The open floor plan is a layout style that is becoming increasingly more popular. This layout usually involves the entryway, living room, kitchen and sometimes even the dining space all flowing together without being broken up by walls. This layout is appealing for numerous reasons from the socialization opportunities to the allowance for better lighting, the open floor plan is a must for better home design.

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The Benefits

Ultimately, the reason people are attracted to open floor plans is because spatial perception tricks the brain into believing a small room is larger than it is. After all, every wall in your house takes up almost 5 inches of space. An open floor plan eliminates that wasted space and also allows the eye to travel around the room, freely, without getting stopped by a wall. Removing walls and opening the space also allows for natural light to flood the space. This natural light fills areas that might otherwise be dark, which, in turn, makes the space feel bigger. Finally, open floor plans allow for better socialization. Your guests can sit in the living room and you can still make eye contact and conversation as you prepare dinner.

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How It’s Done

Accomplishing open plan living is not just as simple as knocking down walls. Creating fluid yet defined spaces is key to making your space work. One of the best ways to accomplish this is through furniture pairings and positioning, light fixtures and rugs. Using rugs to define different areas within a large space is a great tactic. Place the furniture in each zone as you normally would in a room. Circulation is key for open plan living so ensure that plenty of space is left for isles of travel. Light fixtures hung in the center of a space can also help with zone designation. You will often see this done with a dining room, as it will visually draw the eye to the center of the space.

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Making It Feel Like Home

One of the biggest complaints I have heard about open plan living is that it feels uninviting and cold. The key to nailing open plan living is making your space feel bigger yet still inviting. One of the best ways to make a space feel more intimate is through various levels of ambient lighting within your zones. Lamps, wall lights and even candles can help with this. Create layers around the space through wall hangings, throw pillows and other decorative items. Lastly, choose warm colors and soft textures that will entice guests to enter the space.

I hope that by reading all the pros to open plan living you're now eager to start transforming your space! This is one of the easiest things you can do to make your house more trendy while also creating a seemingly bigger space!