If you were given the option of spending time in a dimly lit cave or a meadow with beautiful mountain vistas in the distance - of course you’d choose the second option. Think of the process of making your home open-plan as a way of making your home give you the same feeling that the beautiful meadow would.
Your property inspiration
In the words of Lew Geffen Sotheby’s International Realty property practitioner, Ferdie Heynemann, open-plan spaces enhance flow. “They enable you to keep the conversation going without having to step out to prepare a snack or fill up your glass,” he elaborates. The current owner of this breathtaking Brittania Bay home adds that having an open-plan living area has made life easier when it comes to entertaining family and friends. “No one is ever excluded,” she explains. Sliding doors and folding back doors enable you to create one large space to accommodate all activities.”
“In this home, whether you’re watching TV, preparing meals in the kitchen, setting tables, having a meal, relaxing on the veranda, braaiing, sunbathing or swimming in the pool, you’re always part of the same space,” she elaborates.
An open kitchen/living room plan essentially means that your living areas flow gracefully into one another. Open plan layouts are far more than a home design choice: they are an invitation to family living.
Top tips to bear in mind when designing and decorating an open-plan home
Remove non-load-bearing walls
Make sure you consult with an industry professional before removing any walls, but removing walls that aren’t essential parts of your home’s structure can open up space in wonderful ways. Removing walls and going open plan where possible will create light and space.
Combine kitchen, dining and living areas
Merge these spaces to create a seamless flow. You can combine a living room and kitchen the open-plan way by delineating the kitchen and living areas with a kitchen island or breakfast bar. You can use various tactics to separate your living and dining spaces. Think furniture at different heights, a “living” wall of indoor plants or different furniture styles. You can also use colour to demarcate your space: for example, keep your dining room furniture neutral and use the 2024 Pantone colour of the year — Peach Fuzz —for your living space.
Create unity with consistent flooring
While you can use different colour schemes in your living and dining areas, using the same flooring creates an attractive feeling of cohesion. There are various flooring options you could consider, from the industrial chic of screed flooring to the cosiness of laminate flooring or the simple sophistication of tiles.
Place your furniture strategically
Arrange your furniture to define different zones within the open space. You could include a reading nook (with a recliner and a beautiful lamp) and an entertainment area (with couches and coffee tables) without obstructing the flow of your open-plan living space.
Let the light in
Maximise your use of natural light by removing or replacing solid doors with glass doors or partitions where possible. This will allow natural light to penetrate deeper into your space, creating a feeling of continuity and openness.
Minimise clutter
Nothing creates a different type of unwanted wall or barrier quite like piles of clutter. Use storage solutions like built-in shelving or hidden storage to keep paraphernalia out of sight.
Add mirrors
Strategically placed mirrors can reflect light and create the illusion of even more space in your open-plan living area. The larger the mirror, the more light it will reflect.
Your home should inspire you
Your living space is your family’s haven and having an open-plan layout creates opportunities for special occasions to be held and memories to be made. If you’re looking for a new home that features a stunning open-plan living area, get in touch with Lew Geffen Sotheby’s International Realty today.
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