Creating Open Spaces Remodeling Ideas for a Spacious Feel
The open concept has been arguably the hottest trend in home design over the past several years. Homeowners truly appreciate the energy efficiency and versatility benefits open homes offer over more heavily-walled structures of past generations.
Despite the numerous benefits, it does take some careful planning to make an open-concept home work. With this in mind, keep reading as we explore some of the best remodeling ideas to create a spacious feel in an open-interior home.
Leverage Transitions
The use of transitional spaces is one of the best tricks of the open concept. Many homeowners use connected kitchens and living rooms to create a more spacious feel.
However, transitional spaces between interior and exterior areas can be equally powerful. For example, a living area that opens into a connected patio can capture a slice of the vast exterior for enhanced spaciousness. Some ways to seamlessly create interior/exterior spaces include sliding glass doors, the same wood 12×12 deck tiles on both the interior and exterior floors, and careful placement of plants and stone accents.
Install a Kitchen Island
The kitchen island is an integral component of an open interior. By offering 360-degree access to all corners of the kitchen, it guarantees that every square inch is fully utilized. In addition, islands are much more versatile than walled countertops. They are perfect for meal time, hosting get-togethers, and family game night, creating a more versatile dining environment that enhances the home’s dimensions.
Use Pocket Doors When Possible
As mentioned, sliding glass doors are a great way to leverage transitions between interior and exterior spaces. But this is far from the only place to use them in an open concept home.
Elegant pocket glass walls can be a great idea for home offices. They can give remote professionals clear sight lines to enjoy the home while providing the privacy needed during important work meetings. They can also be powerful accents for separating mudrooms and laundry facilities, turning these areas from dark closets into more vibrant components of the home.
Add Cabinet Crown Moulding
Crown moulding is the decorative trim that covers the transitions between the ceiling and cabinet tops. There are many different types of materials used for crown moulding which can be fabricated in a wide array of designs. This seemingly small architectural accent can arrest the attention of onlookers. By getting occupants to look up and admire the cabinets more often, it enhances the sense of vertical dimension, making the area feel more spacious.
Establish Functional Exteriors
There is no better way to enhance a home’s sense of spaciousness than by, ahem, actually adding more space. Adding functional exterior areas is one of the most direct ways to make this happen.
It can help homeowners enjoy a change of scenery much more quickly and affordably than a more in-depth home addition. Durable flooring pavers on patios and around fire pits, pergolas to cover decks, and fresh walkways are just a few ideas for making outdoor areas more usable.
When creating functional exteriors, it is important to weigh DIY projects against hiring a professional contractor. It is not enough to Google “how to add deck railing” or “how to use self drilling screws” and think you’re ready to tackle the project. Failed exterior DIY efforts are not only unsafe, but they can result in lackluster spaces that end up underutilized.
Keep Furniture Away from Walls
It may seem intuitive to stuff sofas and armchairs up against the wall to maximize interior space. However, the opposite tends to be true. Too much furniture abutting the walls actually makes rooms feel cluttered. Similar to a kitchen island, providing 360-degree access around sofas and other furniture does wonders for enhancing the sense of spaciousness. It gives greater maneuverability for accessing windows and all corners of the home.
Upgrade the Windows
Fresh windows are essential to the open home concept. They transmit natural light which gives the space a lively, vibrant feel. Proper illumination guarantees that occupants can enjoy every square inch of the home in its full grandeur. When upgrading, strongly consider heavy-duty aluminum frames to fortify window-to-wall transitions.
Also look for innovative low-E windows. These next-level windows allow light transmission while blocking unnecessary thermal radiation, keeping the interior bright without causing excess warming during the summer months.
Establish Spaciousness Via Careful Remodeling
Open-concept homes offer many advantages for homeowners. However, it takes some careful planning to create the right environment when walls aren’t around to define space. From leveraging transitional spaces to upgrading to new windows for enhanced optical clarity, consider any of the ideas listed above when remodeling an open-concept home for optimal spaciousness. For more of the latest home improvement trends, explore the resources at KC’s Improvement and Remodeling for the leading insights in the industry!
Author Bio:
Sam Willis is a freelance writer that loves sharing his knowledge and expertise in residential and commercial real estate, as well as engineering, construction, and business. He lives in Atlanta, Georgia where he enjoys spending time with his wife and researching real estate trends in his free time. Sam’s work as a freelance writer can be found on Building Product Advisor, a construction industry resource site.
