by Gillian Haley, Vice President & Co-Owner, Haley Construction Company
Open-concept floor plans have dominated the housing market for a few decades, but the circumstances of the past couple of years in particular have led some of us to reconsider the pros and cons of so much openness on the home front.
Relatives moving in together, working from home and other trends have placed a new premium on privacy that can be harder to achieve without more walls and doors.
When you’re starting from scratch or remodeling your house, you now have more options than ever! Below we’ll tell you a little bit about them.
Traditional
This is what’s found in most homes built before the ’80s, composed mostly of enclosed rooms separated by doors around opening onto hallways with the possible exception of the living room and kitchen.
Smaller rooms are easier and less expensive to heat and cool, and you can decorate them individually without them clashing. The spaces are cozier and it’s much easier to block out such intrusions as noises and smells as you work, sleep or relax away from your family or roommates.
Open
Open-concept homes have low or no barriers between shared spaces like living and dining rooms or kitchens, often combining them into one impressive “great room” that opens up to the backyard.
These structures are often are brighter and make better use of natural light and are more accessible, especially for those with disabilities. It’s easier to watch young or elderly people who need supervision, accommodate larger gatherings for family and guests and generally have higher home values due to their popularity.
Hybrid
These homes incorporate elements of both broad types of floor plans by using countertops, kitchen islands, French doors and/or windows between rooms, half-walls and even collapsible walls or folding room dividers. They create removable barriers and add workspace for the kitchen but can require more work to create privacy.
Your choice
Your ideal floor plan will depend on your lifestyle, the number of people and generations living in your home, how much entertaining you do and other factors. We can help you build your best home!
