Open Plan Kitchen Ideas - A complete buying guide

Open-plan kitchens are utterly modern – they reflect the way our lifestyles have changed and let us move freely around the home. This guide will aid you in seamlessly integrating an Open Plan Kitchen into your home.

If you’re considering an open plan kitchen, prepare to blur the lines between the kitchen, dining area other living spaces and get ready to start moving with around your home with fluidity. These spacious and versatile kitchens have seen a spike in popularity thanks to the efficiency they allow, and their lack of walls let families spend more time together without making any changes to routine.

Because open-plan kitchens sit alongside other areas of the home, the only limits to the kitchen design you choose are based on the style of the rest of your space. Whether your open plan kitchen boasts an impressive gloss finish, heavy wooden worktops or smooth graphite worksurfaces, at Magnet, we have kitchen options to suit any home.

Need help bringing your bespoke open plan kitchen out of your dreams and into reality? Visit our kitchen planner for inspiration.

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Planning your open plan kitchen

Before you start working on the design of your new open plan kitchen, there are several important things to consider.

1. Budget

What is your kitchen design budget? If you need to stick to a number, you can use our kitchen price estimator to choose from a range of open plan kitchen configurations to suit your personal budget. The kitchen price estimator lets you customise aspects of your design as you go, so you’ll still get the beautiful bespoke kitchen you’ve been dreaming of.

Our kitchens can be built from a range of colours and finishes, with innovations and appliances to suit all budgets. We can work with you to create a bespoke open plan kitchen filled with elements that compliment your home, making your kitchen dreams come true no matter how high or low your budget. We also have a whole host of excellent offers for you to choose from. 

2. Space

It’s crucial that you understand the space you have available before you start planning the more specific aspects of your open plan kitchen. These kitchens work fantastically with islands, but not everyone is lucky enough to be able to fit one in. If you’re set on building an open plan kitchen in your home, you might want to consider an extension to get the best result.

3. Layout

The shape you choose for your open plan kitchen will largely depend on the space you have. If you have limited space, you might want to stick to a square or rectangle shape. If you have more space and the layout of your home allows it, you might want to consider designing your kitchen in an L-shape.

4. Style

Once you’ve measured up the space you have available, you can start making more aesthetic design choices.

Choosing a kitchen style means making decisions about which colours and finish you’ll have in your new kitchen. Will your design be monochrome, traditional or modern? Choose the style that best suits your personality, and you find yourself one step closer to your dream open plan kitchen.

CONSIDERING SPACE

Bigger kitchens are great for those who are lucky enough to have them, and are the most effective type of space to transform into an open plan kitchen. If you have limited space in your home but are dreaming of an open plan kitchen diner, you might want to consider a home extension. If you are thinking about having a home extension, there are a couple of things to you should explore.

  • Do you need planning permission?
  • Is your house accessible?
  • Does the design suit your existing home?
  • Have you chosen the best area to extend?
  • Can you afford the extension as well as the new open plan kitchen?

If you’re happy with all these considerations, go ahead and extend! While open plan kitchens work well in any space, from the smallest apartment to the largest rural house, the more room you have, the less limited you will be in terms of design and which appliances you can give space to.

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The shape and layout of your open plan kitchen

Depending on the space you have available and the existing design of your home, there are a few different shapes you can choose from when it comes to laying out your open plan kitchen.

When you’re thinking about layout, consider how you’re going to use your kitchen. Firstly, where will your family and guests sit while you cook? If you want to incorporate a breakfast bar into your open plan kitchen, make sure it’s away from the main cooking area, so everyone has the space they need, but close enough that conversation can flow smoothly.

Settling on a style

Will your new open plan kitchen be modern or traditional? The style of your kitchen should fall in line with the design of the rest of your home, and will depend on your personal requirements and the requirements of the people you share it with.

Somerton Forest
Studio Grey

Traditional open plan kitchens

Our Shaker Kitchens combine classic design with modern convenience. While these kitchens look great in monochrome, natural hues are the most popular choice in this style. Oak cabinets topped with heavy wooden worktops lend a traditional warmth to the space – an ideal option for an open plan family kitchen.

Modern open plan kitchens

Our modern kitchens are available in a range of finishes which never compromise on homeliness, comfort or convenience. Whether you choose a high-gloss Fusion kitchen or a statement Studio design, sleek modern kitchens work brilliantly in open plan.

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Winchester_Sage

Industrial open plan kitchens

You don’t need an industrial-sized space to create an industrial style open plan kitchen. Make use of clean lines and choose stainless steel appliances and dark tile or stone flooring to set off your industrial space.

Country style open plan kitchens

Country kitchens are inarguably charming and homely, and you’ll find you don’t need to live among rolling fields to replicate this classic design in your home. Choose pastel coloured cabinets, wooden work surfaces and a stainless-steel gas hob to start the creation of your country style open plan kitchen. Solid wood furniture and personal touches finish off this look perfectly.

Other things to consider

Are you ready to bring your open plan kitchen to life? Our there are a few final things that you might want to think about before you set the wheels in motion.

How to make an open plan kitchen more family-friendly

If your open plan kitchen needs to work as a functional family space, there are a few steps you can take at the design stage. Kitchen islands are great for family-friendly open plan kitchens, but will only work if you have space for them. If you can incorporate an island into your kitchen, they’re a great place for kids to do homework or for guests to relax while you cook.

Another great way to make an open plan kitchen work for a family with children is to create a comfortable seating area, perhaps with a television or space to play games, that’s close to the main cooking space. Open plan kitchen diners are all about bringing people together, so however you choose to set yours out, make sure communication will be easy between areas.

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Luna Matt Grey - Industrial

How to make an open plan kitchen more sociable

A well designed open plan kitchen is a great asset to any home, and makes entertaining guests a dream – here are a few tips on how to make yours more sociable:

  • Keep it cosy and inviting
  • Create a casual seating area
  • Place high stools around a kitchen island for guests
  • Make the most of natural light
  • Use colour to reflect your personality and lifestyle

Why not try our Kitchenality Quiz to give yourself a little more visual inspiration – no matter what your taste, there’s an open plan kitchen out there just waiting to be discovered by you.

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