Pros and Cons of Open Concept Kitchens

Photo by Mike Gattorna on Unsplash

"Your kitchen is the heart of your home."

Your kitchen is the heart of your home. It's not only the place where meals are prepared but also a space for storing, sitting, and socializing. It sets the tone for the entire house, and without it, any home would feel empty. However, there can be times when you feel like the kitchen needs some renovation. It could use more space and perhaps a more modern design. That is when you should start thinking about modifying the layout. For instance, for people who have a big family or frequently entertain, open concept kitchens are the key to unlocking more space and creating more comfort. However, don't start tearing down walls just yet. Let us look at the pros and cons of open concept kitchens first, and then you can determine if this is the right choice for you.
​#kitchendesign #kitchenreno #kitchenremodeling 

Defining an open concept kitchen

​An open-concept kitchen doesn't have walls to separate it from the living room or dining room. Or even both. Also, the term "open floor plan" is used to define it. And while some find it unpractical, more people have started embracing this concept. They feel it gives them more space and more flow in the house. However, to help you decide which the right floor plan for your home is, here are the main pros and cons of open concept kitchens.

The pros of an open concept kitchen

• Fewer walls

If you live in a small apartment, walls can make the space feel cramped. If your house is large and has many rooms, all the walls can make it feel like a maze. In both circumstances, the kitchen space suffers, which may become frustrating. Therefore, one way to fix the problem is to take down some walls and increase the flow. You can then use flooring to delimitate the spaces or paint the walls in different hues. Additionally, you can place a kitchen aisle to delimitate the rooms. Also, you can remove one of the walls only partially and transform it into a bar.
Before removing an internal wall for your house renovation consider this

Photo by Francesca Tosolini on Unsplash

"An open kitchen layout connects you with the rest of the family"

• Visibility

Fewer walls also mean more visibility. When you are in the kitchen, you can also see what is happening in the other rooms. So, if you need to prepare a meal, you can also keep an eye on your child while he is playing in the living room. Or you can check on dinner while you also socialize with your guests. In short, an open concept kitchen enhances multitasking by raising visibility.

• More space

If you are tired of bumping into furniture or appliances when turning around in your kitchen, you could use an open concept kitchen. It will give you lots of extra space to walk, and rearrange as you please. For instance, you can incorporate the dining area into the kitchen. That way, you will have a more uniform and well-defined cooking and dining space. At the same time, you can keep the living room separate from this area, thus protecting it from food spills.

• More light

"Removing the walls means removing light barriers"

Having an open space can also help you have more light in your kitchen. Removing the walls means removing light barriers. Therefore, you will let more light flow in from the other rooms into your cooking space. Furthermore, whether natural or artificial, light offers several advantages in a room. It creates the illusion of a larger, brighter, and cleaner space. 

Photo by Bailey Alexander on Unsplash

"Modern kitchens are functional while adding to the value of your home"

• More modern

 It is not simply functional and practical to have a more modern-looking kitchen. It can also prove beneficial if you ever want to sell your home. More and more homebuyers are interested in homes with open kitchens, as they are the standard in contemporary homes. Therefore, by opening your kitchen space, you increase the value of your home as homebuyers are willing to pay more for a property with such a feature. 

And while we are on the homebuying subject, remember to always make renovations before moving into your newly bought home. Things like opening up your kitchen space, repainting the walls, or installing shelving are only some of the things to do before moving into a new house. Thus, you should make these improvements before bringing in your belongings. It will save you a lot of time and effort. 

The cons of an open concept kitchen

Now that we have established which the pros of open concept kitchens are, it’s time to talk about the cons.

• Lost functionality of walls

Walls do have their functionality in a kitchen. They support large household items such as refrigerators, dishwashers, or stoves. At the same time, you can hang cabinets on walls and integrate the appliances into them, creating a uniform look. If you take the walls down, you will need to find space for everything while still having a functional kitchen.

• Visibility

"Missing walls allow you to look into the other rooms and vice versa"

Visibility is both a pro and a con in open concept kitchens. Missing walls allow you to look into the other rooms and vice versa. Anyone in the dining room or living room can see what you are doing in the kitchen. As a result, you won’t have any more privacy while experimenting with new recipes. Also, you can get distracted by dining room conversations or the loud TV in the living room. Not to mention that you have to keep the kitchen spotless permanently. Dirty dishes in the sink and cluttered countertops are now on display for anyone who enters your home. 

• Smell and noise

When designing a cooking kitchen, keep in mind that the smell will fill it. If a closed kitchen can keep odors isolated inside its walls, an open kitchen will spread them throughout the space. In conclusion, whenever you cook, whatever you cook, the whole house will know and sense it. While the smell of coffee or cookies is appealing, the smell of fried onion or fish is quite the opposite.
 
When it comes to sound, there is also the issue of it spreading across the entire space. Because there are no more walls to muffle the sound, you will be able to hear everything that goes on in the kitchen.

Photo by Jason Briscoe on Unsplash

"Whenever you cook, whatever you cook, the whole house will know and sense it"

• ​More heat

Heat may flow in and out of the kitchen in the same way as light, smell, and noise. Therefore, whenever you get busy in the kitchen, the rest of the space will feel the heat. And while heat might not be a problem during the winter, it can become unbearable during the summer. Especially if you don't have an HVAC system in your home or it doesn't manage well all the space. 

Opening up your kitchen space

Whether you want an open or closed kitchen is totally up to you. However, we had to outline the pros and cons of open concept kitchens so you can decide if it is suitable for your home and needs. So read them carefully to ensure that you make the right decision.

Author

Brittany Murry is a consultant for hansenbros.com and a woman of many interests! She is a professional interior designer with a comprehensive portfolio and many years of experience. When she isn't helping people improve their homes, she's traveling the world or binge-watching her favorite show on Netflix

Want to learn more about designing, renovating and building houses?

​Paul Netscher has written 2 easy to read books 'An Introduction to Building and Renovating Houses - Volumes 1 and 2'. An Introduction to Building and Renovating Houses Volume 1 deals with Hiring Contractors, Managing Construction and Finishing Your Home.  and Designing your ideal home Volume 2 deals with Finding Your Ideal Property and Designing Your Dream Home. 
​("Great for those that DIY. Very helpful in home renovations!" said a Reader on Amazon.com 5*****)
These books are available from Amazon and other online bookstores in paper and ebook.