In the current home design trend, the combination of open kitchen and living room is very popular, especially in small apartments. This design cleverly combines the two spaces, providing a way to organize space at will and create interesting arrangements. Next, let’s take a closer look at the subtleties of this design.
The concept and advantages of open kitchen and living room combination
For a long time, people are used to treating the kitchen as a separate room, and the design of houses and apartments also follows this concept. However, when space is limited, the setting of a separate kitchen becomes difficult. As a result, the design of open kitchen and living room combination came into being and quickly became a fashion trend. The characteristic of this combined space is the diversity of functions. It is not only a place for cooking and dining, but also an area for leisure and relaxation. The first advantage of the open kitchen connected to the living room is the sense of openness of the space, which makes the originally cramped space appear more spacious and makes the overall design easier. At the same time, when the kitchen and the living room are integrated, the communication between family members is no longer blocked by space. While cooking, you can talk freely with your family in the living room, enhancing each other’s company and interaction.
Cleverly deal with the shortcomings of open kitchens
Although open kitchens have many advantages, they are not perfect. Since the kitchen and the living room are completely open, visitors can see the whole picture of the kitchen at a glance, which puts higher requirements on the cleanliness of the kitchen. In addition, the smell produced by cooking in the kitchen is easy to spread to the living room. However, this problem can be effectively solved by equipping a high-quality range hood. At the same time, an air purifier can further remove the residual unpleasant odor. There is also the noise problem of kitchen appliances. The sound produced when refrigerators and dishwashers are running may disturb the quiet atmosphere of the living room. However, modern kitchen appliances continue to make breakthroughs in silent technology, and the noise is greatly reduced. Or we can choose to turn on the dishwasher when we go out, and we can harvest clean tableware when we get home, cleverly avoiding noise interference.
The ultimate use of small space: the combination of small kitchen and living room
For apartments, space is often limited, and it is difficult to set up a separate kitchen and living room. But open kitchens provide an ideal solution for small apartments, provided that they are carefully planned. In this design, two key issues need to be considered: one is the placement of the TV and living room furniture, and the other is the reasonable layout of kitchen cabinets and appliances. If it is a new building, the space design is relatively flexible and can be planned according to the ideal layout. However, if you are renovating an existing apartment, you may need to make major changes to the house structure or even remove some walls. When all the furniture and appliances are neatly arranged, the combination of a small open kitchen and living room can show its unique charm, and the remaining space can be flexibly arranged according to needs, such as setting up a dining area outside the lounge area. In a small space, the kitchen countertop can be small and fully functional, such as a simple stainless steel countertop, which is durable and easy to clean. The sink can be a single-slot design, which saves space while meeting daily use needs. The kitchen splashback uses bright tiles to make the space appear more open by reflecting light. The kitchen storage system should make full use of vertical space, create kitchen cabinets that reach the ceiling, and set up multi-layer shelves and drawers inside to store kitchen supplies reasonably.
Clever use of space: open kitchen in a small room
In smaller apartments, the concept of open kitchen-lounge has its own unique design methods. You can make full use of the space in the building layout, such as creating niches on the wall. If the apartment space is large, you can install kitchen cabinets in the niche to increase storage space. Sometimes the small space in the room can be cleverly transformed into a kitchen, and the large room can be used as a living room. Although this design may be slightly inferior in convenience, it is very practical in terms of space utilization. In this type of open kitchen in a small room, the kitchen countertop can be a customized small countertop that fits the shape of the space, and the sink can be a built-in sink, which saves space and looks beautiful. The kitchen splashback can be made of glass, which not only reflects light but is also easy to clean. The kitchen storage system can use the wall space to install hanging rods and small storage racks to store commonly used kitchen utensils and seasonings.
Fashion and practicality: open kitchen with island
Island kitchen is one of the popular types of open kitchens. Usually, the kitchen cabinets and appliances are placed on one wall, the kitchen island is set in the middle, and the rest of the space is planned as a living room. The functions of the kitchen island are very diverse, and can be used for meal preparation, dining, and even as a place for children to do homework. The advantage of this design is that it can adapt to various interior design styles, and the kitchen island is available in a variety of sizes and shapes to meet different space needs and aesthetic preferences. In the design of the kitchen island, the countertop can be made of natural stone, such as marble countertop, which has a warm texture and unique texture. It is beautiful and practical when paired with a sink designed as an under-counter basin. An open storage rack can be set on the side of the kitchen island to store commonly used tableware and kitchen utensils. A tile splashback that echoes the overall style can be installed on the back of the island, which not only plays a protective role but also adds a decorative effect. In terms of the kitchen storage system, drawers and cabinets can be set under the kitchen island to store kitchen supplies and make full use of the space.
Unique layout: partially open kitchen design
Semi-open kitchens and living rooms are ideal for creating a unique interior space layout. Common kitchens are “L” shaped, and through clever design, they can be made both practical and beautiful. A common practice is to place the kitchen in the shorter part and use the wider side as the living room. Of course, it can also be designed the other way around, but the practicality may be slightly weaker. If you want to separate the kitchen from the living room, using a partition is a simple and creative solution. Partitions can be in various forms, such as glass partitions, which can ensure the transparency of the space and block odors and sights to a certain extent; or wooden grille partitions, which add a natural and warm atmosphere. In some open kitchens, the kitchen countertop can be customized according to the shape of the “L”, and the sink can choose a double-slot design to facilitate cleaning for different purposes. The kitchen splashback can use patterned tiles to add an artistic touch to the kitchen. The kitchen storage system can install corner pull-out baskets at the corners of the “L” shape to make full use of the corner space.
Diverse possibilities of spacious space: large open kitchen with living room
A large open kitchen with a living room provides rich design possibilities. It can not only serve as a lounge and dining area, but in large multi-story houses, such rooms are usually set on the first floor, which is very practical and has enough space for social activities when guests visit. Such a spacious space can accommodate more home appliances, and even a mini food storage room or a dedicated wine rack can be installed. In a large open kitchen, the kitchen countertop can be made of high-grade quartz stone, which is durable and easy to clean, and the sink can be a large under-counter basin for washing large items. The kitchen splashback can be made of large stainless steel, which is both practical and modern. The kitchen storage system can create multiple large storage cabinets with reasonable internal partitions for storing various kitchen supplies and ingredients.
Color creates atmosphere: color selection for open kitchen
In the design of an open kitchen and living room combination, the choice of color is crucial. Many people think that light-colored decorations can make open kitchens and living rooms look more comfortable, so white and cream are popular. But this is not the only option. If you want to create an open Scandinavian-style kitchen and living room combination, you can use beige, gray and blue for decoration, and match wood and marble elements to make the interior look particularly beautiful. Light colors can make the room look larger and create an open feeling even in a small space. Dark open kitchens are typical designs for large apartments and houses, but it should be noted that dark colors make the room visually smaller and require higher lighting in the kitchen. They are also relatively difficult to clean, as even tiny dirt will be clearly visible on black or dark blue kitchen cabinets. Combining dark kitchens with wood or copper elements can create an industrial style. In addition, if you like colorful interior decoration, you can cleverly add some colors to the open kitchen to distinguish the kitchen and living room areas. When choosing color combinations, make sure the colors are coordinated. For example, combinations such as mint green and pink, blue and gray, and green and gold can all show unique charm. The specific choice depends entirely on personal creativity and preferences.
The combination of open kitchens and living rooms can create a practical and beautiful home space through clever space planning, reasonable functional layout, and careful color matching, satisfying people’s pursuit of high-quality life. Whether it is the ultimate use of small spaces or the luxurious display of large spaces, these creative designs can be achieved.
