Open plan kitchen design is the current trend among homeowners as it is perceived as a space-friendly option by eliminating the kitchen walls and joining the living room together. It also simplifies the structure and the fluidity of the interior design as much as possible without sacrificing its functionality. That’s why eliminating the barrier between the kitchen and the living room is a practical move.
There’s plenty more reason why we love an open kitchen layout. Here, we have compiled our favourite designers' open kitchens to inspire you to adopt this design style in your own home!
1. Different colours & materials help to define the space
In a lot of cases, even though the kitchen is a part of the open floor plan and there are no walls between the zones, there’s still a clear visual separation between the spaces. This distinction is highlighted in this apartment in Penang through the use of different materials, finishes and colours.
EMPT Studio installed a practical tile kitchen flooring that visually separates the kitchen and the living area. On top of that, by tearing down the original kitchen wall next to the entrance door, the designer managed to expand the kitchen space with additional square footage.
2. Allow for social interaction & more casual dining
An open kitchen plan as pictured in this contemporary home encourages more casual dining and can make your guests or family members feel more comfortable compared to being isolated away in a separate room while waiting for the meal to begin. This way when you have guests over, you can interact with them whilst preparing for your best dish!
3. Natural sunlight creates a brighter kitchen
Natural light is important as the more natural light we’re exposed to, the happier and more energised we feel. By removing a wall that divides the kitchen and the living area, this home designed by PINS Studio looks wonderfully pleasant, bright and airy, thanks to the large windows that ensure natural daylight reflects through the living space across the white floors all the way to the open kitchen area.
4. Ample seating for large social gatherings
Most often, the kitchen is linked to the dining area and the two spaces are adjacent. With an open kitchen plan, homeowners can create additional dining space to cater for large social gatherings. This house by Cube Creation creation is a good example. The designer built a bar extension that is connected to the kitchen island that allows for casual dining or extra seating when the dining table is fully occupied.
5. Tie the space together
An open kitchen concept allows for a continuation of the interior design to flow from one room to another without sacrificing functionality. In this three-bedroom condominium, natural and organic finishes such as warm wood, all-white cabinetry and appliances, harmonise the whole space beautifully and unifies the three social areas; kitchen, dining and the living room.
6. Keeping things neat
Without fixed walls, an open kitchen becomes an extension to the living room, hence it encourages homeowners to keep the area neat and organised. Dual-tone kitchen island takes centre stage in this apartment that coordinates with the glossy cabinetry in a really elegant way. The kitchen island also doubles as an additional storage space to organise and store kitchen items more efficiently.
Explore: 4 Smart Tips For a Clutter-Free and Efficient Kitchen
7. A space-saving option
If your property comes with an open space layout, dividing the space with walls will make your home feel so much smaller. A simple way to trick the eye into thinking that you've got more square footage is to embrace an open kitchen concept, as pictured in this 400 sq ft studio apartment. Here, the open concept kitchen features ample storage space and dining despite the small dimension, with open shelves and a built-in dining table.
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