‘Living Open-Plan’
How to make the most of your
Open-Space Interior
Why Go Open-Plan?
Why are we all going open-plan?
I think modern families require a convenient and multi-functional way of living,
where everything is to hand and one vast space encompasses many functions of
our lives, including cooking, dining, relaxing, playing and working…all in one
space.
A well-balanced open plan space may include a kitchen, with casual breakfast bar
seating, a dining space, living area and great access and views to the outdoor
space too.
Open-plan spaces can also include a bar, pool table or games area and a multimedia centre if you love to socialise
You may prefer a library corner, play zone or somewhere to work from home.
Firstly, decide what aspects of your home your open-plan space needs to incorporate, then
proportion the space accordingly.
Start with The Kitchen
There are so many design challenges to consider when planning a new space,
many people don’t know where to start. My advice is to start with the kitchen;
This is most permanent and fixed part of the space, and by planning this area first,
will make it easier for you to choose lighting schemes, flooring and other deisgn
aspects as the project progresses.
Most open-plan kitchens incorporate an island, which can be any shape or size
depending on the room available. Try to allow 1 metre walk-though space around
the island and look at incorporating lots of worktop space, storage, appliances,
seating, hob or sink …whatever you need to fit your lifestyle.
For lots of worktop and lots of storage, try a kitchen plan which features a tall bank
of units. These can include eye-level ovens, fridges and lots of larder space.
The rest of the kitchen is then dedicated to worktop space.
Islands don’t have to be square and boring…try an
angled layout which eats further into the room and
creates interest. Angle your sofa to mimic the
kitchen design and link the two areas together.
Or if you prefer something curvy,
opt for shaped doors and worktops
for a show-stopping kitchen island
Although an unusual kitchen, this bright yellow design features some great ideas…the
wrap around peninsula (an island attached to one wall) allows for a great sense of
space and light, whilst still providing lots of worktop space to spread out on.
To add a simple breakfast bar to
your island, allow at least 30cm
(1 foot) to provide space for knees
to tuck under. Keeping the worktop
at one level also keeps the counter
space practical for preparing food.
Its important to decide which direction you’d like your guests to face when sat at the
island. Should they face the cook, the garden, the TV or maybe each other?
Deciding this early in the design process can help to position and size the island
correctly.
Islands don’t suit
every kitchen space,
and your kitchen may
be better with a
peninsula design.
This kitchen shows a
higher-level bar top for
a contemporary feel,
with open space
underneath to allow
the stools to face each
other, and to increase
the light through the
kitchen.
Some people prefer sitting at chair height, rather than stools. Try butting a table
and chairs against the side of the island to keep the feeling casual and relaxed.
Fitted booth-style seating is great for relaxed family time in the kitchen, especially
if you have an awkward alcove to fill. Double up on hidden storage and use a
breakfast table to keep it informal.
A booth fitted into the
back of island is also a
great space-saving
solution.
You can incorporate
the seating, table and
island all as one
without worrying about
lots of walk-though
floor space.
Create Zones
Open-plan spaces can feel vast and empty, so plan to ‘zone’ each function to give
each part of the room its own identity and mood.
Using the structure of the building, you
can zone an open airy living space
from a practical kitchen.
Or use cleverly placed furniture to
divide a messy work zone from the
living space.
Placing large rugs in the living room helps to create a cosy ‘zone’ in an
open-plan space. Double check your rug size before you buy as most
spaces suit rugs slightly bigger than you may first think.
Playing around with
the position of
freestanding furniture
can also help to
‘zone’ your spaces.
By positioning a sofa
in the centre of the
room, with its back
facing the rest of the
space, you can
create a cosy and
sociable snug…this is
a great way to
position L-shape
corner sofas too.
Here’s a really clever way to
use colour to zone a corner
of the room. Instead of
painting the back of the
kitchen walls as most people
may do, the blue frame
extends around the back of
the units to section off the
kitchen ‘zone’.
A semi-open plan space may suit you better than one vast open room.
Internal double or bi-folding doors allow the space to be flexible around your lifestyle.
They can also help you to section of a storage alcove or laundry area.
Internal pocket doors
are also great to
close off certain parts
of the space, but
when open, they
disappear into the
walls.
Floods of Light
One of the main reasons many like to live open-plan, is to flood the home with as
much natural light as possible.
This may be the dream for some…wall to wall, floor to ceiling windows. This huge
window allows natural light to pour into the room and creates its very own frame
of art…ever changing view to the outdoors.
Bi-folding doors at the rear of your property
allow you to access a level floor to the
garden, and fold back to create the widest
open window possible. Why not look at
increasing the light further with a horizontal
window at the ceiling height too?
A corner-plot extension
may allow you to open up
two walls to the outdoors,
rather than one long back
wall. This means more
light may flood into the
home, and may free up
more wall space to play
with inside.
Even in dark, small spaces,
the natural light can pour
indoors. Try floor to ceiling
windows or doors, which
then allow deeper and
muted interiors to be used.
Remember to look up! Adding Velux
roof lights, or even sky lanterns, will
increase the natural light and will
enhance every colour and texture of
your interior.
Layered Lighting
Plan your lighting scheme far in advance of the start of your project to save rushed
decisions. Layer the lighting scheme so you will have a mix of practical, decorative
and enhancing lighting throughout the space, ceiling to change the mood and
atmosphere of the open plan space whenever you choose.
A good example of layered lighting: practical ceiling spotlights, task lighting under the
wall cabinets, decorative lights in the glazed units and drop lights over the island and
table. By wiring to two or three separate switches, each section can be controlled to
suit the mood you want to create.
Instead of ceiling spotlights, try laying LED strip lights along the top of wall units of tall
cabinets to wash the walls and ceiling with light…without seeing the light fitting itself.
Take your time to choose from the many
drop pendants on the market. Perhaps mix
three together in a cluster, or try a uniform
row of 5 or 6 for a long bar or table.
Lighting can be the most fun and
interesting part of interior design. So
take time to look at where your
features will be, and then light them up!
From a fitted bookcase, to a textured
wall washed with up-lighting.
Wall lights don’t have
to be old fashioned
and dotted around
the walls. Try
clustering together on
one walls to create a
graphic modern
feature. Or choose a
novelty or quirky
fitting to become a
talking point.
Open Plan Flooring
One of the most common dilemmas for open plan spaces, is selecting the floor.
We want it to look great, be durable, easy to maintain, hygienic, waterproof for the
kitchen and warm in the living room. So choose your flooring carefully as it will
cost a chunk of your budget and is the aspect you are unlikely to update for many
years.
Real woods or wood-effect floors add warmth and texture. This flooring has been laid
against the longest part of the room, giving an illusion of more depth to the space.
If you prefer tiles, be creative with the laying design; Diagonally laid tiles can help visually
stretch a narrow space. And brick effect layouts can look more interesting, and help to
hide walls which may not be perfectly level.
Creating a stepped level in your open
plan space is an ideal opportunity to
split the floor covering from tiles in the
kitchen, to carpet in the lounge for
example. Split floors also create a
more interesting space, whether it
steps up to a feature kitchen, or down
into a cosy family snug .
There’s nothing wrong with splitting the
floor in an open plan space if it suits
your lifestyle. Remember to plan
where the split should occur…try to
border an island with the floor, rather
than end the floor in line with it, which
can make the kitchen feel a little
squashed.
Or create an interesting shape like a
wave or curve to make the flooring
transition part of a design feature.
Consider a Vinyl floor - (Amtico and
Karndean are just two well-known
brands). It is practical and waterproof
for the kitchen, but warmer than tiles
for a living area.
Use Pops
of Colour & Pattern
The fun part of designing an open-plan space, is tying the whole room
together to work as one. Using pops of colour and pattern dotted around
the room with help to create a cohesive design.
Add a splash of bright colour in the kitchen with
coloured glass on one feature wall. The bright colour
can then be used in accessories throughout the room.
Paint a wall…but why not be creative and paint an unexpected
wall like the archway? It will brighten a bland kitchen and will take
the eye through to the open plan spaces.
This warm mustard
yellow is one of the
hottest kitchen
trends for 2014. If
you love a bold
colour for the
kitchen, be prepared
for it to be the
showcase of the
open plan space.
It can then be toned
down with simple
neutral flooring and
rich warm wooden
tones.
For just a small amount of colour,
choose the island, or one run of wall
units to be a bold colour. This will be
easier to change in the future if you tire
of the colour.
Treat wooden finished with care, and in the same way you would a very bold and busy
pattern. This striped zebrano wood is dominating the room, but its still well-balanced as
the furniture and walls are all so minimal in colour and pattern.
Choose more than one accent colour to dot around your open plan space.
You’ll find it easy to change the style with each season and it makes for a
more interesting and fun colour scheme. Keep bright colours to accessories
light lampshade, rugs and cushions to enjoy a scheme until you tire of it.
Take inspiration from a multi-coloured item, by dragging out your
favourite colours onto furniture, lighting and seating cushions.
Although an elegant kitchen with muted shades of taupe, grey and white; this
kitchen would look rather bland with neutral light fittings. Instead, this pop of deep
green gives it real interest and is an easy colour to live with if you are not a fan of
bright shades.
Summary
• Decide if open, or semi-open plan is for
you and your family
• Start with the kitchen
• Create zones of space
• Flood the spaces with natural light
• Layer artificial lighting
• Add pops of colour and pattern throughout
Getting Inspired
Find Inspiration on Google Images, Pintrest,
Houzz.com
Get Professional Advice from:
• Kitchen Designers
• Architects
• Interior Designers
Free advice at Stand H10
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