Open plan living: does it suit every home?

Knocking through walls to create open plan living spaces has been one of the most popular home improvements of the past decade. But while it suits many properties, it is not always the right answer. Before you pick up a sledgehammer, here are some things to consider.

The appeal

Open plan layouts connect the kitchen, dining, and living areas into one flowing space. They make homes feel larger, improve sightlines, and let families be together even when they are doing different things. For entertaining, they are hard to beat.

When it works well

Open plan living suits properties where the existing rooms are small and disconnected. Many Victorian and Edwardian homes in Oxford have a series of narrow rooms along a hallway that feel dark and cramped. Removing the dividing walls and opening onto the garden can completely change the feel of the ground floor.

When to think twice

In some homes, separate rooms serve a purpose. If you work from home and need a quiet space away from the kitchen, or if family members have different schedules, having distinct rooms with doors that close offers flexibility that open plan does not. Noise travels easily across open plan spaces, and cooking smells will reach every corner.

The broken plan compromise

A middle ground that has become popular is broken plan living. Instead of removing walls entirely, you might use partial walls, sliding doors, or changes in floor level to define different zones within a larger space. This gives the openness and light of open plan while allowing areas to be separated when needed.

Structural implications

Most internal walls in older properties are load-bearing. Removing them requires steel beams to carry the load above, and this is work that needs a structural engineer and an experienced builder. The cost of the steelwork and making good can vary considerably depending on the span involved.

The best approach is to start with how you actually live in your home, rather than following a trend. A good architect will help you find the layout that works for your family.