Design the Perfect Open-Plan Kitchen and Living Room with Replacement Cabinet Doors

A recent study has revealed that since the 1950s homes in the UK have significantly decreased in size. The average size of living rooms in properties built in 2020 was just under 195 sq feet, which is almost 20% smaller than living rooms in the average 1950s property. So, it’s no surprise that open-plan kitchen and living room spaces are now a popular choice.

There are many benefits to having an open-plan kitchen and living room, however, designing a multi-functional space can also present a number of challenges.

Here are some tips to keep in mind if you’re considering transforming the heart of your home this year.

Establishing zones is a necessity

Creating zones is a simple and straightforward way to break up a large and undefined space into somewhere that’s functional and feels harmonious.

There are many different ways to approach zoning, with large L-shaped sofas being particularly adept at clearly defining which part of the room is for cooking and which is for relaxing.

Colourful kitchens are another way to establish clear zones and refreshing existing cabinetry is simple with new replacement kitchen door fronts. 

Pro Tip: Rugs are another useful design accessory for establishing zones within an open-plan space. Position a rug beneath your sofa and coffee table to create a cosy, warm and welcoming seating area you’ll want to relax in.

Think about lighting 

It's important to think carefully about lighting when designing your space, especially natural light. The location of your windows may determine the best places to position certain features, as you won’t want to use a large media unit as a room divider if doing so will block all natural light from entering one half of your space. 

Carefully consider how to divide space 

While it may be tempting to split your space 50-50, depending on your lifestyle, you may prefer to create a larger kitchen or a larger living area. It’s recommended to have at least a metre of walkable space in your kitchen area, but this is really the only hard and fast rule you’ll need to follow when it comes to dividing up your space.

Use colour creatively 

If you don’t want to rely on physical objects to divide your space, colour can be an amazing design tool to establish zones and allow your personality to shine through.

You could choose different colour palettes for each space, or use a bold colour on either your kitchen or living room walls whilst keeping the other half of your space more neutral. 

Pro Tip: Kitchen door fronts can be another way to incorporate colour into your space and be an affordable way to inject new life into your existing kitchen units. Our replacement cabinet doors are available in a range of styles, colours and finishes, with something to suit ultra-modern, traditional designs, and everything in between.

Consider semi open-plan living 

If full open-plan living isn’t for you, incorporating a large archway into your space will clearly define your cooking and living areas without separating them completely. Archways can also be functional, particularly if they are equipped with double-sided shelving that can be used to display cookbooks on one side and art, photographs and trinkets on the other. 

Make your kitchen island the star 

From food prep to breakfast bar style dining, kitchen islands are a truly multi-functional design feature. As they can also act as a natural divider within an open-plan room, incorporating one into your design can immediately create a sense of harmony in your space.

You could even position a sofa facing towards your kitchen island if you’re eager to create an extremely social space, so you can chat with whoever is cooking while relaxing in the living area.

Perfect your open-plan kitchen with replacement cabinet doors from Happy Doors 

Whether you’re planning a full renovation or you’re looking for creative ways to rejuvenate your existing kitchen space, our selection of replacement cabinet doors can help you update and refresh one of the most important rooms in your home.

Please browse our range of kitchen door fronts online today and please reach out to our team on 01256 845 816 or email us at hello@happy-doors.co.uk if you’ve got any questions.