The kitchen is the heart of the home, where you not only store and cook food but also dine, relax, and socialize. The layout you select is the foundation of any kitchen design, and your chosen layout significantly impacts functionality, aesthetics, and how you use your kitchen.
One of the key decisions when planning a kitchen remodel is whether to go for an enclosed kitchen or an open plan layout. Even if your existing kitchen is enclosed, a remodel is the ideal time to reinvent your space by removing a wall if you want to update to an open plan. The layout you choose depends in large part on your personal preferences, household needs, and home design. Each has its own pros and cons so our blog will explore the benefits of each option, and the drawbacks, to help you make an informed decision!
The Importance of the Kitchen Layout
First, let’s discuss what a kitchen layout is and why it is an important building block of any kitchen design. Your kitchen layout defines your space, including how each square foot is used for cooking, storage, dining, and entertainment. The layout also affects traffic flow throughout your space, as well as how you will interact with family and guests. Your layout is influenced by the size and shape of your kitchen, but is primarily determined by the way you position your kitchen cabinets, including extra elements like a kitchen island or standalone beverage bar.
Get your layout right, and the rest of your design will fall into place. Choose a layout that enhances your home’s aesthetics, improves long-term functionality of your kitchen, and positively impacts resale value. The top layouts for kitchen designs include a galley style, single wall, L-shape, and U-shape. Key considerations include lifestyle, home size, and personal design preferences.
Your kitchen layout may also be influenced by whether you have an enclosed kitchen or an open plan layout. Let’s explore each of these options to find out which one is right for your home!
What Is an Open Plan Kitchen?
What do we mean when we talk about an open plan kitchen design? This kitchen style is open to adjacent living spaces or dining areas. Your kitchen blends seamlessly with these rooms, creating a larger, airier room at the heart of your home. This spacious kitchen style gives you a clear line of sight throughout the first floor. Depending on the size of your kitchen and your preferences, an open plan kitchen design often features a kitchen island or peninsula as a boundary and to delineate work zones.
Pros of an Open Plan Kitchen
An open plan kitchen design is not for everyone but if you love an open, connected, sociable home it might be the perfect choice for you. It can also be ideal for a home where you frequently entertain. Here are some of the key benefits of an open plan kitchen:
- Sociable and Family Friendly: This kitchen style encourages interaction while cooking and entertaining. It is also ideal for a family home with young children where you need to be able to work in the kitchen while keeping an eye on the kids.
- More Natural Light: Open plan kitchens allow maximum natural light, which enhances the brightness of your room and creates a welcoming atmosphere.
- Spacious Feel: They are ideal in a smaller home as they make more compact spaces feel larger and more open.
- Versatile Design: An open plan kitchen is a blank canvas that allows for flexible furniture arrangements and multi-functional spaces.
Cons of an Open Plan Kitchen
Open plan kitchens are not for everyone and do not suit every house. It’s important to consider the negative side of this kitchen style to be sure it is the right choice for your household:
- Noise and Distractions: In an open plan kitchen, cooking sounds and appliance noise can spread to living areas, though this can be mitigated by choosing appliances and range hoods that minimize noise.
- Less Privacy: Everything is on display to the entire open plan first floor in an open plan layout, including kitchen messes and clutter. Other features like a butler’s pantry or even a deep sink can help hide messes when you are hosting guests.
- Limited Storage and Wall Space: Fewer walls mean fewer cabinets and storage options, though a walk-in pantry or large kitchen island with storage can help augment your kitchen’s storage options.
- Odors Travel: Cooking smells can linger in connected spaces, but you can mitigate this with a good quality range hood for ventilation.
What Is a Closed Kitchen?
An enclosed kitchen design, on the other hand, is simply a kitchen that is enclosed by walls, which separates it from adjacent spaces like your living and dining rooms. This is a more traditional style kitchen, which provides a dedicated space for meal preparation and cooking. It may or may not include limited dining space, like a breakfast nook or an island with barstools, but your main dining area is usually in an adjacent dining room.
Pros of a Closed Kitchen
If you prefer to keep your cooking contained in a defined area, where you can close the door on messes and cooking odors, then an enclosed kitchen design might be for you. Here are some of the key benefits of an enclosed kitchen design:
- More Privacy: It keeps messes hidden from guests and living areas and offers privacy within each room. This means you can chat discreetly over a cup of coffee with your neighbor in the kitchen, while your teenagers hang out with friends in the living room.
- Better Containment of Noise and Odors: One of the key benefits of an enclosed kitchen is that cooking sounds and smells stay confined within the kitchen. While you can mitigate against this with proper ventilation, there is always a risk of strong cooking odors wafting throughout the house.
- Additional Storage and Counter Space: More walls mean you can install extra cabinetry and countertops, giving you plenty of storage and workspace.
- Defined Work Area: An enclosed kitchen design creates a focused space for food preparation and cooking.
Cons of a Closed Kitchen
While it offers many benefits, there are downsides to choosing an enclosed kitchen layout for your home. These include:
- Less Social Interaction: If you are the main cook in your home, you may find yourself isolated from family and guests, especially when preparing meals or during a party.
- Limited Natural Light and Ventilation: An enclosed space has more limited access to windows to allow in natural light, which may result in a darker space.
- Can Feel Confined: In a smaller home in particular, an enclosed kitchen may not work well as it can feel very confined and not have sufficient room for multiple people to gather, cook, and clean up.
- Restricted Flow: An enclosed kitchen design creates barriers between rooms, which makes entertaining more challenging. Guests tend to congregate in the kitchen, so you may find your enclosed kitchen is suddenly overwhelmed by visitors, whereas in an open plan kitchen they can move more freely between spaces.
Which Kitchen Layout is Right for You?
So, which kitchen style is best for your home? There are several key factors you should consider when choosing between an open plan and an enclosed kitchen design.
Consider Your Lifestyle
Frequent entertainers may prefer an open plan kitchen design for seamless hosting. You can mitigate concerns about mess by including a butler’s pantry with space to stage food before serving or stow dirty dishes until you have time to fully clean up. If you prioritize privacy and organization, then you might opt for a closed kitchen design.
Home Layout and Size
Open kitchens can fit any style, but they work especially well in modern, smaller homes with open concept design. Closed kitchens may suit traditional homes or larger homes where separation is desired and you have plenty of room for a spacious enclosed kitchen.
Family Needs
Families with young children might appreciate the visibility and open sight lines of an open plan kitchen so you don’t have to run between rooms to keep an eye on dinner and the kids. Households with multiple cooks may benefit from the separation and extra countertop space afforded by a closed kitchen. If you are designing a kitchen for a home with adults or grown kids, you might prefer an enclosed kitchen where you can focus on whipping up your favorite dishes with limited distractions.
Design Preferences
Open kitchens offer a contemporary and connected feel, where your kitchen’s style blends with the rest of the home. Closed kitchens, on the other hand, allow for distinct, separate aesthetics for each space.
Choose a Kitchen Layout that Enhances Your Home and Lifestyle!
Both open plan and closed kitchens have advantages and drawbacks. The best choice depends on your home’s layout, personal preferences, and lifestyle needs, so it is important to carefully consider your options and find the solution that works best for your home and family. Look for a professional design and remodeling team who can help tailor the perfect kitchen layout for your home. Contact the Guthrie Kitchen & Bath Plus team to get started!
