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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask if anyone actually likes open plan living?

278 replies

Thesystemonlydreamsintotaldarkness · 03/03/2023 22:35

I love property porn. Always looking at big fancy houses well out of my budget.

I’ve noticed that there is a lot of open plan living out there! I think it would be horrible: a kitchen/diner with a bit for sitting, and a separate living room. Fine. But completely open plan?! Gives me the horrors! How do you escape the noise? What about privacy?

OP posts:
User18695438 · 04/03/2023 07:52

IHaveaSetOfVeryParticularSkills · 04/03/2023 07:49

Wait, when people say open plan, you mean just living room/diner/kitchen not hallways and stairs upstairs as well, do you? (like absolutely whole downstairs so basically street into living room (well every room) walk in)

I would describe that as open plan as it includes the main living room, hall and stairs not included.

Meandfour · 04/03/2023 07:52

JaninaDuszejko · 04/03/2023 07:22

Open plan living space is popular with architects and photographers because it looks good in photos. But anyone who has enough space prefers separate rooms. There are multiple reasons why it is impractical, particularly for a large family.

  1. Removing walls reduces storage. On the wall between our kitchen and sitting room is the range cooker, two sets of drawers, and two wall cupboards in the kitchen. In the sitting room that wall has 18 m of shelving that holds ~600 books. Where would all that go in a more open plan space?

  2. Mess and smells. A wall between our kitchen and utility room means we don't need to look at drying clothes in the winter and the clothes don't end up smelling of stale cooking smells.

  3. Noise. The washing machine not being in the kitchen reduces noise. The dishwasher isn't in the same room as people watching TV. We have 2 sitting rooms and a kitchen which means different people can do different things without being relegated to their bedroom like a naughty child. DH can listen to a podcast in the kitchen, my teenage DDs and I can watch a drama in the sittingroom and DS (9) can play with his friends in the playroom all at the same time. Or one child can practice piano in one room while another does their homework in another. I want the kids downstairs, not sitting in their bedrooms being antisocial, and separate rooms downstairs facilitates that.

  4. Heating. Heating an open plan space is more difficult than heating smaller rooms. In period houses you need doors to keep out drafts and want sitting rooms to have cozy curtains and carpets to keep them warm but you don't want that in a room that is also a kitchen.

No, anyone with enough space has a large open plan family room for main living and entertaining plus additional rooms.

Books go in the office and the playroom, washing machines go in both the utility room and the upstairs laundry room and the kitchen / family room has underfloor heating.

IHaveaSetOfVeryParticularSkills · 04/03/2023 07:53

User18695438 · 04/03/2023 07:52

I would describe that as open plan as it includes the main living room, hall and stairs not included.

Show quote history

Yeah same here so I got bit confused by some posts as it sounds like hallway and stair could be included.

Living room/dining/kitchen. Thanks

iloveyankeecandle · 04/03/2023 07:54

I had an open plan kitchen living room dining room. It was horrible. No where to escape and noise from people in the sink, dishwasher etc. no thank you.

FlyingPandas · 04/03/2023 07:56

kateandme · 04/03/2023 07:39

ive noticed alot of people saying how much they love open plan still have a seperate utiltiy or lounge...

Yes this!

I think what most people mean is that they like having a big airy kitchen diner with space for a table, a sofa and an island. But almost everyone who has commented favourably about open plan has then admitted that they have other separate downstairs spaces as well.

I agree with @JaninaDuszejko - a lot of architects design spaces that are creatively appealing and visually photogenic, but they don’t necessarily translate into sensible practicality for day to day living.

We did a big extension a few years ago including a big open plan kitchen diner, but retained the existing L shaped lounge diner. Architect tried very hard to persuade us to knock through between the two rooms-or at least to have glass sliding doors between them that could be opened up to create one mahoosive space. She argued that we’d never use the separate dining table in the lounge because we’d all use the one in the kitchen and we’d never want to sit in the lounge because we’d all be together in the kitchen.

We said no and left the lounge diner as a completely separate room. And needless to say we do still use the separate dining table all the time and we sit in the lounge all the time! Having everything in one big space doesn’t work for everyone.

fairgame84 · 04/03/2023 07:56

We've been looking at buying a new build and one of the developers only builds open plan. We aren't convinced.
We're in a non open plan now and like that we can shut the dog in the kitchen when he's been outside, oherwise he have muddy paw prints all through the house before we can wipe him.
Also the safety aspect of being able to shut the dog away behind a safety gate when the baby is on the floor. Although I think you can get safety gates that go across the room.

tiggergoesbounce · 04/03/2023 07:58

We are going for the best of both worlds.
Having open plan kitchen, dining room, entertaining room but keeping other rooms boxed of with doors to ecape eachother as DS gets older.

I dont like having all your living areas open plans. i think it feels a bit cold. I like to be able to snuggle in in a smaller room.

Meandfour · 04/03/2023 07:58

FlyingPandas · 04/03/2023 07:56

Yes this!

I think what most people mean is that they like having a big airy kitchen diner with space for a table, a sofa and an island. But almost everyone who has commented favourably about open plan has then admitted that they have other separate downstairs spaces as well.

I agree with @JaninaDuszejko - a lot of architects design spaces that are creatively appealing and visually photogenic, but they don’t necessarily translate into sensible practicality for day to day living.

We did a big extension a few years ago including a big open plan kitchen diner, but retained the existing L shaped lounge diner. Architect tried very hard to persuade us to knock through between the two rooms-or at least to have glass sliding doors between them that could be opened up to create one mahoosive space. She argued that we’d never use the separate dining table in the lounge because we’d all use the one in the kitchen and we’d never want to sit in the lounge because we’d all be together in the kitchen.

We said no and left the lounge diner as a completely separate room. And needless to say we do still use the separate dining table all the time and we sit in the lounge all the time! Having everything in one big space doesn’t work for everyone.

Show quote history

A lounge diner? I don’t think I’ve ever seen one. I wouldn’t want to be eating food over carpet but then I have 4 DC so that’s probably why 😂

Meandfour · 04/03/2023 07:59

tiggergoesbounce · 04/03/2023 07:58

We are going for the best of both worlds.
Having open plan kitchen, dining room, entertaining room but keeping other rooms boxed of with doors to ecape eachother as DS gets older.

I dont like having all your living areas open plans. i think it feels a bit cold. I like to be able to snuggle in in a smaller room.

This is what we have and we love it! It’s perfect for family life in my opinion.

Aftjbtibg · 04/03/2023 07:59

We have a kitchen diner with a a sofa and tv area but also separate lounge; works great for kids and keeping someone company while cooking. I couldn’t cope with not having a separate lounge though as then if anyone is doing anything in the kitchen the sound travels and then you’ve got all the mess and kitchen smells

IHaveaSetOfVeryParticularSkills · 04/03/2023 08:01

I feel like my house must be tiny compared to others here😂

passionpackaged · 04/03/2023 08:01

I bet there's a correlation between people who dislike open plan, and people who don't open the door to anyone who hasn't made a prior appointment.

I love open plan, and I love unexpected visitors.

Dymaxion · 04/03/2023 08:01

I think it can work if built that way originally, but I have been into small 3 bed semi's that have followed this trend and they have opened up the entire downstairs ( the stairs go up from this area too, so no hallway ) and its like being in a small open plan flat , with all the noise and smells and no seperate reception rooms or utility room. I prefer the ones who build an extension then seperate the main living room off from the open plan kitchen/diner/living space. I like to listen to the radio whilst cooking and DH likes to watch TV, plus we have very sensitive smoke alarms !

strawberry2017 · 04/03/2023 08:02

I don't like it, I don't want to be sat in my living area seeing how messy my kitchen area is. I feel like I would need to leave it pristine all the time and I don't have time for that!

fairgame84 · 04/03/2023 08:04

Meandfour · 04/03/2023 07:58

A lounge diner? I don’t think I’ve ever seen one. I wouldn’t want to be eating food over carpet but then I have 4 DC so that’s probably why 😂

Show quote history

We have a lounge diner. It's basically a dining table shoved in the corner of the lounge. It's a small 90s house and all the houses on this estate have lounge diners so it must have been a trend back then.
We've got laminated flooring though so no carpet to worry about.

Dymaxion · 04/03/2023 08:04

I love open plan, and I love unexpected visitors.

Not keen on completely open plan. Love unexpected visitors.

User18695438 · 04/03/2023 08:05

Open plan that isn't really open plan is ok in larger houses with separate living space and utility room, in a small three bed semi it's not that dissimilar to a holiday chalet.

Lalala0 · 04/03/2023 08:05

Personally it works for my family, we live in an open plan flat, it enables me to cook dinner, wash up etc whilst the littles play in sight, the bedrooms go off the living area so my door is shut most the time but the children's bedroom doors stay open and I can see into them from the sofa, my toddler enjoys going into his room and fetching books from his bookshelf and playing on the car mat in his bedroom

Meandfour · 04/03/2023 08:07

fairgame84 · 04/03/2023 08:04

We have a lounge diner. It's basically a dining table shoved in the corner of the lounge. It's a small 90s house and all the houses on this estate have lounge diners so it must have been a trend back then.
We've got laminated flooring though so no carpet to worry about.

Show quote history

An fair enough. Do you like the layout?

georgarina · 04/03/2023 08:08

I like open plan in general but it would be hell with my toddlers. I have to shut the kitchen door so they don't rip the child locks off the cupboard doors and fling food everywhere.

Badger1970 · 04/03/2023 08:09

We're trying to move and I wish to god that Rightmove had a filter to remove open plan, bifold doors and kitchen islands... I hate looking at older houses that have had the souls ripped out of them and look like a new build on a housing estate. We've got an older style 80s detached with a kitchen, dining room and living room which really works for us as we've got a big family.

I am very ready for this design trend to be well and truly over. Don't even start me on navy blue kitchens and rose gold taps... vom.

JaninaDuszejko · 04/03/2023 08:10

MrsMikeDrop · 04/03/2023 03:34

I have an open plan kitchen, dining and lounge, and also two separate living areas on their own. The other two lounges are never used as the living room that's open plan with the kitchen is the most convenient. One of the lounges is on the top floor with the best view, but still its barely used. I would always want an open plan (I'm not in the UK), I just find it has a better flow

I would say if you have two living spaces that are barely used and you're crammed into one room then your living space doesn't flow at all.

I grew up a large rambling farmhouse with multiple reception rooms. We used all the rooms every day. Doors don't stop rooms flowing, bad layouts do.

IHaveaSetOfVeryParticularSkills · 04/03/2023 08:10

I am very ready for this design trend to be well and truly over.

I am pretty sure that has been said for about a decade now and I honestly don't think it's going fully away for a VERY long time.

KatharinaRosalie · 04/03/2023 08:10

I love it. We have a massive living space downstairs - used to be separate living room with bifold doors, but after living here for several years, we realised we had literally never closed the doors, so took it all out.

When kids were small, it was so practical to have them playing in the living room part while you cook, can still keep an eye on them. Nowadays we simply like to spend time all together.
As for guests, they always ended up in the kitchen anyway, so now there is a lot more room.

  • Washing machine is in the utility room. Dishwasher is a quiet model, you have to check the lights to see if it is even on.
  • Privacy? Office for work, bedrooms otherwise. All large, I understand it's more challenging for DC to have their friends over if they have a box room.
  • Underfloor heating with heat pump, house is toasty.
  • we are tidy people and don't need to shut out any mess. I couldn't sit and relax in another room anyway knowing my kitchen is a bombsite.

So horses for courses, but I will only ever have open space.

Taytocrisps · 04/03/2023 08:11

It wouldn't work for me because I've two cats. It would be a nightmare trying to keep them off the kitchen counters when I'd be preparing or cooking food.