Common Mistakes in an Open-Concept Home, From Interior Designers

It’s no secret that open-concept homes are becoming less popular.

There are many reasons people are closing up their open-concept spaces — one of the biggest being that people don’t know how to make these floor plans work for them.

Business Insider spoke to two interior designers about the common mistakes people make with their open-concept homes.

Think about your life before you embrace an open concept

Charlotte Eustace, a UK-based interior designer who founded Eustace Studio, said she thinks one of the biggest issues people face with open-concept homes is that they don’t think of how they will work in their lives.

“Because it has been such a trend, people go for it without really thinking about how they’re using the space,” Eustace said.

For instance, Eustace said that open floor plans aren’t ideal for people working from home in a dining area, especially those with kids or a partner sharing the space. Likewise, working or relaxing in the same area where you cook can be distracting if you have made something with a strong odor.

Juliana Ghani, an interior designer from Minneapolis, agreed, saying that seeing your kitchen constantly can also make a home feel less welcoming.

“I think the open-concept kitchen is drawn out at this point,” Ghani said. “I have one in my condo right now, and I’m not a fan.”

“When you’re hosting, your guests see everything that’s going on, which some may like, but they can see your dirty dishes. They can see the pots and pans that you use to cook,” Ghani said, which isn’t relaxing and doesn’t create a party vibe.

She said the same can be true of seeing your dishes or just the look of a kitchen when you’re having downtime at home.

Ghani told BI that many of her clients are turning toward a “cozy Nancy Meyers aesthetic” over an open concept.

Still, Eustace said you can make your open floor plan work for you by not decorating it solely based on trends.

“It’s just about tailoring things that you see that you’re inspired by and using them to fit your personal needs and lifestyle,” she said.

For example, Eustace doesn’t have open shelving in her kitchen because she has trouble keeping them organized, while Ghani said she loves her open shelves and that they help her keep her glassware minimalist.

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Don’t forget about zoning

Eustace told BI that improper zoning is a “huge issue” in open-concept homes.

“I think what people tend to do because it’s open concept is think of the whole space as one huge room when the best design thinks about each space as an individual area,” Eustace said, aka zoning.

Likewise, some people think zoning means putting up a bookcase or other divider between areas, but Eustace said it’s better to just decorate each space individually.

“You should think about a lighting plan for each specific area rather than just a lighting plan for the whole kitchen,” she said.

Eustace advised using specific lighting over different areas, like a chandelier over your dining table. She also said it’s important to get creative with your kitchen lighting if possible, as recessed lighting doesn’t do much to make it feel like its own area.

In addition, Eustace said she likes to use rugs for zoning, placing them under the dining and living areas to separate the spaces.

Your home needs to feel cohesive

Ghani said she often sees people decorating their kitchens in a style that doesn’t match the other spaces visible in their open-concept homes, making them look out of place or “sterile.” That isn’t ideal for a well-functioning open-concept home.

“Let’s say you have a very cozy, layered living room,” she said. “You should be able to carry that into your kitchen, maybe mix some materials and tones and have an interesting backsplash or have an interesting, unexpected countertop with a deep color.”

“I think the thing with open-concept kitchens is they’ve just gotten so the same, so sterile, there’s not really a lot of depth in the finishes that people are choosing,” she added.

Ghani advised being intentional in the decor in your kitchen, in particular, as it will make the whole space feel welcoming.