Small Open Concept Kitchen and Living Room Designs That Feel Deceptively Spacious
Open concept kitchen and living room designs are an increasingly popular choice for homeowners looking to create a more open, connected floorplan. By removing the walls between these two spaces, you can achieve a seamless flow and make a small home feel more spacious.
Designing an open concept layout in a modestly sized home does present some challenges, however. Without clear divisions between rooms, it can be tricky figuring out how to delineate separate functional zones for cooking, dining, and relaxing. The key is getting the layout, storage solutions, lighting, and other design elements just right.
Strategic Lighting Enhances the Feeling of Space
Lighting plays a critical role in any interior design, but it takes on even greater significance in a small open concept kitchen and living room. Adequate natural light streaming in through windows will make the space feel bright and airy. Supplement with plenty of artificial lighting too - pendant lights over the kitchen island, recessed lighting to illuminate work zones, and accent lighting throughout.
Use dimmer switches to adjust the lighting based on the task or time of day. Careful placement of fixtures can help define the kitchen, dining, and living room zones within the open concept layout.
Furniture Layout Defines Each Area's Function
Arranging furniture strategically is key to delineating separate spaces in an open floor plan. Avoid pushing larger pieces flush against the walls, which can make a room feel boxy and closed in. Instead, float furniture away from the perimeters to open up floor space visually.
In the living area, choose multifunctional furnishings like storage ottomans and benches to maximize usefulness. The kitchen layout should enable an efficient cooking workspace and fluid traffic flow. Maintain a clear route between all zones.
Built-In and Freestanding Storage Offers Organization
Lacking defined rooms with walls and doors, open concept spaces demand thoughtful storage solutions. Maximize every inch with built-in cabinetry, shelving, and racks that blend seamlessly into the design.
Freestanding storage pieces like a kitchen island with shelves and drawers or a wheeled cart offer flexibility. Baskets and bins keep pantry items and living room clutter organized and out of sight.
Consistent Flooring Unifies the Space
Choosing one cohesive flooring material for the kitchen, dining area, and living room is an effective trick for making an open concept space appear larger. The uniform floor flows seamlessly from one functional zone to the next.
Area rugs in the living room and dining areas define those spaces while injecting color, pattern, and texture. Reflective surfaces like wood or tile also maximize light.
Paint Colors Articulate Each Zone
While flooring should unify an open concept design, strategic use of paint color can help delineate the kitchen, dining, and living areas. Neutral hues keep the space feeling airy and expansive, while an accent wall in a bolder tone adds character.
Shift colors near the junction between two zones to mark a subtle transition. For example, change from soft gray in the living room to light blue in the kitchen. Paint the ceiling white to amplify brightness.
Ceiling Treatments Increase the Feeling of Space
Drawing the eye upward is another clever technique for making a small open layout appear more expansive. High ceilings with exposed beams or vaulted ceilings enhance vertical space visually. For standard height ceilings, a light, reflective color reads as taller.
Skylights and clerestory windows in the kitchen also usher in natural light from above. The spacious aura these ceiling treatments create make the open concept space feel larger.
Smart Kitchen Layouts Maximize a Modest Footprint
With a contiguous kitchen, dining, and living room, it's especially important to map out an efficient kitchen layout. Opt for a galley, L-shaped, or U-shaped kitchen design to make full use of the footprint. Include a kitchen island if space allows to separate the cooking zone from the living area.
Ample counter space and storage make small open concept kitchens highly functional. Locate appliances wisely, allowing room to circulate and open cabinets and drawers with ease.
Defining the Zones Within the Open Plan
Within the greater open concept space, furniture layout, lighting design, rugs, and paint colors all help define the kitchen, dining, and living room zones. Strategically place key furniture pieces like the sofa, dining table, and kitchen island to anchor each area.
Overhead pendant lights above the kitchen island help delineate this work zone, while accent tables with lamps mark the living room. Area rugs under the dining table and living room furniture further distinguish individual spaces.
Functional Furniture Enhances a Modest Footprint
Opting for multifunctional furniture is a savvy move in a compact open concept interior. Ottomans with built-in storage double as extra seating and sneaky storage solutions. Constructed from durable, wipeable materials, kitchen carts offer work space and organization.
Look for dining benches and tables with hidden storage inside the bases. Shelving units like étagères showcase decorative objects while sorting clutter out of view. The versatility of these designs optimize the possibilities within a petite footprint.
Designing a seamless, spacious-feeling open concept kitchen, dining, and living room within a modest square footage is entirely possible. Strategic decisions about layout, storage, lighting, color, and multifunctional furnishings allow you to make the most of the footprint. While small in size, an intelligently conceived open floor plan feels cohesive yet defined and surprisingly expansive.