3 Reasons To Consider An Open Floor Plan (So you can see your hardwood flooring better.)

At The Carpet Center, we love an open floor plan. Why? Because it is the best layout for showcasing your hardwood flooring. The biggest challenge homeowners and business owners find when planning the interior design of an open floor plan is design cohesiveness. If much of the space can be seen from one vantage point, you’ll want it to match.  

How do you solve this dilemma? Start with the floor and design the room from there. Having the same flooring will give even the most diverse space a sense of unity.

1. An open space is a creative space.

A large open space is great for brainstorming ideas and problem solving, but that is not the only way an open floor plan inspires creativity.

When your space doesn’t have walls to designate spaces and break-up design points, you must do this with other elements. Here are a few ideas.

• Consider area rugs to define entertainment areas and conversation spaces.
• Lighting a large space doesn’t have to be a challenge if you use the lighting to illuminate different spaces strategically.
• Pick a color scheme before you begin. This will help establish design cohesiveness at every corner of your open floor plan.
• Use creative storage solutions to decorate and keep the space clean from every angle.

Many homeowners with open spaces find that the kitchen is the most challenging area to design. Kitchen renovations are the most costly. So make sure you create a kitchen that is easy to keep clean and has a great style you’ll be eager to show off.

2. Natural lighting will find its way to more corners of the house.

Let’s talk lighting. When you create your dream home, it’s not the designer decor or top-of-the-line furniture that’s going to sweep you off your feet every time you walk through the door. It’s the lighting.

None of your design efforts will be properly appreciated unless they are under—or over, or beside, or within… you get the idea—good lighting. Lighting comes in layers:

• Ambient lighting to illuminate the area,
• Task lighting that serves a purpose,
• And accent lighting to fill in all the other spaces that need light.

With an open space, lighting couldn’t be easier. Natural lighting will find its way throughout your whole space from each window. It will also help you define areas. A lamp over a desk will define a workspace. A chandelier over a dining table creates a dining room.  

3. Entertaining is easier when there are no walls to separate people.

When you are hosting a dinner party, where does everyone gather to talk? Many homeowners say their guests end up in the kitchen. With an open floor plan, your guests will find more comfortable seating, without having to miss out on conversation.

During your everyday activities, your family will enjoy more time together with an open floor plan. The members of your family will likely still need quiet spaces to retreat to do homework, read books, and more. That is why open floor plans are recommended for homes with at least two stories.