It’s not uncommon to see an open plan and closed-plan kitchens in homes around the country. In a closed floor plan, each area of the house is designated as its own distinct area, with walls separating each room. On the other hand, open-concept designs do away with the traditional divisions of space that separate different parts of the home.
When it comes to kitchen design, open and closed designs are usually the most noticeable. We’ll go through the advantages and disadvantages of each, so you can decide which layout is ideal for your kitchen.
Open vs. closed kitchen kinds
Prior to deciding on open plan vs. closed-plan kitchen features, you should consider your preferences. Do you prefer a more open kitchen design, or would you rather have a more enclosed kitchen? Do you frequently cook using equipment that makes a lot of noise or with strong small ingredients? Closed kitchens are perfect for larger families, whereas open-plan types are better suited to those who cook less frequently.
If you’re contemplating a kitchen remodel, figuring out which kitchen is best for your needs before getting started is crucial. We’ve got you covered whether you like an open or closed kitchen.
What Is an Open Kitchen?
In interior design, an open kitchen has no walls separating it from the rest of the house. The living, dining, family room, or other living areas can seamlessly integrate into a home with an open kitchen. Most modern kitchens have slight separation between the kitchen and any adjacent living spaces. New house construction and kitchen remodeling are common avenues for these types of kitchens.
Advantages of an open kitchen
Because of its many advantages, the open kitchen layout has become a popular choice for both professional kitchen designers and homeowners.
The flow of air and light from the sun
People who care about light, flow, and airflow in their homes should have an open kitchen that lets in as much natural light and air as possible from other rooms.
Efficient use of space
An open kitchen layout can amplify a limited area by removing obstructions like walls. You can use a kitchen island for food preparation or as an informal dining area in an open kitchen design.
The ideal spot for a get-together
Guests can sit at large marble worktops with bar stools in open concept kitchens and converse as you prepare dinner. Dining spaces for unplanned meals are available for some. Open kitchens become the heart of the home because of their informality.
Integrated overall design
Open kitchens allow you to incorporate design elements consistent with the rest of your home. You can add chandeliers or pendant lights to the ceiling to take advantage of the natural light. Wood flooring can go from an open kitchen into the dining room or living room next to it.
Cooking together
The expression “too many cooks in the kitchen” is less of a concern in an open concept kitchen because more people can fit in.
An island can fit in an open concept kitchen because there is no fourth wall. There is no disruption in the flow of traffic in the house thanks to the addition of islands that provide additional preparation, counter, and sitting area.
Multitasking
This style lets you combine cooking with other activities in other spaces. For instance, you can watch a cooking tutorial on television while busy in the kitchen and supervising your children.
Brighter light
An open kitchen makes the most of your home’s natural light without barriers to keep it out. Having the kitchen open to the living area creates a light, welcoming space that closed kitchens cannot.
If you’re looking to enlarge your home’s central hub and foster a sense of community, an open concept kitchen is a great option. But they are not without their downsides and are not well-suited for everyone. The following are some drawbacks to having an open kitchen:
The cons of having an open kitchen
Open kitchens have a number of advantages and a few cons.
Cons
Increased noise
Open-concept kitchens let all the noise from cooking reverberate throughout the rest of the house. When attempting to watch a movie, you don’t want disturbance from the sound of a blender or other noisy device.
Tidiness is a must
A messy kitchen in an open floor plan might make the rest of the house feel cluttered. An open kitchen might not suit you if you don’t want to feel continuous pressure to keep the dishes out of your sink and the countertops clear.
Less room for storage
While open kitchens typically have greater counter space, closed-off kitchens typically have more cabinet space. An open kitchen may not be practical if you need to keep a lot of kitchen appliances or dishes. At the very least, you might have to think outside the box when it comes to storage.
Many options for design
Open-style kitchens require careful consideration of your appliances, paint colors, lighting fixtures, and cabinetry. This is because other people can see them from other rooms of your home. An interior designer can help you decide whether an open kitchen remodel will work with the rest of your home’s style before you start working on it yourself.
Decreased space for cabinets
The amount of cupboard space accessible in open-concept kitchens is drastically reduced.
Closed kitchen
Until recently, the closed-concept kitchen was the norm in most homes. Only the cook and his assistants can access a closed kitchen since they must enter through a door. The dining room and living room are completely separate from the kitchen in a closed kitchen.
Many serious home cooks prefer the closed option in terms of open or closed kitchen layouts. Here are a few reasons why this is the case:
Privacy
This kitchen design provides a private space apart from the rest of the house where you can focus on your work uninterrupted. A separate kitchen that doesn’t bleed into a dining or living area might give you the dedicated area you require to perform your chores.
Allows for more separate rooms in your house
Not everyone prefers to have a single big space on the first floor of their home. A closed kitchen can make it much easier to have a formal dining area with a family room or full-length dining table with its own dedicated television.
Plenty of storage
A standard closed kitchen comes with more cabinetry than the regular open type. If you have a lot of equipment to keep and do not want gadgets to take up valuable cooking space, these kitchen cabinets are a godsend. Some small kitchens may have open shelving instead of upper cabinets, but strong walls are still the best place for these shelves.
The ability to play around with designs
Design trends don’t have to match completely with adjacent rooms when done in a closed space, such as a kitchen makeover. Closed-plan modern kitchens allow you to take more chances with design elements like the color scheme, open shelving, and even backsplash.
More clarity
People are less likely to purposely get in the way of your work in a closed kitchen because the walls make it harder for people to move around.
Odor and noise will be kept to a minimum
A closed-off kitchen can help keep the smell and noise of a burning or noisy appliance like garbage disposal from bothering other household members.
Stress reduction due to fewer messes
If you have a closed kitchen, there is no need to worry about your guests or visitors seeing any mess in the kitchen. To conceal clutter, shut the door behind you.
Downsides to a Closed Kitchen
Despite the practical advantages of a closed kitchen, there are some drawbacks to this type of design.
Stuffy and hot
Cooking in a small, enclosed space can soon become overheated due to the lack of ventilation. While a decent exhaust fan can help keep things cool in the kitchen, its noise can distract and make cooking a chore. Conversely, cooking in an open area can allow the same heat to permeate the house, so both models have advantages and disadvantages.
Inadequate space usage
When a closed kitchen is partitioned off from the rest of your home, you may not be getting the most out of it. A closed kitchen might suffocate an open floor plan’s natural light and airflow.
Minimal dining space
There is not enough room to sit down and eat in most closed kitchens. If you want a quiet place to eat in your kitchen and don’t mind doing a little remodeling, add a small breakfast nook big enough for a custom table.
Reduced flow
Because the kitchen and dining room are separate, it is more difficult to transport food and dishes between the two areas.
Isolation
If you don’t like to cook or would rather do other things, like watch TV or hang out with friends, you might not like a kitchen all by itself.
Can you get the best of both worlds?
Is it possible to have it all?
While cooking, do you want to talk to your loved ones but don’t want them to hear every word? Then why not wall off the kitchen to the dining area but ensure it stays open to the family area?
Of course, you can! A few basic kitchen design techniques will help you get the best of both worlds: open and closed kitchens, but without the drawbacks. In this manner:
- In addition, you can use a glass partition to keep noise and odors from the rest of the house out of the kitchen yet enable natural light to flood your kitchen. This modern kitchen design is a good choice if you do not want to feel cut off from the rest of the house. If you do not want to be able to see through the window, use drapes or translucent glass.
- When visitors sit in the dining room, you can reduce the visibility of your cooking activities by raising the platform of the kitchen area.
- A fold-down table or small booth is ideal in your closed kitchen if space allows so your loved ones can keep you company while you cook.
- The sink or gas stove may be your kitchen’s most frequently used parts, so you may want to close them off. With this method, you won’t have to give up interacting with your friends and loved ones while you’re in the kitchen.
- Does your blender or dishwasher sound echo throughout the rest of your home? Do not worry; you only need to buy some quiet items. Because of this one issue, you do not have to give up on the whole idea of an open kitchen.
- Is an open kitchen something you’d like but can’t handle the thought of the cooking odors spilling throughout the rest of the home? Vents might be a good idea. Install top-quality, high-powered vents to prevent odors from lingering and spreading.
- Using plants creates a barrier between the kitchen and the living/dining area. This is a terrific method if you want to grow a few culinary herbs in your kitchen.
- Make sure your guests have their backs to the kitchen if you’d rather have an open, modern kitchen but don’t want them to look in constantly.
- Open or close your kitchen whenever you want with the addition of sliding barn doors. In addition to providing some privacy, you can also install metal mesh curtains in the kitchen. Just open the curtains, and you’ve got an open kitchen. Adding metal mesh curtains and sliding barn doors to your kitchen can let in more light and fresh air.
Conclusion
You can have the best of both worlds if you decide to renovate your home with a partially open kitchen. Before settling on a kitchen design, keep these pointers in mind. It doesn’t matter if your kitchen is closed or open; adding art is a great way to freshen things up.