Summary

Try a broken-plan layout to create zones in an open-concept space while maintaining an airy feel.
Create an invisible kitchen with concealed cabinetry for major appliances and fixtures that disappears when not in use.
Modify an open-plan kitchen using freestanding furniture or glass partitions to add privacy without blocking light and views.

Open-plan kitchens are undeniably popular, but have been falling out of fashion in recent years. While open spaces promote togetherness by combining the hub of the house with adjacent living and/or dining areas, they also present challenges and drawbacks, from noise to smells to clutter.

Before you knock down that wall between the kitchen and the living room, consider these alternative layouts—plus ideas for modifying an existing open kitchen to make it work better for you.

Broken-Plan Layout

Choosing a broken plan layout has become increasingly popular in the last decade among those seeking a modicum of separation in an open-concept kitchen and living room. Broken plan kitchen layouts make it easier to share space while maintaining a semi-open feel.

Broken plan spaces feature more distinct zones for cooking and entertaining using elements such as glass partitions, half walls, freestanding furniture, shelving, seating areas, dropped ceilings, or even changes in flooring levels.

Back Kitchens

If you love the look of an open-concept kitchen but don’t enjoy the proliferation of noise, smells, and clutter into your living space, consider adding a back kitchen. These secondary prep spaces can accommodate counter space, storage, ovens, sinks, and dishwashers that allow you to offload the messy stuff of kitchen life and keep your open-plan kitchen clutter-free for gathering or entertaining.

Also known as sculleries or "dirty kitchens," back kitchens may be hidden from view behind doors or partially visible from the main kitchen through a framed opening. Renovate a butler’s pantry in an older home or steal space from a kitchen adjacent closet, pantry, or hallway in a newer home to create yours.

Invisible Kitchens

If your open-kitchen layout works, but you don’t like to look at kitchen elements from your living room, modify your existing space by designing an invisible kitchen. Hide your kitchen in plain sight by camouflaging ranges and range hoods, refrigerators, sinks, and countertops behind cabinetry doors or beneath countertops to the point that the kitchen fades into the background when not in use.

Use the same colors, materials, and finishes in both the kitchen and the adjacent living room to achieve the "invisible" look. Skip kitchen cabinet hardware and run cabinets to the ceiling for a seamless finish. Or skip upper cabinetry and utilize the under-counter space for storage and counter-height appliances in a larger space.

Multifunctional Islands

Contemporary kitchens are often anchored by massive rectangular islands that take up a lot of real estate. But many designers have been tilting away from installing these immovable monoliths, instead opting for smaller, curved, or more multifunctional islands.

Optimize existing islands by integrating appliances, sinks, storage, or extra features like warming drawers. Or choose a worktable or a lightweight movable island on wheels to create a more flexible kitchen layout.

Classic Kitchen Layouts

And because everything old is new again: the backlash against open kitchens has seen a rising embrace of classic kitchen layouts. This includes galley-style, U-shaped, L-shaped, and fully or partially enclosed kitchens.

Before you knock down that wall between the kitchen and living room or formal dining room, consider the drawbacks of open-plan spaces. Feel free to choose a more traditional layout, or make adjustments to an existing open-plan kitchen to suit your space and lifestyle.

Tips for Tweaking an Open-Plan Layout

Use open shelving to create partial separation between spaces while adding storage and display opportunities.
Install a glass partition wall with metal or wood panes to create separation from the living room without blocking light or visibility.
Maintain flow by leaving openings on either side of the partition, or install integrated glass doors that can be shut to minimize noise and cooking odors.
Reduce visual clutter by installing sliding panels to conceal kitchen equipment and keep countertop appliances out of sight in an appliance garage.
Swap a kitchen island with seating for an adjacent dining nook to separate cooking prep from meal time and entertaining spaces.