Will open-plan fall out of fashion?

[dollyolly]

Just moved into a 1930s 3-bed (ok, 2.5 bed) – it's one of very few in the area that hasn't been structurally changed in any way. No extensions, no walls knocked through. Small-ish kitchen with two downstairs reception rooms.

Everyone assumes we'll knock walls through to create an open-plan space, but it suits my husband and I as it is, as it's just us here.

I know open-plan has pros – for example, I guess it's very useful to be able to keep small kids in view, and a lot of people hate small kitchens. Plus, spaces can be more multi-functional.

But I wonder if there'll be a move back to privacy, separateness, each room having a very defined purpose. Open-plan is relatively recent, and there were good reasons for designing these homes as they originally were.

Interested to hear thoughts on this. Why do you love open-plan (or not)? Has anyone regretted knocking walls through? Do you agree it could fall out of fashion and folks will start putting walls back in?

We also have a 1930’s property which isn’t open plan and will remain that way
I much prefer seperate rooms especially as my kids have got older
all the new builds we saw when house hunting a few years ago were one massive living space downstairs and that was it
off putting for us

I love open plan kitchen diner with space for a sofa but part of me thinks that this is just because many kitchens are just too small these days. However I currently have a lounge diner with a small kitchen and just find we are all on top of each other all the time. A “den” is needed.

I like open living and kitchen but need a second space like a snug etc to escape to …. I couldn’t stand being stuck in a tiny kitchen so I think there is / needs to be a middle ground

I don't like open plan. Suits some people but not everyone.

Eventually, no doubt. Fashions are always cyclical. Not any time soon would be my guess. But you only just bought the place and you like it how it is, so why worry about it until you want to sell?

I think there's a lot of value in having at least some space downstairs that is either a separate room or at least can be split off from the rest (e.g., by doors etc). For one thing, it's useful as extra space when guests stay over - you can have a sofa-bed in there, and give visitors some privacy.

I think all kitchens should be a kitchen diner if at all possible, so in your case I would knock the dining room into the kitchen and keep the front room separate, you have the best of both worlds then.

I think the trend for huge open plan living/kitchen/dining spaces might change and I'm not sure the huge space, new kitchen, black bifold doors look will last.

I think having a kitchen/dining space is likely to stay though so one person isn't trapped in in a small kitchen when you have people over.

there were good reasons for designing these homes as they originally were
Extractor fans and central heating hadn’t been invented yet? I’m not sure they apply now! So can’t ever see things back to a series of small rooms. A kitchen little bigger than a cupboard isn’t great to cook in and can feel anti social. The middle room in the classic Victorian-1930s terrace layout is usually dark, sometimes having no natural light at all if the side return extension has been done. So you I think you would always want to open those up. However, ideal world it’s also lovely to have playroom to keep the toys out of sight, or a teen den to keep gaming out of bedrooms when they’re old and also an office for WFH that doesn’t sacrifice an upstairs bedroom. Something in the middle is ideal for modern living IMO!

I'd like a kitchen diner, but I like a separate lounge. When we were house hunting so many houses had everything knocked into one big downstairs space. I don't like that at all. Similarly all these million pound flats that don't have a separate kitchen..what's that about? I'd quite like a pantry and utility room as well, in my dreams.

I love my big kitchen but hate the huge open space. When my kids get home from work late and start smashing pots and pans in the kitchen when I’m trying to watch the TV it drives me nuts.

Id like big kitchen:eating space but separate living room.

Im seeing a lot more people asking for this where I live.

But I'm not worrying about it. Not the reason for starting the thread. I'm interested in how we live, now and in the past, and what other people think.

I think each opan plan needs to be reviewed on its own merits.

I like open plan when it gives a more airy space and more light.

But it can also mean that noise and kitchens smells travels further and there are no private spaces.
i think it’s been around long enough for most people to have found this out. So it really depends on the house. The bigger the house is the easier it is to have the best of both worlds.

Im currently renting an open plan barn conversion with double height ceilings. It looks good, but there’s an awful lot of wasted space.

I live on my own so the noise isn’t a problem, but cooking smells can easily travel to the upstairs bedrooms.

I think a new trend is open plan with rooms that can be blocked off or divided with doubles doors etc. so in effect more flexible spaces.

I hated open plan when I lived in a flat that had it. The kitchen is an eyesore and you had to make sure it was tidy before you could sit and relax for the evening without pots and pans looming over you every time you looked around. The flat we have at the moment has a kitchen with a little space for a dining area and a separate living room. We would only consider a kitchen diner, full open planned living is not on my or DP's radar at all

Our last house was open plan but the kitchen was so small it was the only workable space, and suited us with a young family.

Our new house is not open plan. Our kids are older now and want their own space - particularly in the evenings. I found open plan a pain when entertaining too as we’d be disturbing the kids and everyone was crammed together. Our new house has a decent-sized kitchen though, with an adjoining dining room so it’s much more useable

I love my seperate rooms. We have a kitchen, utility and dining room. When we had the kitchen redone a couple of years ago all the planners suggested knocking into one but it’s so much better for us a individual rooms.

Kitchen diner with separate lounge/living room etc

I don't like cooking/food smells emanating into the rest of the house and I think they are more difficult to heat and anything that looks messy makes the whole area look messy. At least I can shut the door.

When we bought our new build we were very clear we didn't want open plan. I think sometimes open plan is used to disguise how small the living spaces are. If there were walls, the rooms wouldn't be functional.

Im seeing a lot more people asking for this where I live.
@Lizzieregina that's interesting. I wonder if new home developers are responding to that.

I think a new trend is open plan with rooms that can be blocked off or divided with doubles doors etc. so in effect more flexible spaces.
@Iamnotawinp also interesting! I just came across Japanese shoji screens.

I prefer separate rooms. I like shutting the kitchen door to keep out food smells and the sound of my appliances whilst I watch telly.

People are always suggesting we knock through rooms too and it's not for me. I like having different rooms.

My parents have an open plan living room which I always hated. When we moved I really missed getting all cosy with something nice on TV, you can't do that when people are wandering around in the background.

We have a separate dining room but it's also a library and entertainment centre which has been and is an absolute godsend over the years. When we were house hunting, we deliberately looked for houses where rooms walls hadn't been knocked down and it's served us well through the years of a growing family and Sunday lunches. The other reception room is fully living room

Would I like a big kitchen diner? Sure - as long as I get the 2 reception rooms too!

I love open plan because I like being in a big room. I like high ceilings, big windows looking onto the garden, feeling of space. I can’t get that in a small kitchen and I’m usually in the kitchen so a big separate living room is no good to me.

But as pp say - you need separate spaces so you can get peace and quiet, send noisy kids elsewhere or escape yourself. And laundry definitely needs to be separate.

We currently have an open plan kitchen/living/diner and a separate front living room and utility. Perfect. I have to say the front living room is never used but I can see it will be as the DC become teens and stay up later .

It’s depends how many people are living there. After being widowed, I downsized into a very small 2.5 bedroom semi and completely opened up the ground floor BUT I do have pocket doors to close the kitchen off from the living/dining area if necessary. I use them when I’m cooking ….otherwise the area is small enough to heat easily and I like having everything very close to hand. It would not work if I was living with anybody else.

The house is small, convenient, easy to heat and run and the open plan gives me a feeling of many windows, dual aspects and plenty of space. It’s been a very good move, opening it up.

I think some degree of open plan will always stick around. To me, a kitchen diner has become standard rather than a trend and it's something I wouldn't buy a house without even if we didn't have kids. To some extent, I think having a kitchen/diner/small living space and a separate lounge also is becoming standard rather than a trend.

I do think having an entirely open plan downstairs is a trend that will fall out of fashion.

I think the difference is the balance of pros and cons. With the first layouts I mention, there's a lot of pros and not many cons. With totally open plan, I feel there's equal numbers of cons as pros, which makes me think they won't stand the test of time. People feel very strongly for or against total open plan, whereas they're indifferent or positive to kitchen/diner/sitting space with separate lounge.