The kitchen is undoubtedly the heart of a home. And making it open plan helps solidify its central location in our lives.
From creating a common space for cooking, dining, entertaining, and socialising; to merging the different parts of our daily routine, an open plan kitchen is the quintessential family room.
However, designing the perfect open plan layout that combines style and functionality is no easy feat. Fortunately for you, we have put together a list of the top tips and tricks that can help you design and create the ultimate open plan kitchen that adds space, character, and value to your home.
Read on below to find out more!
1. Be clear about the space
Having a clear idea about the shape and dimensions of the space allows you to better understand how it can be designed to create a multi-purpose room.
With walls removed and furniture moved around, the room may be different to what was imagined. Therefore, drawing up the layout you envision (including the placement of fittings and appliances), can help you make sense of the space, enabling better planning.
This also includes the placement of doors and windows. These are particularly important as they allow you to create break-away spaces that provide quiet without hindering the design of the space. Glazed, sliding panels or slatted screens are ideal as they may be utilised as required without creating an obvious barrier.
2. Make optimal use of natural light
Most kitchens are ideally located to let the maximum amount of natural light in. We advise you to take this one step further and truly embrace the sunlight to create a bright, open, and airy space.
Installing rooflights and bi-folding doors that bring the outdoors in, are not just wonderful design elements; they also flood the open kitchen with sunlight making it at once warm, well-lit and welcoming.
3. Furniture placement is key!
With no more defining walls that separate the different rooms, arranging the furniture in a way that enhances the openness of the kitchen without the compromising on the fluidity of the room is crucial.
As such, utilise the furniture and fittings to strategically divide the layout of the room. The back of the sofa, for instance, acts as a great divider of space.
The addition of a kitchen island can also do wonders in distinguishing between the kitchen and dining or living areas without creating an obvious barrier. In fact, adding tall stools near your island helps create the perfect place to prep dinner, while being a part of the conversation.
It is equally important that the fittings and furniture help create different zones within the space without being jarring in their colour or style. Therefore, select complementary and coordinating colours to help balance and unify the interior.
4. Choose appliances with care
Picture this. You are enjoying a quiet evening indoors with your family. The mood is relaxed and the conversation is flowing. Suddenly, the loud whirring of the washing machine breaks the calm. Not exactly idyllic.
Therefore, selecting low-noise options for appliances such as washing machines and dishwashers, allows you to maintain the sanctity of the open plan kitchen and does not disrupt the utility of the space.
The placement and layout of the appliances also needs to be considered. Think about how you would use these appliances daily. Where would you like them to be placed? Is the current location practical and functional? Does it disrupt the flow of the room?
5. Storage, storage, storage
The secret to any great kitchen is the storage.
Why? Because in addition to having numerous fittings, fixtures, and appliances, kitchens are notorious for being over-crowded rooms where all the knick-knacks end up.
Optimising the storage of the kitchen therefore, helps create an uncluttered look. Some of the ways to achieve a clean kitchen space include:
- Create built-in storage spaces for appliances
- Include floor-to-ceiling cupboards and pull-out units
- Add drawers under worktops, inside kitchen cabinets, and on the sides of the kitchen island
- Convert an adjacent room into a walk-in pantry
- Make use of the vertical spaces by putting up shelves, hooks, and peg boards
Quite simply, discard, organise, and put away the kitchen items, utensils, and appliances to design a clutter-free zone.
Conclusion
The open plan kitchen is a must-have element in many modern homes. But it doesn’t come easy. After all, designing a space that seamlessly merges the different aspects of our everyday lives, without hindering the roles and functions of the various areas in the household, is no simple task.
However, a few simple tips and clever strategies can help you create the perfect open plan kitchen that unifies the different areas while at the same time distinguishing them to achieve the ideal balance of separate, but together.
Hoping to design and create the perfect open plan kitchen? Contact the incredible team at Good Design and Build!
We specialise in designing beautiful, bespoke spaces that combine comfort, elegance, style, and splendour to create the ultimate open plan kitchens that are ideal for your home and family.
