The kitchen is the hub of the home and an open plan can help to create a more intimate setting for the family.
Open plan kitchen layouts have become increasingly popular in recent years and this trend looks set to continue.
An open plan layout can bring everyone closer but it is important to make the best use of the space and combine the areas, while ensuring they are clearly distinguished.
Creating an open plan kitchen layout can be relatively simple, as long as you consider what it would look like and how it feel, before you start to make your creation.
Plan the Space
It is a good idea to view the living area and kitchen as separate rooms when you are planning your layout.
Although the two areas are combined, they are still separate rooms so it is important to distinguish between both.
You will need to create enough space that you can easily manoeuvre between the two areas.
It is also important to think about the best place to position your television as noise can be an issue with an open plan kitchen layout.
The washing machine and running water can easily drown out the television so it should be situated as far away from this area as possible.
With a bit of careful planning, you can create a stylish layout, while making the most out of both rooms.
Consider the Colour Scheme
Although you are dealing with two rooms which are entwined together with an open plan layout, you want to distinguish the colour scheme of each of these, whilst ensuring they don’t clash.
Careful planning should be involved in deciding on the colour scheme and these should work together seamlessly.
It is often a good idea to consider neutral colours when designing your open plan layout, as this way you can ensure the rooms won’t look out of place.
Alternate Seating and Lighting
Much the same as the colour scheme, your seating and lighting options for both rooms should work together without being too similar.
You really want the rooms to stand out from each other and make it apparent that there is a divide, but they should also work together to create harmony throughout the space.
Down lighters can be ideal for using in the kitchen, while you may wish to make use of brighter options, such as lamps and spotlights in your living area.
These styles can work well together, while maintaining a clear divide of the unique rooms.
Flooring
As with the lighting and colour scheme, you can also separate your rooms with different types of flooring.
It is important to adhere to the rule of making these consistent but also to ensure they are distinguished.
For instance, you may want to have the warm, cosy feeling of a carpet in your living room, with hard flooring in the kitchen area.
A neutral colour will allow these to merge together, while maintaining their own identity within the room.
