Living with an Open Plan Layout: What Should You Expect?

Nowadays, open-plan living has become more popular among many Singaporean homeowners. This is regardless of whether they live in a landed house, a condo, or an HDB flat — more people want their interior design service in Singapore to create an open floor layout for their living spaces.

But is it the right choice for your lifestyle? To help you decide for yourself, let’s explore some expectations you ought to have before your interior design company converts your home to this layout.

First, Let’s Talk About the Benefits

Creates More Space - Open-concept layouts make your home feel much larger than it is. Without walls dividing the rooms, you now have more floor space to work with. You have an unobstructed flow from one area to another.

More Natural Lighting - This is one of the main advantages of open-plan living. You now have fewer walls blocking sunlight, so more areas of your home will brighten up. This can save you on electricity bills.

Unmatched Layout Versatility - You also have more freedom to move your furniture and decor around as you see fit, thanks to the lack of walls dictating how you can utilise the space.

Enhanced Interactions - Are you raising a family or fond of having guests over? An open floor plan lets everyone engage with each other more freely instead of being confined in separate spaces.

Considerations Before You Convert to Open-Plan Living

As appealing as the benefits above seem to be, let’s be realistic and make some considerations as well:

Noise Management - Open spaces can amplify noise. You may have to add elements that can help reduce noise levels, such as rugs, curtains, and acoustic panels.

You Will Lose Privacy - The lack of walls means a lack of privacy. It would be challenging to create quiet areas, which is often a must when your job is a work-from-home setup or if you simply need to relax away from everyone at home.

Air Conditioning - Large open spaces take longer to cool, so your air conditioning system may have to work harder to reach the temperature you want.

Check Your Building Guidelines - It’s also possible that you might not get a fully open space as you envisioned it to be. For instance, if you live in an HDB flat, you can’t hack down structural walls in your flat. It would compromise the building’s integrity and the safety of your fellow tenants.

Design Mistakes to Avoid

If you’re set on living the open-concept life, be sure to steer clear of these design mistakes:

No Zoning - Zoning is crucial even in an open-plan space. Utilise furniture, rugs, and lighting to define distinct sections within the layout, such as your dining and living areas. Otherwise, your home can feel chaotic.

Ignoring Cohesion - You’ll want to maintain a cohesive look throughout the open space, so choose a consistent colour palette and style for your walls, furniture, and cabinetry. This helps create harmony, unlike if you had a distinct design per zone.

Lack of Storage - Open plan layouts can quickly become cluttered because you have fewer walls on which to create storage solutions. Consider investing in furniture that comes with compartments, such as coffee tables with drawers or sofa chests.

Consider an Interior Designer’s Help

Hiring interior design services in Singapore can help you bring your open floor plans to life while avoiding pitfalls. These experts can provide you with design tips to make the most out of such a layout and assist you with other matters such as:

Finding a reliable contractor to manage the project. However, many interior design companies also provide project management services to save you the trouble.

Sourcing furniture, materials, and decor that suits your style.

Ensuring the design plans comply with relevant construction guidelines.

Open-Plan Living Isn’t For Everyone

Open floor layouts may be popular, but you should always consider your lifestyle needs before you start transforming your home. Do keep our tips in mind so you can optimise your space and enjoy it to the fullest.

When you’re ready, speak with an interior design company. They’ll guide you towards your goal of a dream home.