10 Steps to Designing the Perfect Open-plan Living Space
Want to plan ahead for your renovation? Follow this useful guide to drawing up your own plans
Creating your ideal open-plan living space can be a long process, and works best with the help of an architect. However, you could save some time, and help your architect understand your needs better, by drawing up your ideas beforehand. Here’s a step-by-step guide to what’s involved.
Compile a wish list
Write down the key items you’d like in your new space, or the design issues you want to address. For example, if having lots of storage is essential, as seen here, make sure you jot it down. Having it all on paper will help to keep you on track.
It’s a good idea to list around 10 items and then put them in order of importance. It may not be possible to cover everything, but a prioritised list will ensure you focus on the key elements, and go into the project with your eyes open.
Not sure if open-plan living will work in your home? Here’s how to make it suit any space
Write down the key items you’d like in your new space, or the design issues you want to address. For example, if having lots of storage is essential, as seen here, make sure you jot it down. Having it all on paper will help to keep you on track.
It’s a good idea to list around 10 items and then put them in order of importance. It may not be possible to cover everything, but a prioritised list will ensure you focus on the key elements, and go into the project with your eyes open.
Not sure if open-plan living will work in your home? Here’s how to make it suit any space
Draw a survey of your space
Create a sketch of your current space from an aerial viewpoint. Ask a friend or relative for help if you don’t feel you can do it by yourself. This sketch or survey will allow you to see your living area as it currently stands, and can often throw up existing issues and hopefully some solutions.
Create a sketch of your current space from an aerial viewpoint. Ask a friend or relative for help if you don’t feel you can do it by yourself. This sketch or survey will allow you to see your living area as it currently stands, and can often throw up existing issues and hopefully some solutions.
Trace over your survey
To save time, get some tracing paper and trace over the outline of your survey to show the constraints within which you’re working. Draw in all the external walls, windows and external doors, plus the hall and any front reception rooms downstairs, but this time leave the area to the rear of your stairs blank, as this is where your open-plan living space will be.
To save time, get some tracing paper and trace over the outline of your survey to show the constraints within which you’re working. Draw in all the external walls, windows and external doors, plus the hall and any front reception rooms downstairs, but this time leave the area to the rear of your stairs blank, as this is where your open-plan living space will be.
Add directions
On to your outline sketch, add a compass showing north, south, east and west. Ideally, you want to have eastern light entering your kitchen in order to catch the morning rays and ensure it’s cooler for evening meal preparation. The dining and living area should face west or south, so it can enjoy late-afternoon or all-day sunshine. It’s not always possible to position the rooms this way, but it’s a good place to start.
If possible, try to prioritise south or west light for the dining and living area, then make the best use of whatever space is left.
On to your outline sketch, add a compass showing north, south, east and west. Ideally, you want to have eastern light entering your kitchen in order to catch the morning rays and ensure it’s cooler for evening meal preparation. The dining and living area should face west or south, so it can enjoy late-afternoon or all-day sunshine. It’s not always possible to position the rooms this way, but it’s a good place to start.
If possible, try to prioritise south or west light for the dining and living area, then make the best use of whatever space is left.
Introduce flow
The elusive idea of “flow” is when you can move seamlessly from the kitchen to the dining area, to the living area and then into the garden. Again, this is the ideal situation and is best used as a template. If your space doesn’t allow for this completely, be flexible and work with what you’ve got.
Need more guidance? See clever design ideas for open-plan spaces
The elusive idea of “flow” is when you can move seamlessly from the kitchen to the dining area, to the living area and then into the garden. Again, this is the ideal situation and is best used as a template. If your space doesn’t allow for this completely, be flexible and work with what you’ve got.
Need more guidance? See clever design ideas for open-plan spaces
Compare before and after
Now you have an outline of your survey, compare it with the original. What needs to be done to move from one area to the other? Do walls need to be knocked down? Do plumbing elements, such as radiators, need to be moved? This might require electrical sockets and lights to be relocated as well. Consider floor finishes at this stage, too.
Now you have an outline of your survey, compare it with the original. What needs to be done to move from one area to the other? Do walls need to be knocked down? Do plumbing elements, such as radiators, need to be moved? This might require electrical sockets and lights to be relocated as well. Consider floor finishes at this stage, too.
Call in the professionals
Once you’re armed with your before and after sketches, as well as your wish list, you can discuss your plans with your architect or builder. They’ll be able to advise further on the best approach to take and the costs involved. Avoid any changes that would compromise the design too much, unless your budget is under severe pressure.
Once you’re armed with your before and after sketches, as well as your wish list, you can discuss your plans with your architect or builder. They’ll be able to advise further on the best approach to take and the costs involved. Avoid any changes that would compromise the design too much, unless your budget is under severe pressure.
Get an idea of the timescale
Ask your builder how long the project will take and whether or not you can stay in the house while the work is being done. If you stay, it will save the cost of renting elsewhere, but the project might take longer. You’ll also have to live with any inconvenience and the ebb and flow of the building works as they proceed.
Ask your builder how long the project will take and whether or not you can stay in the house while the work is being done. If you stay, it will save the cost of renting elsewhere, but the project might take longer. You’ll also have to live with any inconvenience and the ebb and flow of the building works as they proceed.
Write it all down
You’ll need to stay ahead of the builders and have all the necessary information and materials ready for them as they carry out the work. This includes everything from kitchen units, worktops and floor finishes, to electrical and plumbing items and paint colours. It’s best to ask the builders in advance when they’ll need each item.
Prepare a written list and estimate, and write down which elements are already included, what’s assumed and what’s excluded, as well as how long it will all take to complete.
TELL US…
Are you tempted to draw up your own plans? Share your thoughts and ideas in the Comments below.
You’ll need to stay ahead of the builders and have all the necessary information and materials ready for them as they carry out the work. This includes everything from kitchen units, worktops and floor finishes, to electrical and plumbing items and paint colours. It’s best to ask the builders in advance when they’ll need each item.
Prepare a written list and estimate, and write down which elements are already included, what’s assumed and what’s excluded, as well as how long it will all take to complete.
TELL US…
Are you tempted to draw up your own plans? Share your thoughts and ideas in the Comments below.
The first consideration of any project is the budget, and how much you are willing to invest. It’s best to have an approximate idea of what your financial resources are, as this will allow you to adjust the budget depending on where you see value in the design. Knowing how much you have to spend will allow you to focus on what’s important and realistic.