Advantages of open kitchens: aesthetics, functionality and shared living.

Kitchens have always functioned as the real nerve centres of homes. Because, although they have been conceived to be the room in which food is stored and cooked, they have almost naturally become much more than that: a space for socialising in which after-meal chats go on ad infinitum, an improvised schoolroom for the kids, the ‘official’ place for family gatherings…

Moreover, in recent years, kitchens have recovered that role in the home which, although they have never lost it, is now felt more than ever. And perhaps for this reason, open kitchens – those that are connected and integrated with the living room or dining room – are consolidating their position as one of the current preferred options in interior design, both in new homes and in complete refurbishments.

Or perhaps it is due to the great advantages of open-plan kitchens, which are perfect both in large single-family homes and in smaller flats where space needs to be optimised. But we’d better take a closer look at all these benefits.

What are the advantages of open kitchens?

1.- They provide visual and spatial spaciousness:

The first obvious benefit of open kitchens is the feeling of spaciousness they generate. By eliminating partitions and physical barriers and opening up to other rooms, the kitchen is perceived as much more spacious, luminous and fluid. This is especially valuable in small homes or homes with little natural light, where every square metre counts and the feeling of openness completely transforms the experience of the space.

2-They improve the functionality and circulation in the room:

The transit between the kitchen, dining room and living room becomes more comfortable and organic when the kitchen connects with these other rooms in the home. Even the transit within the kitchen itself is favoured, promoting a more comfortable, dynamic and multipurpose use of the room.

This integration is usually accompanied by more functional advantages such as having more space in the kitchen to organise tasks, having more storage spaces, making more efficient use of the furniture and appliances with options such as a kitchen with an island, with a breakfast bar or with shared areas between rooms.

3.- They encourage communal living:

Another of the main advantages of open kitchens is that, thanks to this layout, cooking ceases to be a solitary activity and becomes a family affair. While preparing dinner, it is possible to chat with guests, keep an eye on the children or simply share time with other members of the family.

In a world where time together is increasingly scarce, this type of layout encourages a closer and more natural conviviality. Open kitchens are kitchens that invite you to enjoy home life more: they are lived in a different way and are much more enjoyable.

Considerations to bear in mind if you opt for an open-plan kitchen

Just as for many people it is the perfect formula for improving coexistence and making better use of the space in their home, open-plan kitchens also have many detractors who base their arguments on questions of hygiene and comfort.

However, for those who reject this type of kitchen because of the smells and fumes that can invade other rooms, we would like to remind you that today there are powerful and silent extraction systems that help to ensure that the activity in the kitchen does not alter the comfort of the other rooms, avoiding unpleasant smells and fumes.

It is also essential to take care of other technical aspects. For example, it is advisable to opt for silent electrical appliances (washing machines, fridges, ovens, etc.) that do not generate background noise so that they do not hinder the enjoyment of activities in the living room, such as reading, relaxing or watching television. In general, electrical appliances should have a nice design line in keeping with the style of the house as they will be much more visible.

Finally, another advisable aspect when designing this type of open-plan kitchen is to ensure that there is a certain aesthetic continuity with the living or dining room, but without losing the functional identity of the kitchen: materials, lighting and textures can act as elements of transition or subtle delimitation between areas, achieving a balance between integration and differentiation of each area.

This last aspect should be left in the hands of our interior design team in Mallorca, who will know perfectly well how to connect and integrate an open-plan kitchen so that all the parts form a whole without losing their functional and aesthetic independence.

At gHouse we can help you design and create the open plan kitchen you want in your home, taking care of the entire project. Trust our team with the design of your new home or let us refurbish it to turn it into that special refuge.