An open-plan home with shared living, dining and kitchen spaces can have many benefits. It can even help give your property in Northampton an edge when it comes to selling it later down the line. But there can be cons as well as pros. It’s important to weigh up your options and consider both negatives and positives to determine what’s right for your home.
If you’re thinking about whether you should make your Northampton home open plan, here’s a summary of the pros and cons to help you decide.
What are the Benefits of Having an Open Plan Home?
1. It’s Sociable
Since open-plan homes have shared dining, living and cooking spaces, it’s easy to see how it makes your home a more sociable space. Preparing food in the kitchen as the host of a dinner party doesn’t have to mean you’re cut off from the conversation. Plus, you can chat with the family wherever you are on weeknights.
2. It Maximises Available Space
Open-plan living means knocking down walls, which doesn’t just give the illusion of more space, it actually increases your available square meterage. With shared living, kitchen and dining areas, you can maximise your space and make a smaller home look bigger.
3. It Boosts Sunlight
No matter which floor plan you opt for when opening up your home, you’re bound to boost the natural light in all your key spaces. A healthy dose of sunlight can easily make a space appear bigger. Plus, it’s a top selling point for most homes!
What are the Drawbacks of Open Plan Living?
1. Noise
Even though an open-plan home can make a space more sociable, it can also feel noisier. If someone’s cooking in the kitchen while you’re trying to watch TV in the living room, you may not be able to hear your show over the clattering of pans. The slightest sounds can carry across the entire house in an open-plan home and make it harder to enjoy quiet times.
2. Heating
Naturally, open-plan homes are harder to heat since bigger spaces can take longer to warm up than smaller ones. However, there are lots of ways to combat this, as an open-plan home doesn’t necessarily mean a cold one. Ensuring you have good insulation, double-glazed windows, and efficient energy options (like underfloor heating) can make it easier to keep your open-plan home warm.
3. Lack of Zones
With the rise of home working, having ‘zones’ is becoming a desirable feature for many buyers. Before making your home open plan, consider your family's working arrangements. Noise travels far in open-plan spaces, which can make it harder for multiple people to work. Plus, having separate ‘work’ and ‘play’ spaces can be more desirable when selling your home.
Need Advice On Your Open Plan Living Space?
Choosing to make your Northampton home open plan is a big decision. There are many factors to consider regarding how you currently utilise your space and what makes practical sense for your family. Plus, resale value should always be taken into account.
If you’re looking at making your Northampton home open plan for re-sale purposes, Horts are your local property experts. Our friendly team of estate agents would love to chat about the value of your home.
Give us a call today for advice on 01604 639933 or send us an email to northampton@horts.co.uk.
If you arte thinking of selling, you can request a valuation here.
Frequently Asked Questions About An Open Plan Layout
Will converting to an open plan layout in my Northampton home increase natural light?
Yes, opening up living spaces in an open-plan layout can enhance natural light distribution throughout your home, creating a brighter and more spacious atmosphere.
Can I still have separate rooms within an open-plan space?
While open-plan layouts merge living and dining areas, you can incorporate partitions or furniture to create distinct zones for privacy or functionality.
How do open-plan living spaces affect the value of my property?
Open plan layouts often appeal to buyers for their modern and sociable design, more natural light, and potentially increasing the market value of your home.
Are there drawbacks to converting my home to an open-plan layout?
While open-plan spaces promote sociability and maximise natural light, they may also lead to noise issues and heating challenges due to fewer walls for insulation.
