architects FROM LONDON Open-plan Living
Create Brighter, Better-connected Living Spaces
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RIBA Chartered
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London · Vienna · Rome
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Open-plan Living intro
Create Brighter, Better-connected Living Spaces
Open-plan living can transform the way a home feels and functions by improving the connection between kitchens, dining areas and living spaces.
But successful open-plan design is not simply about removing as many walls as possible.
At Tholos Architects, we design open-plan and broken-plan layouts around natural light, circulation, structure, storage and everyday use so the finished space feels open without becoming difficult to live in.
Open-plan living can help you:
- Create a larger kitchen-dining space
- Improve natural light
- Improve circulation
- Connect living spaces
- Create better garden views
- Make family spaces more sociable
- Improve furniture layouts
- Reduce wasted corridors
- Create more flexible living areas
- Make smaller homes feel more spacious
The aim is to create stronger connections between rooms while still giving each part of the home a clear purpose.
Open-plan Living explained
What Is Open-plan Living?
Open-plan living combines spaces that would traditionally have been divided into separate rooms.
This might involve combining:
- Kitchen and dining room
- Kitchen and living room
- Living and dining room
- Several ground-floor rooms
The result can create a larger shared living area with fewer internal walls.
However, the layout still needs to provide clearly defined areas for different activities.
Why Create an Open-plan Layout?
Many older homes were designed around separate rooms.
This can create:
- Small kitchens
- Dark internal spaces
- Poor garden connection
- Awkward circulation
- Rooms that are rarely used
Opening selected areas can improve:
- Space
- Light
- Views
- Circulation
- Family interaction
The best result usually comes from understanding which walls should disappear and which are still useful.
Open-plan Kitchen-dining Rooms
One of the most common open-plan projects is combining the kitchen and dining room.
This can provide:
- Larger kitchen
- Dining table
- Island
- Pantry
- Family seating
- Better natural light
It can also make cooking and dining feel much more connected.
Kitchen-living Spaces
Some homeowners want the kitchen, dining area and living space to function as one large room.
This can work particularly well where the space has:
- Good proportions
- Strong natural light
- Garden access
- Enough wall space
- Clearly defined zones
The challenge is making sure the room does not feel like one large undefined space.
Create Different Zones Within One Room
Open-plan does not mean every part of the room needs to perform the same function.
A good layout may create separate zones for:
- Cooking
- Dining
- Relaxing
- Working
- Children's activities
These can be defined through:
- Furniture
- Lighting
- Flooring
- Ceiling treatments
- Kitchen islands
- Shelving
- Partial walls
This helps the room feel organised.
Open-plan Living
Broken-plan Living
ken-plan living provides many of the benefits of open-plan design while retaining more separation.
This may involve:
- Wide openings
- Sliding doors
- Pocket doors
- Glazed partitions
- Partial walls
- Changes in ceiling height
- Built-in shelving
This can provide flexibility between open and closed spaces.
Open-plan vs Broken-plan
Open-plan living may work well where:
- Maximum connection is wanted
- Natural light needs to travel through the space
- Family living is the priority
Broken-plan may work better where:
- Noise needs to be controlled
- Home working is important
- Different activities happen simultaneously
- More wall space is needed
- Privacy is useful
The right approach depends on how the household actually uses the home.
Removing Internal Walls
Creating an open-plan layout often involves removing walls.
Some may be:
- Non-loadbearing
- Structural
- Supporting floors
- Supporting roof elements
Structural walls require suitable support before removal.
This may involve:
- Steel beams
- Columns
- Lintels
- Additional supports
The structural solution should be coordinated with the design of the room.
Wide Structural Openings
Sometimes a full wall removal is not necessary.
A wide opening can provide:
- Better connection
- More light
- Stronger views
- More flexibility
while retaining:
- Structural simplicity
- More furniture walls
- Some separation
This can be particularly effective in period properties.
Kitchen Islands
Kitchen islands can help define an open-plan space.
They may provide:
- Preparation area
- Seating
- Storage
- Sink
- Hob
- Informal dining
They can also create a visual boundary between the kitchen and living areas.
The island needs enough circulation space around it to work comfortably.
Dining Areas
Dining areas should be positioned so they work naturally with both the kitchen and living space.
The design should consider:
- Table size
- Chairs
- Circulation
- Lighting
- Garden views
A dining table should not become an obstacle between the kitchen and the rest of the room.
Living Areas
pen-plan living rooms still need a clear focal point.
This may be:
- Fireplace
- TV wall
- Garden view
- Built-in shelving
Furniture should be planned early so the layout provides enough usable wall space.
Living Areas
Open-plan living rooms still need a clear focal point.
This may be:
- Fireplace
- TV wall
- Garden view
- Built-in shelving
Furniture should be planned early so the layout provides enough usable wall space.
Improve Natural Light
One of the main advantages of open-plan living is allowing daylight to travel further into the house.
This may involve:
- Removing internal partitions
- Creating larger openings
- Adding glazed doors
- Introducing rooflights
- Improving garden glazing
Natural light should be considered alongside overheating and privacy.
Connect the Home to the Garden
Open-plan layouts are often combined with improved garden access.
Possible options include:
- Sliding doors
- Bifold doors
- French doors
- Large fixed glazing
The glazing should suit the proportions and character of the house rather than being added simply because the opening can be made larger.
Open-plan Living
Open-plan Living With a Rear Extension
A rear extension can create additional space for an open-plan kitchen-dining room.
This may allow:
- Larger kitchen
- Island
- Dining table
- Family area
- Improved garden connection
Open-plan Living With a Side-return Extension
A side-return extension can widen a narrow Victorian or Edwardian kitchen.
This can create enough space for:
- Kitchen island
- Dining table
- Improved circulation
- Additional glazing
Open-plan Living With a Wraparound Extension
A wraparound extension can create a substantial new ground-floor living area.
This may provide:
- Large kitchen
- Dining area
- Family room
- Pantry
- Utility room
Internal Remodelling
Open-plan living is often part of a wider internal remodelling project.
The rest of the ground floor may also need to change.
This can involve:
- Door positions
- Hallways
- Utility rooms
- Storage
- WC locations
- Staircase relationship
Open-plan Victorian Homes
Victorian houses can benefit greatly from carefully designed open-plan layouts.
Common arrangements include:
- Front reception retained separately
- Rear reception connected to kitchen
- Kitchen extended into side return
- Wider openings between rooms
This can preserve some of the original room structure while making the rear of the house much more practical.
Open-plan Period Properties
Period homes do not always benefit from complete wall removal.
Original proportions and room sequences can contribute to the character of the building.
A more sensitive approach may involve:
- Enlarged openings
- Double doors
- Internal glazing
- Partial separation
Open-plan Living in Listed Buildings
Listed buildings require particular care.
Internal walls and room layouts can form part of the significance of the property.
Removing walls may require Listed Building Consent.
Alternatives may include:
- Reopening original openings
- Removing later partitions
- Creating carefully positioned new openings
Noise in Open-plan Homes
One disadvantage of open-plan living can be noise.
Cooking, television, conversation and children’s activities may all happen within the same space.
Design strategies can help manage this through:
- Broken-plan layouts
- Soft furnishings
- Acoustic finishes
- Sliding doors
- Separate quiet rooms
The acoustic experience should be considered alongside the visual openness.
Open-plan Living
Cooking Smells and Ventilation
Open-plan kitchens need effective extraction.
Cooking smells can otherwise spread through the entire living area.
The design should consider:
- Extractor position
- Duct route
- Ventilation
- Window openings
Ventilation should be incorporated into the design rather than treated as an afterthought.
Heating Open-plan Spaces
Removing walls can change how the home is heated.
A larger room may require a different approach to:
- Radiators
- Underfloor heating
- Heating zones
- Controls
Heating design should consider the size and use of the new space.
Lighting Design
One ceiling light is rarely enough for a large open-plan room.
Different zones may benefit from different lighting.
This can include:
- Task lighting
- Pendant lights
- Wall lights
- General lighting
- Feature lighting
Lighting can also help distinguish different functions within the same room.
Storage
Open-plan spaces need carefully planned storage.
Removing walls also removes places for:
- Cupboards
- Shelves
- Furniture
Storage may therefore need to be built into:
- Kitchen units
- Islands
- Full-height cabinetry
- Media walls
- Alcoves
Good storage helps prevent a large open room from feeling cluttered.
Structural Design
Open-plan conversions often involve structural alterations.
This may include:
- Removing loadbearing walls
- Installing beams
- Adding columns
- Strengthening existing structure
The size and position of structural elements can affect the appearance of the finished room.
Open-plan living
Do Open-plan Conversions Need Planning Permission?
Purely internal alterations to a standard house generally do not require planning permission.
Planning considerations may arise where the project also involves:
- Extensions
- External alterations
- Listed buildings
- Change of use
Where an extension forms part of the project, its planning requirements should be assessed separately.
Building Regulations for Open-plan Living
Building Regulations can apply where the project involves:
- Structural wall removal
- New structural openings
- Fire safety changes
- Ventilation
- Electrical work
Open-plan layouts can sometimes have particular fire safety implications because removing walls may alter protected escape routes.
Fire Safety and Open-plan Layouts
Fire safety becomes particularly important where the kitchen and staircase become part of the same open space.
Depending on the property, the design may need to consider:
- Escape routes
- Smoke detection
- Fire-resistant construction
- Protected areas
- Alternative layouts
Fire safety should therefore be considered before structural walls are removed.
Open-plan Living as Part of a House Renovation
A house renovation can provide the opportunity to reconsider the whole ground-floor layout.
Open-plan living may be coordinated with:
- New kitchen
- New flooring
- Heating
- Lighting
- Storage
- Electrical upgrades
Open-plan Living
Open-plan Living Process
1. Understand the Existing Layout
We begin by reviewing:
- Room sizes
- Structure
- Windows
- Doors
- Circulation
- Natural light
2. Understand How You Use the Home
We discuss:
- Cooking
- Dining
- Family life
- Entertaining
- Home working
- Storage
3. Develop Layout Options
We explore:
- Full open-plan layouts
- Broken-plan layouts
- Wider openings
- Room connections
4. Plan the Furniture
We consider:
- Kitchen units
- Island
- Dining table
- Sofas
- TV
- Storage
5. Coordinate the Structure
Where walls are removed, structural support is designed around the architectural layout.
6. Coordinate Services
We consider:
- Heating
- Electrical layouts
- Ventilation
- Lighting
- Plumbing
7. Check Approvals
Where required, this may include:
- Building Regulations
- Planning permission
- Listed Building Consent
8. Develop the Technical Design
Detailed drawings can then coordinate:
- Structure
- Walls
- Openings
- Services
- Fire safety
- Construction details
9. Prepare for Construction
The project can then move forward with a clear layout and coordinated technical information.
Client experience
"
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. We had a vision for our home but no idea how to realise it. Tholos Interiors took complete ownership of the project — every detail was considered, every decision explained. The result exceeded everything we had imagined.
– Lawrence Ipsum, Homeowner · London –
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I remove a loadbearing wall?
Potentially.
A suitable structural support system will need to be designed.
Is open-plan living always better?
No.
Some households benefit more from broken-plan layouts that provide stronger acoustic and visual separation.
Can I make a Victorian house open plan?
Often, yes.
Many Victorian houses can be remodelled successfully, although retaining some of the original room structure can sometimes produce a better result.
Does open-plan living affect fire safety?
It can.
Removing walls may change escape routes and fire separation, particularly where the staircase becomes open to the kitchen or living area.
Create Openness Without Losing Practicality
Open-plan living works best when it is designed around how the household actually lives rather than simply removing every possible wall.
The right combination of openness, separation, storage and circulation can make the home feel brighter, larger and much easier to use.
At Tholos Architects, we can help you redesign the layout and coordinate the structure and technical requirements needed to create a successful open-plan home.
Disclaimer
This article is part of a series created by our dynamic marketing team for informational purposes only. While we strive to review all content thoroughly, occasional oversights may occur, even after publication. Therefore, we cannot accept liability for any interpretations or use of the information provided. For the most up-to-date information or to report any discrepancies, please contact us at hello@tholos-architects.com.
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