Open concept floor plans have steadily grown in popularity over the years and are now to the point where it is standard practice for anyone remodeling their home or building a custom home from the ground up to instill this design concept. The open floor plan is much more modern and casual, quite literally knocking down the walls that once separated the formal living spaces that had very specific purposes, allowing us to live our modern lives as intended. It has been a long time coming for this sweeping change in housing design as the more traditional model is something that was developed centuries ago, when everything from heating systems, plumbing, and entertainment were different and people used their house in a different way. But, why go through the stress and expense of tearing apart your own home when you can find open floor concepts perfect for your needs in a variety of exterior styles in the house plans at Schumacher Homes?
Ultimately, the open floor concept simply involves combining your great room with your living room and dining room areas into one larger space. Typically an open floor concept will also give those communal areas a view into the kitchen, if not completely combining the kitchen into the layout, creating a truly multifunctional space with a view of all the action. There are an incredible number of advantages to an open floor plan, just a few of which are provided here.
Space isn’t just for one activity anymore!
Traditional floor plans are divided into specific areas intended for specific activities. Don’t you recall that formal dining room that was off limits besides special occasions and holidays when your mom would set the table with the seldom used fine china? Many of us grew up with the living room, where no food was allowed and we couldn’t make tracks on the carpet. Modern families have altered the way that we use our homes. In an open concept home, you can play board games on the dining room table, eat dinner in front of the television, or set up your laptop on the kitchen island without feeling out of place.
Improved communication and socialization.
Without walls and other physical barriers, friends and family can now talk to each other in different rooms. It’s easy to keep an eye on your kids who might be drawing pictures on the dining table or watching a show on the couch while you’re preparing dinner in the kitchen or finishing up some last minute emails. The free flowing space is ideal for entertaining, allowing guests to mix and mingle in all common areas of the home, wandering to and from space to space without ever leaving the conversation. You also won’t feel trapped in the kitchen, putting the finishing touches on dinner, and music or sounds from the game on TV can permeate the common areas, allowing everyone to feel connected.
Hot Tip: If you are concerned about keeping your kitchen relatively clean and presentable during your next dinner party, allowing guests to wander through without stepping on crumbs and stray pieces of chopped vegetables or not wanting all those food crusted pots and pans piled up in the sink, consider adding a messy kitchen to your open plan where you can take care of a bit of the dirty work in hiding.
Shared natural lighting.
Interior spaces that tend to be more centralized, the kitchen for example, often lack adequate natural lighting from windows placed in exterior walls, making them feel a bit cramped and depressed. Our homeowners are choosing large feature windows and patio doors to help let more sunlight into their homes, enhancing the open and airy feeling of an open concept floor plan. We often find that natural light is one of those elements that isn’t always thought about when it isn’t present, but once you live in a home abounding with the glow of the sun, you’ll never want it to be any other way.
Connect your outdoor living space.
Take your open concept floor plan one step further by connecting your outdoor living space to your indoor area. The use of multiple sliding glass doors can help create a cohesive connection between the kitchen, great room and outdoor area. This is perfect for entertaining and will help guests feel connected whether they are gathering indoors or outdoors.
Hot Tip: Consider adding an outdoor kitchen to complement your indoor kitchen. Just like a covered patio or a pool, an outdoor kitchen deepens your home’s connection to the outside. Outdoor kitchens turn cooking, dining and lounging into a singular experience by bringing everyone together.
Better traffic flow.
Because other rooms, such as bathrooms, the owner’s retreat, a home office, or kids’ and guest rooms, connect directly to the great room and kitchen, there is no need for long hallways and transition space. By eliminating these simply utilitarian moments within the home, an open floor plan devotes more square footage to living spaces and bedroom areas of the home, giving you much more bang for your buck.
Configurations aplenty.
Without partition walls, it is easy to reconfigure furnishings and accessories to compliment different room layouts. With a bit of a creative eye, or some help from our team, you’ll find infinite ways of designing your open space. No longer locked into the dimensions of a basic rectangular room, a big, comfy couch can creep into the dining space or a multifunctional dining table can serve as a dividing element. Plants and artwork can be cleverly spaced out to provide an exciting look and feel along with a sense of warmth and togetherness.
Improved real estate value.
An open floor plan is a highly desirable choice for most homebuyers looking to purchase a new home. The flexibility, efficiency and spatial aesthetics of an open plan dramatically increases your home’s comfort and value. Whether you’re looking to build a home for resale or to rent to another family, or you just want to be sure it has value years down the line if and when you choose to move, choosing an open floor plan can really help with your valuation.
Designing and building an open concept floor plan tailored to your lifestyle has never been easier or more popular. If you like the idea of living in large, multifunctional spaces that provide plenty of light and connectivity, then put down the sledgehammer and check out the large selection of open floor plans offered by Schumacher Homes. Television home remodeling shows make good entertainment, but when it is time to celebrate that next family gathering, let our family help you celebrate it style with a modern, custom open floor plan, designed and inspired by you!
About Schumacher Homes
Schumacher Homes, based in Canton, Ohio, is America’s largest custom homebuilder, with operations in 22 locations in 11 states across the country. The National Housing Quality award winning company has built over 20,000 homes, customized to fit each family’s lifestyle, since its founding by Paul Schumacher in 1992. Schumacher Homes takes each customer’s inspiration and gives it a home. Each Schumacher Homes location includes a one-stop shopping design studio and model homes displaying the latest in architectural and product trends.