How To Successfully Nail An Open Plan Home
An open plan home is the modern design approach for the smart use of space. However, large spaces can be difficult to contain and decorate. For space AND intimacy, follow these essential tips.
An open plan home is a powerful design statement being spacious with a timeless aesthetic. Boasting freedom of movement, modern homes are now highly social spaces whereby the kitchen is no longer isolated.
As interior designers and renovators, the biggest single area of our work is designing an open plan home with a luxurious kitchen. This space is always connected to a casual dining and living area that flows outdoors via bi-fold or stacker doors. This creates seamless indoor-outdoor living perfect for the Australian lifestyle.
Whilst undeniably aesthetic in nature, there are certain rules to consider for the successful interior design of an open floor plan home.
Open plan concept by Plush Design Interiors
An Open Plan Home Makes Multiple Rooms into One
In an existing home, it's common to combine two or more smaller rooms into one spacious kitchen-living combo. Did you know this can have numerous benefits for your psychological well-being?
#1 Benefit: There is a sense of freedom when walls and doors are removed. The removal of these 'obstacles' creates a calmness which is highly beneficial.
#2 Benefit: Removing walls will let in more natural light to saturate an expansive interior. Natural light is one of the key architectural tenets that help create a beautiful home.
Are you concerned about noise levels, kitchen aromas, or the lack of privacy? All these issues can be addressed with the smart use of ventilation, textures and layering, and medium-rise furniture.
Open plan concept that flows to the garden by Plush Design Interiors
Retain Structural Integrity
When designing an open plan home, never compromise the structural integrity of the existing building. Always seek advice from a Master Builder to ensure load-bearing walls and other weak points are identified. Load-bearing walls can be removed but must be strengthened with suitable beams, ceiling joists or columns.
It’s likely you will need an engineering report to be submitted to your local Council if you want to replace or install bigger windows and doors. When we design open plan spaces in Adelaide, we always work with a builder and an engineer to ensure our clients are complying with building regulations.
Create A Focal Point In Your Open Plan Home
Include a focal point to draw the eye to a hero feature in an open plan space. Great ideas for a focal point include a stone fireplace, an oversized window, or cathedral ceilings. Every room should have some type of focal point. However, in an open plan home, it's also a way to create intimacy. Because furniture and fixtures can be created around a focal point.
For example, having well-considered furniture styled around a fireplace creates a delineated conversation area. This keeps the space open but also creates a more intimate environment.
Southern California flair in an open plan living room by Plush Design Interiors, Adelaide
Decorating an open plan home can be difficult for the novice decorator. However, consider having a suitable interior designer engaged even before the building stage. Why? Because a qualified interior designer will be able to analyse the proposed floor plan, identify ways to maximise the space, design joinery AND decorate the finished space.
An interior designer will use furniture, lighting, colour, texture, and accessories to fully decorate an open concept space. They will do this in such a way that the space feels intimate not cavernous.
Keep A Unified Theme
Open concept homes must be cohesive especially when areas are delineated with furniture, architectural features, colour and rugs. The last thing you want is a cavernous space with all the furniture hugging the walls. You can still have unique spaces with an open-plan floor plan, just keep the colour palette and theme consistent.
Easily delineate spaces with some interior design tricks. For example, define the dining area by placing a large rug under the dining table and chairs.
Open plan concept by Plush Design Interiors
How To Define An Area
Define a living area with sofa and chairs in an L-shape, a C-shape, or opposite each other with a rug and coffee table in between. Use console tables at the back of sofas to add some height with lamps, books, and other objects. Therefore, creating visually exciting ways to add energy to your interiors.
Unify spaces by using a similar colour palette – either several shades of the same colour or up to three colours using the 60/30/10 rule. 60% is the primary colour; 30% is the secondary colour; 10% is the accent colour.
Use architectural features, such as a low dividing wall, a pair of columns, a bulkhead or rustic beams to acknowledge the difference between spaces. A bulkhead in the kitchen may be lower than the ceiling in the living room, for example. In the image below, designed by Plush Design Interiors, the lowered ceiling delineates the kitchen area in an open plan home. Image by Claudine Burgess Photography.
Open plan kitchen and living designed and built by Plush Design Interiors + Renovations, Adelaide
Open Plan Home Ideas for Other Spaces
Comfortable living spaces aren't the only areas suitable for an open concept. As more home owners create their own retreat, an open concept bedroom with walk-in robe and bathroom is popular. A free-standing wall hiding a walk-in robe behind has become more common than a walk-in robe with a door, for example.
Bathrooms that are freely seen from the bedroom can maximise the space and natural light beautifully. However, always ensure the toilet is not easily seen from the bedroom area.
I love open concept living. Using a few simple tricks your open plan home can be as warm and luxurious as you wish.
Renovating Your Own Home?
At Plush Design Interiors and our sister business, Plush Design Renovations, we’d love to help you create a home you never want to leave. Please contact us for more information on how we can help your dream become your home.