Does your open floor plan have inviting, cozy spaces?
While open floor plans are often associated with loft, industrial and large-scale barn conversion living, they are common in new construction and among home remodeling projects. Even a partial open plan, with access from the kitchen to a family or other living space — fits the bill for open floor plan footprints.
The Spruce.com reported more than 70% of prospective home buyers wanted to see homes with open floor plans. But for some people open floor plan layouts sacrifice privacy and the ability to decorate individual rooms with specific themes.
“I think there’s generational demand” for open floor plans and for traditional floor plans, said Jaimie Meehan, a Realtor at The Melissa Healy Group at Keller Williams Real Estate in Doylestown.
Meehan said many younger home buyers look for the open kitchen and living room or family room combo — at a minimum.
Older generations — like those in Gen X and the baby boomer — are more willing to consider traditional closed room floor plans, which also include private room spaces.
Across all home-buying demographics, some combination of open format spaces remains in high demand, Meehan said.
She said new parents and those with younger children like the ability to keep an eye on the kids while preparing meals and snacks, doing routine chores or paying bills.
“A great room naturally has space for the kids, crafts or whatever flexible space the family needs,” she said.
Pam Lazor, an interior designer and owner of Casa Double L Interior Design in Riegelsville said, even in an open floor plan, people want individual rooms and cozy spaces.
If you plan to repaint this year, consider warm paint colors and tones.
“Jewel tones are strong again, as is anything warm — from warm creams and rich warm chocolate browns,” Lazor explained.
Warm color tones — those with yellow, orange, red and a combination of these colors — will naturally make a space feel friendly and inviting. Cool colors like blue, green and purple often evoke calm and relaxation. Whites and neutrals can be either warm or cool.
Glossy paint colors or wallpapers on ceilings are another approach to cozy up a space.
Lazor suggests using fabrics like silk or velvet on walls. Warm wood tone floors and antique rugs — including layering area rugs — can help create a rich and appealing environment.
“Layer rugs, like a beautiful sisal layered with a needlepoint or kilim rug on top. This creates that layered look — especially with vintage and antique rugs” easily warming up a space, Lazor said.
As with paint and color choices, lighting comes in warm and cool tones, too, and it makes a big difference, especially in large spaces.
“Lighting is so important for cozy spaces, as is having it coming from table tops, sconces and ceiling or overhead lights,” she said.
For cozy lighting vibes, stick with warm Kelvin (k) numbers from 2700 to 3000k.
Screens, especially artfully crafted screens, antique, vintage or one-of-a-kind pieces can help define space in the context of an open floor plan.
“Something different made from metal can look great,” Lazor said.
She suggests bookshelves, a round skirted table with photos, pillows and blankets on a sofa can all add a cozy factor and feel to the space.
Furniture placement can help define not only use but space in a large open floor plan. Use sofas, sideboards and other larger pieces — such as a farm or large scale table and chairs — as section and use anchors to help define the open space.
“When you visually layer a room, you have some dimension. That’s when you tell a story,” Lazor said.
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