Open-plan kitchens have gained popularity in recent years because of their ability to create a spacious and airy kitchen environment. By removing walls and segregation between the kitchen and the dining or living areas, you can create a sense of togetherness as it becomes easier to interact with other people while you are in the kitchen. However, such a design is not without its flaws, and in this post, we look at some of the pros and cons of an open-plan kitchen to help you decide whether it is suitable for you.
Advantages of an Open Plan Kitchen
Some of the advantages that you can enjoy with an open-plan kitchen include:
Improved Social Interaction
Open-plan kitchens enable you to interact with others who are not in the kitchen while you are there cooking or preparing food. This can be beneficial in the context of social interaction, such as if you are having guests over or if you enjoy engaging with your family members while cooking.
Enhanced Sense of Space
An open-plan kitchen can also make your kitchen and adjacent areas feel larger and more spacious. This is because the open plan creates a more seamless flow between the different spaces in your home, removing the barriers that would normally separate the kitchen from other living spaces.
Disadvantages of an Open Plan Kitchen
However, open-plan kitchens do not have disadvantages. These can include:
Noise and Distraction
On the flip side, an open plan kitchen also means that any sounds you make while cooking or preparing food will be able to more easily travel to the other spaces in your home. This can be distracting to others who are in the spaces adjacent to the kitchen, such as if they are trying to watch the television in the living room while you are cooking.
Odour and Grease Spread
If you do any heavy cooking in the kitchen, the odours and grease generated from such cooking will also be more easily able to spread to the spaces that are adjacent to the kitchen. The lack of a barrier between the kitchen and the surrounding spaces means that cooking smells are not prevented from leaving the kitchen and may linger in the air for some time, even after you have finished cooking. This can pose a challenge, especially if you frequently prepare foods with strong smells or odours.
Design Your Kitchen with Australian Heritage Homes
If you are still undecided about whether or not to incorporate an open-plan kitchen into your home, you might benefit from speaking with a professional who is able to assess your needs and make an appropriate recommendation. Australian Heritage Homes are the leading custom home builders in Melbourne, and our experts have had decades of experience helping homeowners design functional floor plans that take their needs into consideration. For a free consultation, simply contact us today and find out how we can help with all of your home-building needs!