The pandemic has reached its third year, and people are still cooped up inside their homes. Families struggle to find ways to entertain themselves, and many are losing their needed private space to function. Big families are suffering the most from this space deprivation.
When you have a big family, you need a lot of space. And not just for everyone to sleep comfortably – you need space to be able to do your own thing, too. Unfortunately, with the pandemic still raging on, many people are stuck at home with their families and not much else. This can lead to a lot of tension and conflict, as everyone is constantly on top of each other.
If you’re struggling to find ways to cope with living in close quarters with your family, it might be good to adopt an open floor plan.
What’s an Open Floor Plan?
An open floor plan is a layout where the rooms are connected, usually without any walls in between. This can create a more spacious feel in your home, and it can also be more functional for big families.
The open floor plan was invented in the 1950s when architects became more interested in creating more open and connected homes. It was a response to most homes’ traditional, compartmentalized layout up until that point.
There are many benefits to having an open floor plan, but here are a few that are especially relevant for big families:
- More Privacy: One of the biggest complaints of living in close quarters is no privacy. With an open floor plan, everyone has their own space to retreat when they need some alone time.
- More Freedom: An open floor plan also gives everyone more freedom to move around and do their own thing. There are no walls or barriers between rooms so that everyone can come and go.
- Better Communication: It’s easier to communicate and connect when everyone is in the same space. There’s no need to shout from one room to another, and you can easily have impromptu conversations or family meetings.
If you’re thinking about adopting an open floor plan, there are a few things you need to keep in mind. The first is removing partition walls and replacing them with support beams.
Partition Walls Vs. Support Beams
If you have an open floor plan, you need to get rid of the partition walls that divide your rooms. Partition walls are sometimes load-bearing, which means they support the weight of the upper floors in your home. They’re also usually made of materials like brick or concrete, which can be expensive to remove.
Instead of partition walls, you’ll need to put in support beams. Support beams are made of wood or steel, and they can be placed anywhere in your home. They don’t have to be load-bearing so that you can put them anywhere. This gives you a lot of flexibility in designing your open floor plan.
Furniture Layout
Another thing to keep in mind is the layout of your furniture. In an open floor plan, you need to be careful about arranging your furniture. You don’t want to create any obstacles or obstructions that make it challenging to move around freely. Instead, try to create a natural flow between the different areas of your home. A good example would be in your dining room.
People’s dining rooms tend to be the most crowded. This is why you should arrange your dining room furniture to allow people to move around quickly. For example, you might want to put your dining table in the middle of the room with chairs around it. This way, people can easily pullout a chair and sit down without having to move any other furniture.
Another thing to keep in mind is the size of your furniture. In an open floor plan, you want to avoid bulky furniture that takes up a lot of space. Instead, try to find furniture that’s sleek and streamlined. It will give the illusion of more space and make your home feel bigger.
Better Functionality
One of the best things about an open floor plan is that it can make your home more functional. For example, if you have a big family, you might want to put the kitchen in the middle of the house. This way, everyone can be close to the food, and there’s no need to shout from one room to another.
You can also use an open floor plan to create different areas for different activities. For example, you might want to have a play area for the kids and a separate area for the adults. This way, everyone can do their own thing without getting in each other’s way.
An open floor plan can be a great way to create more space in your home and make it more functional. Make sure to follow these fundamentals, and you’ll be on your way to transitioning to an open floor plan.
