If you’re still in the design and planning phase of your kitchen remodel, or are simply throwing ideas around, you’ve likely thought about whether to have an open plan kitchen or not. While many more Americans are choosing this when having their kitchens built or remodeled, it isn’t right for everyone.
To help you determine whether your kitchen should be open plan or not, here are a few of the most common pros and cons.
What are the advantages of an open kitchen?
Some people who have open kitchens wonder why they hadn’t opted for one sooner, and here are just some of the reasons why:
- You get tons more natural light
Known to be an instant mood lifter, natural light in a kitchen is also great for prepping food and making your kitchen feel bigger, but the windows must be placed strategically in order to achieve the desired effect. In an open plan kitchen with windows and skylights in the right places, the entire space can feel so much more welcoming and spacious.
- Your kitchen is made to look and feel, bigger
As mentioned in the point above, an open plan kitchen combined with a ton of natural light, can instantly look and feel more spacious, and if your existing kitchen is small and dingy, extending the space and opening it up, will make you feel like spending all of your time in there!
- You can interact socially, while cooking
Whether you’re entertaining guests or preparing a family dinner, being able to cook and chat with others while you do so, is a wonderful thing, and can help you feel more connected to everybody present.
What are the disadvantages of an open kitchen?
Open kitchens do have some disadvantages, however, so it’s important to consider the points below before deciding how to remodel your kitchen:
- Cooking smells can permeate the entire home
Open kitchens unfortunately mean that the aromas of whatever you happen to be cooking, can (and invariably do!) waft throughout the entire home. While this isn’t a major con, some people do prefer the smell of cooking to be confined to the kitchen.
- It might get dustier
Due to the fact that the kitchen is open and exposed to the rest of the property, you may find that you have to dust and clean it a little more often. That said, kitchen cabinets can help protect much of the items in your kitchen, leaving you with just the surfaces to dust and sanitize.
- Configuring may prove trickier
When looking for cabinetry and appliances for your new kitchen, you may discover that some of the ones you want are designed only for closed kitchens, and simply wouldn’t work in an open one. This could see you having to have certain items custom made, which could increase the cost of your kitchen remodel. Also, if you already have a closed kitchen, your appliances and cabinets may have to bought again to fit your new, open plan kitchen.
Your local general contractor will be happy to discuss any concerns you might have as to the remodeling of your kitchen, and will work closely with you to ensure that you get a kitchen that fits all of your needs, perfectly.