Ozark Living

Open-concept homes have become increasingly popular in recent years. An open- concept home is one in which the rooms flow into one another with limited obstruction from walls or other barriers. According to the National Association of Home Builders, 84 percent of new single-family homes have fully or partially open layouts. While they may seem like a new trend, open floor plans are anything but. Early American homes featured open, oen one- or two-room units built around the central kitchen/hearth. is maximized warmth and functionality. Homes evolved as incomes grew, and soon homes had several smaller rooms with specialized functions. What's old has become new again. However, before diving head first into a new home purchase or a big renovation to realize an open-concept dream, consider the pros and cons of this type of setup to determine if it's really right for you. Advantages of open floor plans Open floor plans facilitate the flow of natural light throughout a space and can promote air flow, helping to reduce warm or cool pockets of air in otherwise closed-off rooms. Open homes make socializing easier, even when people are doing different things. While someone is cooking dinner in the kitchen, he or she can still interact with someone else playing video games in the family room or paying bills in the home office. Entertaining also is easier, as mingling with guests is much more convenient when walls are not getting in the way. A smaller home can feel much larger if it employs an open concept. e square footage is not divided into smaller quarters, which sometimes are rooms (such as formal dining rooms) that are only used a few times per year. is eliminates underused spaces and opens up sight lines in the layout. e value of real estate has risen dramatically since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, and prospective buyers may prefer an open-concept plan because it can help them minimize building costs. Disadvantages of open floor plans Open layouts are not for everyone. e same sense of space that occurs when walls are taken down may make rooms feel cavernous and less cozy, particularly in homes with ample square footage. In addition, privacy can be hard to come by when all rooms feed into one another. When the kitchen is not separate from the family room space, that makes it easy for noise Pros & cons of open-concept homes Kitchens are popular gathering spots in many homes. at popularity is reflected in various ways, including how many homeowners choose to remodel their kitchens. A 2019 report from the home renovation and design resource Houzz found that kitchens were the most popular room to renovate in 2018. Homeowners considering kitchen remodels should know that the Houzz report also indicated that spending on kitchen remodels increased by 27 percent in 2018. Homeowners concerned by the cost of remodeling a kitchen should know that there are ways to give kitchens a whole new feel without breaking the bank. Features to consider when revamping your kitchen 30 • March 2022 • OZarK LIVING

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