Closing the Door on Open Floor Plans

Once prized for natural light and togetherness, open floor plans are now being called into question.

Open layouts allow families to interact across multiple spaces, but they can limit privacy in the process. Klaus Vedfelt/Getty Images

Since the 1990s, open floor plans have been popular with Americans. In these plans, a “great room” combines the kitchen and living room into a single expansive area, allowing the entire family to be together. These designs were originally seen as maximizing light and space in smaller homes.

However, the honeymoon phase may be over with open floor plans. Lately, there’s been a shift toward homes with more defined, separate rooms that give homeowners the freedom to adapt their spaces to their lifestyle.

Losing Appeal

Greg Field, a Realtor from Home Smart, told The Epoch Times about the change in demand for open floor plans.