Open Plan Living Design: 7 Tips for Building a Wonderful Living Space
When people started to gather to eat and share tales about our everyday lives, joking, laughing, and enjoying the drama or tragedies of our lives, the need for a suitable space has only grown. The wide range of designs we see now is primarily the result of early modernist ideas about breaking down spatial hierarchies. Even though certain forms and sizes work better than others, there is no ideal shape or size for an open-plan living space.
The functional purpose and the size of the group or family to be accommodated will always define the best layout and scale. Let's look at seven concepts underlying open-plan living and the most common varieties found in architecture today.
1. Design a useful living space around how it will function.
Its practical needs are sometimes disregarded since it is the most casual component of open-plan living. Items such as a sofa, lounge chairs, a TV, a cabinet, general lighting, reading/feature lighting, artwork, and, of course, the number of people who can sit on furniture and/or on the floor are included. Ideas such as where you will want the TV to be visible (or not) are also important to your layout. The amount of space required for each Living Area is governed by several factors, however, the following principles based on seating numbers will help you evaluate how much room is needed:
4 people seated: 15.5m²
6 people seated: 17.5m²
8 people seated: 23m²
2. Make sure there is enough room for circulation.
The path of travel is defined by the space between the furniture or walls and is the most obvious route from one end of the room to the other, or travelling across the open plan living space to the rooms or outdoors beyond. A generous amount of space here will improve safety when the area is darkened, or you are making a midnight passage to the refrigerator.
3. The Kitchen is always important
The kitchen is often designated as the hub of the home. Family members are usually made to interact to address a fundamental human need, such as food and water. The kitchen is commonly employed as an architectural element as the bookend of an open-plan living room. There are different types of kitchens, each with its unique purpose and advantages; here are a few examples:
Open Plan
An open floor plan kitchen with cabinets on three sides. The main entrances are on the fourth side, which leads to the dining and living spaces. The kitchen is often a square or rectangular space in a contemporary plan; however, alternative shapes are possible, such as the P, which integrates a butler's kitchen or pantry.
Walk through Kitchen
The kitchen is on one side of the open-plan living space, with a corridor to the other that leads to other rooms. An example of a modern walk-through Kitchen sits in front of the garage allowing for easy access to groceries.
The Arena Kitchen
A central kitchen surrounded by the living room on one side and the dining room on the other is the most difficult to achieve and requires the greatest skill on the part of the architect and interior designer. With active spaces on all sides, there are few possibilities for tall cupboards; thus, it often requires a larger floor area to pull off to maintain the sightlines of an open plan living.
4. Keep the furnishings low to optimise visibility.
Imagine an open-plan living space as a performer in the round, with audience members on all sides. The audience, in this case, consists of the surrounding environment and individuals passing through. Blurring these borders creates a feeling of connectedness between the inside and outside. However, this type puts significant restrictions on the varieties of visual spectacles that can be provided because everything is visible all at once
5. For greater intimacy, go with the walk-through kitchen.
A walk-through kitchen has three usable sides and is linked to the rear. This access has the added benefit of encouraging activity across the kitchen. Individuals walking through this kitchen in several directions and seeing it from all angles can promote intimate spaces in clever designs.
6. Keep your open-plan living space flexible.
Flexible Kitchen, Dining and Living areas do not establish a fixed relationship between all the elements. The Kitchen and Living Space are generally not physically separated; the people are standing, mixing, or sitting. Allowing furniture, chairs, stools, etc. to move between spaces is all part of the fun.
7. Both visibility and sound quality are critical.
Even if an open-plan living space is physically pleasing, poor sound quality can spoil a small gathering. Sound is usually overlooked, yet it is just as crucial as great lighting. Aside from the obvious difficulties of comfort and spaciousness, the living quarters must be designed with the following factors in mind:
External sound insulation (how many times have you heard traffic, trains, or building noises over a movie)
Interior sound insulation is particularly important in multigenerational houses with several screens throughout a home that might let sound into the living area. For example, equipment and services: Air conditioning and toilets need noise control.
