The idea of open concept living used to be pretty hot, but it’s started to cool down recently. Shifting trends in usage have made open concepts less useful to most families. That doesn’t mean the advantages have disappeared; they’re just not in high demand right now. This is mainly a result of COVID-19, which has made the advantages less appealing and the disadvantages more salient. Ultimately, though, it’s a personal choice.
But what are these pros and cons? The biggest con is noise. Open concept floorplans have fewer walls and doors to muffle sounds from other rooms. With more people transitioning to work-from-home, the added noise is distracting people from their work. In addition, having lots of empty space is just not a priority for most people. Yes, people want larger homes, but that’s to accommodate more usable space, not empty space. The biggest benefit of open concept living, and the reason it rose to popularity, is that the wide open spaces with good natural light allow for excellent entertainment spaces. However, the pandemic had drastically reduced the appeal of hosting indoor events. What it does still accomplish is creating a feeling of togetherness, even when family members are in different rooms.
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