You may have noticed that open floor plans are all the rage these days, but sometimes creating intimacy in an open floor plan is desirable. Most newly constructed homes in Salt Lake City build homes with an open main level floor plan. There are many reasons for this – customers want an open floor plan, more usable space, better construction practices. Because construction materials are better load bearing walls can be moved or in some cases eliminated.
Homes where the rooms are all walled off on the main floor are no longer in vogue. The kitchen and great room area has become the main focus of today’s homes. Because of better construction practices, materials, design and engineering we can build beautiful open floor plans on the main level of our homes. However, there is a trade-off — lack of intimate space.
Having a home with an open floor plan is great, it feels more spacious, allows for natural lighting, and is great for entertaining. But what do you do if you want an intimate dinner or want to curl up with a good book at the end of the day? Or what if, after living in your home for a while, you realize you don’t like open spaces?
A little creativity is needed when it comes to adding intimate spaces to an open floor plan. As a homebuyer you want a large, open plan, while retaining some of the coziness that smaller rooms give. There are many ways you can create this warmth and intimacy in a home without having to put up walls!
Creating Intimacy in an Open Floor Plan
Color – Proper choice of color is a great way to create warmth and provide that cozy feeling that you want to retain without giving up the benefits of an open floor plan. Implementing a warm color scheme that also mixes colder and darker shades can completely transform the look and feel of a room. Choose paint, fabrics, and decorative elements with the entirety of the color scheme in mind. Colors that add warmth to a room are yellow, orange, and red.
Furnishings – Clever placement of furniture is a great way to carve our smaller areas in the room. Area rugs are a great way to define an area of the room, and combined with different light fixtures, can create a room within a room. The placement of your couch or cedar chests and benches can also help to separate the living area from the dining area.
Flooring Choices – Using different flooring materials can break up a large room. You may want the kitchen and dining areas to be wood or tile, while you choose to carpet the living area to carpeted. You can even change the color of the flooring for a similar effect.
Plants – Adding plants to your home can not only add a great splash of color to your home, but they also help add warmth and life. Filling your home with plants and flowers is a very inexpensive way to make your open floor plan look lively and intimate at the same time. When choosing your plants, be sure to pick plants that need little light and care. Before buying your plants, be sure to find out if they can be toxic to kids or pets.
A little creativity can go a long way when transforming your home into a warm and intimate place to live regardless of the type of floor plan.
For more ideas and tips for building a custom home please download our resource guide.