Open room designs
30+ Gorgeous Open Floor Plan Ideas
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Embrace the beauty of living without walls.
By Monique Valeris and Emily Silverman
Paul Dyer
The benefits of open floor plans are endless: an abundance of natural light, the illusion of more space, and even the convenience that comes along with entertaining. Ahead is a collection of some of our favorite open-concept spaces from designers at Dering Hall.
Gaffer Photography
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Modern Mediterranean
Design by Charlie & Co. Design.
Cesar Rubio
2 of 39
Loft Living
Design by Jeff King & Company.
Patrick Sheehan
3 of 39
Mountain Escape
Design by E. Esposito Interiors.
François Gagne
4 of 39
Great Room
Design by Banks Design Associates Ltd.
Jill Buckner
5 of 39
Vintage Modern
Design by Nicholas Moriarty Interiors.
Alan Barry
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Pops of Blue
Design by Kim Radovich Interiors.
Erich Hausman
7 of 39
Brick Detail
Design by Maren Baker Design.
Sean Litchfield
8 of 39
Rustic Wood
Design by KMID | Kate Maloney Interior Design.
Paul Dyer
9 of 39
Mountain Retreat
Design by Kendall Wilkinson.
Greg Djevahirdjian
10 of 39
Traditionally Open
Design by Elizabeth Hagins Interior Design.
Cynthia Lynn Photography
11 of 39
Formal Living & Dining
Design by Brynn Olson Design Group.
Paul Grdina
12 of 39
Vaulted Ceilings
Design by Corey Klassen Interior Design.
Elad Gonen
13 of 39
Contemporary Cool
Design by Annette Frommer Interior Design.
SGM photography
14 of 39
Sky-High Views
Design by ArchivesID.
Justin Officer
15 of 39
Teal Accents
Design by Erin King Interiors.
Hunter Holder
16 of 39
Exposed Light & Brick
Design by Logan Killen Interiors.
Tim McGhie Photography
17 of 39
Glamorous Accents
Design by Gillian Gillies Interiors.
CJ Isaac
18 of 39
Monochromatic & Sleek
Design by P&T Interiors.
David Duncan Livingston
19 of 39
Artistic Details
Design by Cecilie Starin Design.
Josh Partee
20 of 39
Built-In Storage
Design by Guggenheim Architecture and Design Studio.
Stacy Zarin Goldberg
21 of 39
Bright & Light
Design by A. Houck Designs.
Mark Roskams
22 of 39
Naturally Industrial
Design by Hillary Littlejohn Scurtis Design.
Patrick Salisbury
23 of 39
Wood Above & Below
Design by Lee Ledbetter & Associates.
Mike Kaskel
24 of 39
Baby Blues
Design by Inspired Interiors.
Timothy Wee
25 of 39
Warm Wood Accents
Design by Peter Sandel Design.
Adrian Shellard
26 of 39
Cool Grey
Design by LeAnne Bunnell Interiors.
Barry Schwartz
27 of 39
Backlit Warmth
Design by Coffinier Ku Design.
Mark Davidson
28 of 39
Oversized Details
Design by Hyde Evans Design.
David Cleveland
29 of 39
A Seat for Everyone
Design by KNOF design.
Marili Forastieri
30 of 39
Streamlined Space
Design by Neal Beckstedt Studio.
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Monique Valeris Senior Home Editor Monique Valeris is the senior home editor for Good Housekeeping, where she oversees the brand's home decorating coverage across print and digital.
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18 Great Room Ideas - Open Floor Plan Decorating Tips
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How to decorate the hardest working room in the house.
By Hadley Mendelsohn
Studio Life/Style
The great room is easily the hardest working room in the house, as its entire purpose to serve multiple key functions all in one shared space. The goal is to make everyday living just a little easier, and to make a communal space a little more enticing. As a result, they can present some extra design challenges. With more moving parts and pieces to the puzzle, great rooms are that much harder to decorate. Layout, color schemes, and scale... So if you're looking for some inspiration, keep reading for eighteen great rooms design ideas and decorating tips.
Alexander Design
1 of 18
Pack It All In
In this beach house, designer Alexander Design made the family room feel upscale and sophisticated yet down to earth, livable, and coastal.
This great room truly has it all, from a dining area to a formal hang out spot and even a pool table.
SIMON UPTON
2 of 18
Give Each Zone Distinctive Qualities
Functioning as both the formal dining and living room, it's the ultimate entertaining space. The massive blue carpet helps unify the space since it stretches from the eating zone to the living area. The darker dinning chairs and light sofa and coffee table, on the other hand, help to distinguish them from one another.
Leanne Ford Interiors
3 of 18
Spread Things Out
Leanne Ford Interiors creates separate "rooms" defined by furniture groupings to make the great room feel both cohesive and functional. Each space stands its own while also working together for a harmonious whole. The kitchen blends in and disappears into the background while the dining nook and living rooms contrast in both color and design.
Anson Smart
4 of 18
Use the Same Colors In Different Materials
Designed by Arent & Pyke, the icy gray marble material in the kitchen jumps into the living room in the form of a velvet texture-rich area rug in a similar gray hue.
Then the light blush sofa beyond the kitchen is reflected in the rosy sheer curtains in the dining room. The caramel leather dining chairs add some contrast without clashing with the aforementioned cohesion.
Studio Life/Style
5 of 18
Make It Family-Friendly
For a space that is both cozy and timeless yet fun and contemporary, take note from this Studio Life/Style-designed great room. This layout is also perfect for a family since the adults can be in the kitchen while still being close to the kids.
2LG Studios
6 of 18
Float Your Furinture
This may sound obvious, but in a great room, it's usually best to float your furniture. Resist the urge to push all of your furniture up against the walls—if you create space behind the furniture, it makes the room look wider than it is and helps separate the different areas based on function. In this living room designed by 2LG Studio, the the floating sofa separates the lounge area from the kitchen and dining space.
Simon Watson
7 of 18
Evaluate Scale
You don't need a massive space to have a great room. Indeed, sometimes you have to combine your dining and living spaces in apartments. To make it work, opt for a smaller bistro table and use a banquet on the other side of the kitchen island to work on a a sette for hanging out as well as a dining seat.
Dustin Askland
8 of 18
Create Micro Levels
In an open floor plan space, make the sitting area feel like its own separate hangout zone by turning it into a sunken family room, i.e. a conversation pit. Designed by Elizabeth Roberts, this space feels like a private haven fit for big viewing parties thanks to the full carpeting and depressed flooring. The custom upholstering also speaks the warm tones of the nearby kitchen (like that gorgeous bench), as do the exposed beams, ensuring that it doesn't feel totally unconnected.
Anson Smart
9 of 18
Use a Bright Rug
Draw the eye to the spaces you want to use for entertaining instead of the working space in the kitchen.
In this great room designed by Arent & Pyke, an eye-catching orange rug gets the job done.
FRANCESCO LAGNESE
10 of 18
Use Consistent Colors
Color climbs all the way up to the high rafters in this living room designed by Thomas Jayne and William Cullum. All together, the room feels traditional and formal, country chic and casual. And the color scheme is strict throughout.
Lisa Romerein
11 of 18
Take It Outside
If you have the space for an outdoor area or want to revamp the pool house, use the same principles you'd use inside and take them outdoors. It'll be the perfect place for summer entertaining.
Lauren Bamford
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Separate With a Sofa
In a great room, layout is everything. The clean lines throughout this living room designed by Robson Rak make it hard not to feel relaxed just by looking at it. Even the detail and symmetry of the vertical window pane tracing down to the cushions of the sofa is soothing.
Then the green nesting tables bring in some contrast with their rounded shape and varying heights. The white painted shiplap walls make the space feel more livable and approachable.
Leanne Ford Interiors
13 of 18
Conceal the Kitchen
A tight, neutral color scheme will ensure easy flow. If the open kitchen stands in full view of the entry and the main living areas like it does in this space designed by Leanne Ford, choose materials that won't distract and opt for integrated appliances and features.
Hecker Gethrie
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Stick to the Classics
Here's proof that minimalism doesn't equate to stark modern interiors. Elegant, simple, and right smack dab in the middle of modern and traditional, this great room designed by Hecker Guthrie is a jack of all trades. The classic layout promotes conversation and comfort white the island extension helps transition us from the kitchen to the living space.
Sara Tramp
15 of 18
Don't Be Too Matchy-Matchy
Emily Henderson matched the throw pillows with the green cabinets in the kitchen, but that's about the only color consistency between the two "rooms.
" It's a great way to make sure they don't feel completely separate or incompatible but also not looking too matchy-matchy.
Studio Ashby
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Let Art Anchor the Space
Get inspired by a statement-making piece of artwork. In this great room designed by Studio Ashby, the gorgeous abstract painting infuses the entire space with color. The rest of the neutrals throughout the room complement the painting without competing with it.
Alexander Design
17 of 18
Share the Light
One the greatest things about a great room is that it allows for shared light, especially in a wide-open loft space like this one designed by Alexander Design. Here's proof that minimalism doesn't equate to stark modern interiors. The gorgeous windows let the light pour in, adding warmth to the industrial environment.
Tom Ferguson
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Go All Out
If you're s maximalist at heart, you don't have to play it safe in the great room with neutrals. In this one designed by Arent & Pyke, the dapper Houndstooth sofa works well with the black media credenza in the distance as well as the pendants above the dining room, while the pistachio statement wall complements the color-blocked rug.
Minimalist Living Room Ideas for Peek Relaxation
Hadley Mendelsohn Senior Editor Hadley Mendelsohn is House Beautiful's senior design editor and the co-host and executive producer of the podcast Dark House.
Open floor plan in an apartment: opinions and predictions about this trend
Architects, designers and users give their opinion on this trend and make predictions about how their home might look in the future
Open floor plans are not only very popular lately, but has become the main element that people want to bring into their home. At the time of this writing, over 600,000 photos of open-plan spaces can be found on Houzz, which means that this is indeed a very common architectural design with a large following.
Let's see why it has become so popular and what are its advantages and disadvantages. We asked these questions to both ordinary users and professionals, who not only offered interesting answers, but also tried to look into the future of a multifunctional home.
helsingHouse Fastighetsmäklare
International pros:
- Bernhard Kurz, architect at IFUB, Germany
- Andrew Brown, architect at Brown + Brown 9 Architects, UK0016
- Enrique Espinosa, Partner at PKMN Arquitectura, Spain
- Julissa Medina Moreno, Interior Designer at deSYgn by JM2, France
- Anthony Clark, Architect at Black Line One X Architecture Studio, Australia
- Alexandra Fedorova, Alexandra Fedorova Architect, Russia
What is an open floor plan?
According to the dictionary definition, this is "a space without partitions or with a small number of them." This usually refers to the main living spaces in the home – the kitchen, dining room and living room – which create an open, streamlined space with few partitions and the abandonment of traditional isolated rooms in favor of a shared space.
Technically, bedrooms and bathrooms can also be open-plan, of course, but this article will focus on open-plan living in the three spaces mentioned above.
Architect Bernhard Kurz from IFUB explains: “In Germany, there is a growing trend towards open floor plans. This item is in almost all of our projects - sometimes to a greater extent, sometimes to a lesser extent. Usually it concerns the living room, kitchen and dining room, while the study and bedrooms remain separate small rooms.
Benefits of an open floor plan
Why is an open floor plan attractive? According to Andrew Brown of Brown + Brown Architects, “This solution remains very popular in the UK and seems to be best adapted to the lifestyle of most people and families in particular. Lunches and dinners are not as formal as they used to be, and this has also contributed to the growing popularity of open-plan living.”
In the UK, where large spaces are rare, architects are often asked to 'enlarge' Victorian or Georgian houses by removing walls, connecting rooms and creating a bright and airy space for the whole family.
“Although we are often asked to design an open-plan space, there are often opposite requests,” notes Andrew Brown.
Black Line One X Architecture Studio
Incentive to communicate more
As an architectural solution, an open floor plan affects how the residents of a home use space and interact with each other.
According to Melbourne-based architect Anthony Clarke, “Most of our clients love the idea of living in a home where there is a lot of common space that allows for more interaction with each other. First of all, it allows residents to be more open and more likely to engage in dialogue.”
Black Line One X Architecture Studio
More time outside
Clarke also notes that an open floor plan allows for more light to enter and connect with the space in the garden or yard. “Our Engawa house project in North Fitzroy, Melbourne is a great example of open floor plan for open living,” explains the architect.
“Thanks to this solution, the apartment of each of the tenants has a lot of light and access to a garden.”
Australian Houzz user Karin Madgwick shares this sentiment: "In Australia, it's worth choosing an open floor plan that then transitions into an outdoor space."
Domus Nova
Great solution for small spaces
Demolishing walls to expand rooms in small homes is a popular way to visually enlarge a space. German architect Bernhard Kurz says: “In areas with a highly competitive real estate market, the optimization of small apartments is more likely due to the lack of space.”
Russian architect Alexandra Fedorova agrees that this is the best solution for medium-sized spaces. “When it comes to apartments with an area of less than 300 square meters, then an open plan is the most rational solution,” says the architect. “More and more people want to live in an airy, spacious and well-lit space.
”
Alexandra adds: “For my own apartment, I chose an open floor plan and have not regretted it.”
Disadvantages of an open plan
While the arguments for this architectural solution are compelling, they also have disadvantages. Some believe that this trend will soon come to naught.
UK user Margretg2 explains: “Like many elements in interior design (solid doors, overlapped Victorian fireplaces, stone-look chimney ledges, one bright wall in the apartment), the open floor plan is a nod to fashion. When it goes out of fashion, we will all rebuild the walls and partitions that the previous owners destroyed.”
Our user fizzfan54 raises the issue of privacy and lack of it: “I prefer private rooms - as long as they are big enough. How else to escape from the constant crowd of people in the house?
Eilmann Architekt
The smell of cooked food
The kitchen is at the center of many open-plan spaces.
A 2015 Houzz survey of the latest kitchen design trends found that the majority of homeowners in the UK who remodeled their kitchens this year were planning an open floor plan. Similarly, 48% percent of Canadians surveyed were looking to install a kitchen in 2015 that "would be connected to other rooms."
However, the role of the kitchen is the subject of heated debate among our users. Many of them point to the smell of cooked food and dirty dishes as a disadvantage.
Luisa Ramos, our user from Spain, says: “I like the idea of an open floor plan, but if you have a large family that uses the kitchen a lot, this layout is not very convenient, as the smell will spread throughout the house and in winter it is difficult get rid of."
Mauro Sini Fotografo
Extra noise
Olena Tkach from Ukraine writes: “A separate kitchen is a must in our family, as I cook when everyone is asleep. So I have to close the doors to use the blender, mixer, or even just cut vegetables with a knife.
” However, she agrees: "Everything else (eating, watching TV, doing your own thing, relaxing and talking) is better to be combined in one space to make communication between family members easier."
Alexandra Fedorova notes: “An ideal house should have two kitchens: one connected to the living space and one working. We usually use this option in our projects.”
Clutter and Lack of Sufficient Storage
Demolishing walls also destroys storage space that many homeowners need. This is one of the reasons open floor plans are not always popular.
Our German user Ich Du writes: “An open-plan space looks bigger, brighter and more inviting. But... I don't like it when my kitchen looks untidy and the guests see it. What I really need is a large kitchen where you can eat every day with the whole family, as well as a separate living and dining space where you can spend time with friends and guests.
Russian user Oxana1963 says: “If you have a small kitchen, then with an open plan it will become even smaller, since the walls where you could put kitchen furniture and a refrigerator will disappear.
”
Alexandra Fedorova's Bureau
4. Lack of personal space
Oksana is one of those who tried open floor plan and now wants to return to the traditional and isolated scheme: “In my new apartment, I combined the kitchen and living room, and now I'm thinking about how to separate them."
One of the problems she faced was the mess. “When you have guests, at some point dirty pans, plates, bowls are everywhere. It does not paint the living room at all, ”she says.
“If you don't have another living room or a separate study, then the second person living in the apartment will not have the opportunity to have a cup of tea or chat with friends while you watch TV. Inviting guests into the bedroom to chat is not a good idea.”
D+FORM
Why open floor plans are so popular around the world
Design and architecture trends are becoming more and more global.
Thanks to the flow of ideas from one country to another, certain trends become popular all over the world. Has this influenced the spread of open-planning?
Enrique Espinoza, partner at Spanish architecture studio PKMN, believes this global exchange of ideas has played a role in the rise in popularity of open floor plans. “Spanish architecture, where the Mediterranean tradition is strong, has always been dominated by a closed layout with a separate room for each function,” explains the architect. But times have changed: "Through life in a globalized world, television constantly showing other types of homes (especially American and British ones), and more flexible room layouts like those we see at IKEA, ideas about the home have changed and expanded."
According to Espinoza, access to global architectural trends has had a major impact on local design: “Gradually, we came to realize that such a layout is more adapted to modern life.” Which, he believes, is very different from the modern model of the Spanish family - "a married couple with two children who leave their parental home when they reach 20 years old.
"
Dyer Grimes Architecture
Up for Controversy
Given the scale of the debate, the open floor plan is no doubt a hot topic among Houzz users.
At the time of this writing, Houzz USA has over 77,000 discussion topics in the Open Plan Help section. There are 2400 such discussions in the UK and 1400 in Australia. It looks like a lot of our users are looking for advice on open floor plans!
Egue y Seta
Poll
As part of an informal survey, an impressive part of the users preferred the open floor plan to the closed one. In some countries, the preponderance was significant: in the UK, Spain and Russia, more than 60% voted for open planning.
However, the countries where this type of layout proved to be the most popular were Germany and Australia. In Germany, 4 out of 5 users chose it. In warm and sunny Australia, this option was supported by three-quarters of those surveyed.
Our Australian user Carrie Langlow writes: “In Australia this is the obvious choice… We love the open floor plan and the mix of indoor and outdoor space…”
PAD studio
Way forward?
However, there is always a third party in the polls, and many users have come up with interesting solutions to the problems that open floor plans bring. Australian user howde1 says the ideal solution would be "the ability to close or open the space as needed", and it seems that the flexibility of living spaces is a priority for many.
Mimi Fuchs from Germany writes: “Open space is great, but in some situations it's better to have two separate rooms. Therefore, I like solutions that allow you to change the room with sliding doors or walls.”
Andrew Brown of Brown + Brown Architects echoes this sentiment and says that when his company designs an open space, "the team does everything to give residents privacy.
"
In the future, open floor plans will be combined with closed ones.
“The house we worked on in Aberdeen has an open floor plan in the kitchen and dining room,” Brown explains. “Originally, the clients wanted all three rooms on the ground floor to be open, but due to building permit issues, we were only allowed to connect two rooms at the back of the house. Despite this, the customers are pleased that the third room remained isolated, and both solutions are combined in the house.”
pkmn Arquitectura
The future is multifunctional
The architects of PKMN Arquitectura found a very successful solution to connect open and closed space: they designed movable walls that allow the space to be used for different purposes, as shown in the photo.
“The future of the home is increasingly connected with the optimization of space and its multifunctionality in an environment where every square meter becomes more expensive.
The ability to use all the space in the house every second increases the value of the property,” explains Erique Espinoza, partner of the bureau.
In the future, everything is made to order
Julissa Medina Moreno, interior designer at the French bureau deSYgn by JM2, says: “The French prefer to live in as open spaces as possible, with natural light and air circulation.”
However, she adds: “The love for lofts is gone. People no longer want to build walls, but seek to zone spaces with furniture. Therefore, there are more and more requests for special furniture, which are designed by architects and interior designers and then made by specialists.”
STEPHEN FLETCHER ARCHITECTS
Homes must adapt to the changing needs of families
Watching our homes change and how open floor plans will look in the future is exciting. “Buildings must adapt over time to the changing needs of their occupants,” says Andrew Brown.
It is difficult to predict what family life will look like in 20 years. It will be interesting to see how an increasing number of family members from different generations are living together due to rising real estate prices. I'm sure this will make the open floor plan popular."
TELL US…
Do you have an open floor plan in your house? Or do you prefer separate rooms? Share your ideas in the comments section.
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