The Open Concept House Plan

It’s rare in today’s world to find families NOT searching for an open floor plan. Whether it’s a generational preference or more for convenience, open floor plans are highly popular with today’s homeowners and those families searching for the perfect house plan.

European Plan 2559-00144

Having large, expansive areas connected without dividing walls is the essence of the open concept. It essentially joins the kitchen, dining room, and living room by eliminating walls, creating multiple areas within one large space.

Before the 1990s, the open concept was popular only among the wealthier, who frequently entertained large groups and could afford to upgrade their homes to eliminate walls. As the years progressed and needs changed, the open floor plan became increasingly appealing for a variety of reasons, with the most obvious being the aesthetic appeal of wide-open spaces that make rooms look grander and much bigger than their actual square footage.

Traditional Plan 2559-00137

Other popular reasons to choose an open floor plan include:

• Increased usable living space by having fewer walls
• More socializing and better entertainment by having one big area
• Safer for children because they can be seen from anywhere in the large space
• More natural light creating an airy feeling
• Can add resale value
• Creates a modern, flowing layout
• If your home is a small square footage, an open floor plan can make the space seem much bigger

Traditional Plan 098-00201

There are, of course, some negatives to creating these open concepts. Not having a more segmented concept eliminates a great deal of privacy and the protection from traveling sound that comes with more walls and doors. Large, open spaces require more engineering than a standard home because they use heavy-duty beams to support the floors above. Despite these negatives, open floor plans create a look and feel that many families prefer. As these formats increase in popularity, more house plans become available with this lovely layout.

So which do you prefer – the traditional closed floor plan or the more connected concept of the open floor plan?