it too, can often quite isolating when your partner or children are elsewhere in the home and you’re stuck in a corner on your own. That’s perhaps one of the best things about an open plan kitchen – you won’t be segregated from other family members, meaning conversation can carry on as usual while you’re performing routine chores that need doing every single day. This kind of quality time is invaluable – especially when we seem to be spending so much time working or our kids are glued to smartphones.
Keep an eye on little ones
Similar to the point above, but perhaps even more important, is the fact that an open plan kitchen allows you to keep an eye on little ones – especially if your new open plan kitchen will be sharing a space with your living area as well as dining area. An open plan design allows you to prepare meals without having to constantly leave the room to check what the kids are up to, or wonder what the ominous silence is for…
Have the design you want
One of the best things about opting for an open plan kitchen is the amount of freedom it gives you when designing your space. Wrap a horseshoe of cabinets around the perimeter, install a generous island, or perhaps install the double fridge of your dreams – all things you can’t do in a smaller kitchen.
Let in the light
Another great advantage to open plan kitchens is that you’ll often flood a room with light if you’re knocking down internal walls. This is good news given that natural light is a mood-booster, and will help to make your home somewhere you really enjoy spending time in.
Increase the value of your home
The kitchen is one of the most important parts of the home so far as the value of a property is concerned, so it can really pay off to create a big open plan kitchen that prospective buyers will fall head over heels for. Aside from the obvious ‘wow factor’ an open plan kitchen creates, it also creates the illusion of additional space. Even if you’re not gaining any extra square feet, the fact that there’s good flow between your kitchen, dining and perhaps even living space can give the impression that the room is more spacious than it actually is.
So, are you tempted to make your kitchen open plan? Read up on the disadvantages before you to do so, just to double check you’re happy with your decision, but we suspect you’re bound to want to knock that wall down pretty soon…