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How To Plan An Open Plan Kitchen Living Room

Knowing how to plan an open-plan kitchen living room is important when creating a multi-functional room that combines cooking, lounging, and dining in one. By bringing people and activities together, this floorplan offers a flexible living space that can improve home and work life balance, quality family time, and entertaining. With these large layouts, expert planning is crucial to achieve a coordinated aesthetic around the home, while ensuring the format is highly functional.

An open-plan kitchen living room is a large space, with no dividing walls, that blends cooking with dining, entertaining, or socialising in a single area.

Is an open-plan kitchen living room a good idea?

An open-plan kitchen living room is a great idea for large families, those that love to entertain, or homeowners that prefer accessible spaces as it creates a large area for many activities.
Does an open-plan kitchen living room add value?

With the right planning, an open-plan kitchen living room can add value to a property, especially with an extension, as it offers a flexible format attractive to prospective buyers.

Design a layout that is fit for now and the future, so an open-plan kitchen living room adapts to change with ease. Furniture can also be used to create invisible zones without walls.

The faithful island

To prevent an open-plan room from feeling vacant, consider adding an island centrepiece like @house_no_5. This connects food prep and living areas while increasing counters for a variety of tasks.

See kitchen islands
Prepare for peninsula

A peninsula design, like @ourhome_at1, uses a row of units that juts out from the wall to create a physical divide between living and cooking zones. This format is great for boosting storage.

See peninsula kitchens

Go single-wall for small

When working with a small room, like @dustsheets_and_decor, a single wall setup will maximise space for extra zones. It also blends into the background for relaxing living areas.

See single wall kitchens
Use U-shaped units

Similar to the peninsula, a u-shaped floorplan, as seen in @whitewoodproperty, can have a dividing bank of cupboards to separate activities. This layout is less crowded and improves accessibility.

See u-shaped kitchens

In a layout where everything is on show, smart storage ensures everyday clutter stays hidden. It also provides space to stow essentials, from movie-night media units to dining dressers.

Firm foundation

Base units are the foundation of an open-plan space. Used for cooking, dining, or living, they are unsung heroes of an efficient setup, like @renoating_no.7's home.

See base storage
Harness a room height

Free up floor space in an open-plan room with towers. @bobbins.at.home shows how the extra storage can be used for table essentials in a dining zone.

See pull out kitchen storage

Do more with drawers

Drawers offer ample and accessible storage for all zones in an open-plan room. We like how @c_rprojects uses them for a floating media centre.

See storage drawers
Build in bins

Keep mess hidden with integrated bins just like @insidenumber100. Fitted behind a cupboard door, this option blends with the surrounding units for a uniform look.

See integrated kitchen bins

See kitchen storage

Whether it is to limit noise, combat fragrant smells, or disguise unsightly clutter - the right equipment can transform an open-plan living area from fashionable to highly functional.

Clean the air

Prevent cooking odours, grease, and steam from travelling to other zones with a high-powered extractor that covers the room's square footage.

See cooker hoods
Keep it quiet

Pick laundry machines that have a lower noise rating to prevent unwanted distractions when relaxing or working from home in an open living space.

See laundry

Pick a multipurpose model

Save space in an open-plan layout by choosing multifunctional laundry equipment that washes and dries clothes in one machine.

See washer dryers
Reduce visual clutter

Create a minimal aesthetic in an open-plan kitchen living room by opting for integrated equipment, which sits behind cupboard doors for a streamlined look.

See integrated dishwashers

For the final flourish in an open-plan space, consider how fixtures can complement the activities carried out in this room.

Add flexible features

Convert an open-plan kitchen living room into broken plan using room dividers. By closing off an area or expanding available space, it can cater for different tasks.

See sliding door gear
Layer lighting

Mix and match different lights to illuminate everyday activities. This will also make it easy to adjust the ambience of each zone taking it from day to night.

See kitchen lighting