Open Plan Living: 10 Ways to Get Your Layout Right

open plan living
(Image credit: © Oakwrights Photography Mark Welsh)

Open plan living is now seen as the norm as opposed to some new-fangled trend seen only in achingly cool industrial-style loft apartments. But while the idea of lots of separate rooms is now seen as old-fashioned, open plan spaces do not always work well. 

The main reason for this simply comes down to bad planning and a failure to envisage how the new space is actually going to work on a day-to-day basis — practicality must always take priority over aesthetics.

Natasha Brinsmead

Natasha is Homebuilding & Renovating’s Associate Content Editor and has been a member of the team for over two decades. An experienced journalist and renovation expert, she has written for a number of homes titles. Over the years Natasha has renovated and carried out a side extension to a Victorian terrace. She is currently living in the rural Edwardian cottage she renovated and extended on a largely DIY basis, living on site for the duration of the project. She is now looking for her next project — something which is proving far harder than she thought it would be.