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Open Concept Kitchen: Ideas and Layouts

By: Andrew Saladino | min

a sleek all-white kitchen with metallic hardware showcasing open concept kitchen design ideas

The idea of having an open concept kitchen has been popular for decades and doesn't show any sign of losing its appeal. For both large and small homes, this style allows traffic flow and makes the first floor of the home feel more spacious. The openness is perfect for entertaining guests and encouraging family time together.

Whether starting from scratch or remodeling a kitchen, many homeowners consider pre-assembled kitchen cabinets to save both money and time. Be inspired to pick the perfect open concept kitchen style for your home with our roundup of 15 of the best ideas for spacious, intuitive layouts.

What is an Open Concept Kitchen?

An open concept kitchen is the elimination of any walls or barriers to create one large space that includes the kitchen, dining area, and living room. With the strategic use of islands, the open space leading into a dining room or living room area becomes “the great room” of the house. Although renovation costs can get steep, the investment is usually worth it because this floor plan increases the resale value of a home in the long run. Nevertheless, be sure to consider what it costs to knock down a wall and any unforeseen expenses.

Open Concept Kitchen Floor Plans

There are several ways to go about creating open concept kitchen floor plans. Two of the most common layouts are the kitchen leading directly into the dining area or the living room. It's also popular to create an open concept kitchen that leads to a blended dining/living room area or a family room/den.

Using a kitchen island as the centerpiece of an open concept kitchen helps break up the space without adding an obtrusive partition like a wall. If you're doing a kitchen renovation where you're removing a wall, work with your team so that the space looks natural. A talented team of designers and builders can hide an old wall well and make it hard to figure out where it used to be.

bright living room with open concept kitchen in background
1

Open Concept Kitchen
to Living Room

bright living room with open concept kitchen in background

Tip 1: Stick to a mostly monochromatic color palette for the kitchen and living room to help the transition feel natural. Be intentional about your kitchen cabinets' wood selection to match the furniture of the living room area.

Tip 2: To keep it looking like a well-coordinated room while still breaking up space, use area rugs, curtains, or accent pieces to stylistically define different areas.

open concept kitchen with dark kitchen cabinets
2

Open Concept Kitchen
to Dining Area

open concept kitchen with dark kitchen cabinets

Tip 1: Work with an interior designer to find ways to differentiate your dining area so it doesn't appear to be a direct extension of your kitchen. Use molding, fretwork, paneling, or other architectural accents to visually elevate your dining room space while still keeping the color scheme consistent.

Tip 2: Leave plenty of space between your dining room table and your kitchen island if you have one. Although it's open-concept, you still want there to be a healthy separation between your busy food prep area and your table that seats guests.

open concept kitchen and living room design with high ceilings
3

Open Concept Kitchen
to Dining/Living Room

open concept kitchen and living room design with high ceilings

Tip 1: To help your “great room” feel cohesive, keep a consistent floor material (or at least color) for the entire area. For example, resist the urge to have tile or laminate for your kitchen section and wood or stone for your dining/living room area. Of course, your flooring choice will depend on your budget, too.

Tip 2: Be aware of how you choose to design the lighting for a kitchen that opens into a blended dining and living room. It's preferable to create a layout that still allows the kitchen to be quite bright for people food prepping, while allowing guests to enjoy dimmer, softer lighting.

family room connected to scandinavian style open concept kitchen
4

Open Concept Kitchen
to Family Room

family room connected to scandinavian style open concept kitchen

Tip 1: When your kitchen leads to a family room or den area, you want it to look cozy and inviting without compromising on style. To guide foot traffic from one area to another, a rug is instrumental to an open floor plan. A high-end rug adds polish and structure to a wide-open space — creating natural boundaries.

Tip 2: Unless you incorporate subtle yet intentional design elements, your kitchen and family room could look disjointed next to one another. Use symmetry to your advantage. For example, the end tables on either side of a couch could be the same type of wood as your cabinets. Another idea could be to utilize the same color/design of fabrics in the den and kitchen.

open concept kitchen with large wooden kitchen island and brick walls
5

Open Concept Kitchen
With Island

open concept kitchen with large wooden kitchen island and brick walls

Tip 1: Just because you have a kitchen island doesn't mean you're making the most of it. By incorporating your sink or dishwasher into your island, you can make sure it's the best possible use of space. Factoring in the flow of foot traffic into the placement of your island and appliances is especially important when working with a small space.

Tip 2: Creating an open concept kitchen with an island is practical and elevates the space. The extra storage gained from cabinet space in your island can be a lifesaver. You'll rarely find an open concept kitchen without an island — but be sure the island is strategic.

Open Concept Kitchen Design Inspiration

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Open Concept Kitchen FAQs

Before you commit to moving forward with an open concept kitchen, be sure to weigh the pros and cons. This floor plan might be popular, but some of the drawbacks could be dealbreakers.

Pros

  • Makes entertaining more fun, convenient, and comfortable.
  • Encourages individual activities to coexist and family togetherness.
  • Helps a small amount of square footage feel spacious.
  • Improves foot traffic, views, and natural lighting.

Cons

  • Hard to create storage areas, since fewer walls means fewer places for cabinets.
  • Makes it harder to conceal when the space is messy, since everything is open and exposed.
  • Lack of privacy or soundproofing, and more a distracting environment for productivity.
  • Less energy-efficient and increased cost to heat and cool one large space.

Is an open concept kitchen a good idea?

Yes, this style of kitchen is still widely accepted and highly convenient. Although it's not ideal in terms of cabinet space, islands are one way to increase storage in an open-concept floor plan.

Are open concept kitchens still in style?

Yes, open floor plans are quite popular. However, your final decision ultimately hinges on the unique circumstances of your space and personal preferences. Proper design and thoughtful appliance and accessory selection are key to maintain modern style. When you invest in universal value-adds, such as soft-close cabinetry or custom shelves, it's a win-win for both functionality and design.

Does an open concept kitchen add value to your home?

An open concept style will almost always increase the resale value of your home. Although it's not technically adding any additional physical space to your property, the illusion of increased spaciousness is desirable to prospective home buyers.

What is the difference between an open concept and closed concept kitchen?

A closed kitchen is a room set aside from the rest of the home, closed off by a set of walls as the name suggests. Unlike an open concept kitchen, this style is designed to intentionally separate the cooking area from the entertaining space.

How do you create an open concept kitchen?

An open concept kitchen is defined as a kitchen layout with few or no dividing walls and partitions separating it from the rest of the dining and living room. This means that oftentimes taking down a wall is required to create an open concept kitchen.

Is an open or closed kitchen better?

At the end of the day, there really is no one clear choice when it comes to going with an open concept style or a closed kitchen. If your priorities are socializing with guests and staying on top of all the action, an open kitchen may be your best bet. If on the other hand, you prefer to maintain some personal space and privacy when you prepare your meals, a closed kitchen can provide you with those benefits.

With all of these examples to inspire your open concept kitchen plan, you're bound to find the right fit for your home. Regardless if you're starting from scratch or embarking on a renovation project, be sure to start by estimating your costs. When it comes to an open floor plan, don't forget the importance of island placement, appliance location, and your cabinet choices to make your open concept kitchen polished. In every circumstance, it also helps to have some kitchen design guidance to maximize the space. An open floor plan isn't for everyone, but it's definitely a beautiful and versatile kitchen option.

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