Open concept is out and closed floor plans are in! With throwback trends like old money, quiet luxury, grandmillenial, and cottagecore making a resurgence in lifestyle and home design, homeowners are following suit and moving from a modern open concept to traditional closed floor plan models. Aligning with the practicality and function of the work-from-home model, a closed floor plan allows for the delineation between workspaces and living spaces.
Let's take a deeper look into the closed floor plans and explore why they might be the right blueprint for your home.
What is a Closed Floor Plan?
First and foremost, what exactly is a closed floor plan? Many are probably familiar with the modern open floor plan which encourages a residential design that eliminates most physical barriers and walls that separate different areas of the living space. Well, closed floor plans tend to take a more traditional approach. Traditional closed floor plans include a classic layout with distinct functionality and a walled separation of rooms. In a traditional house plan, different areas of the home, such as the kitchen, dining room, family room, and bedroom are enclosed by walls.
Architectural Styles of Closed Floor Plans
Closed floor plans are often associated with more traditional architectural styles, however, that doesn't mean that a closed floor plan can't be modern. While most homes built in the mid-20th century and earlier typically featured closed floor plans, new builds, and renovated homes are continuing to use this closed concept design.
Closed floor plans are conducive to mid-century modern, Tudor revival, craftsman, contemporary traditional, and Cape Cod styles.
Benefits of Closed Floor Plans
Each room in a closed floor plan is designed for a specific purpose. Closed floor plans offer a classic and formal design that can suit certain architectural styles and preferences, providing a sense of order and privacy within the home.
Encourages Work-Life Balance
In the era of work-from-home, a closed floor plan has its benefits, especially if you have kids and pets running around. Nothing's worse than having to deal with the kids making a mess in the kitchen while you're taking work calls from the dining room table. Delineating a closed-off office space can help productivity and peace of mind—plus you can shut the door to your work life at the end of the day!
Allows for More Privacy
The closed nature of the floor plan provides a higher level of privacy in individual rooms. This can be beneficial for bedrooms, bathrooms, and other private spaces.
Better Noise Control
The presence of walls helps contain noise within specific areas, contributing to a quieter environment in individual rooms. This can be advantageous for activities that require concentration or reduced disturbance.
How to Optimize Space with Closed Floor Plans
A common misconception about open-concept layouts is that they have more space. While open floor plans can create the perception of more space since there are no physical barriers like walls, the total square footage in the home is still the same as a closed floor plan. With that being said, how do you optimize space and create a sense of openness within a closed-concept layout? Use vertical space to your advantage with tall bookshelves and armoires that draw the eye upward. The strategic placement of mirrors and lighting can create the illusion of more space. Flexible furniture arrangements, like rollaway tables and chairs, can be easily moved to adapt to different needs.
Carefully consider the wall and floor colors in your room as these will influence natural light and oftentimes darker colors can make an already small room feel cramped. Use different colors or textures to delineate spaces. Area rugs, accent walls, or variations in flooring can visually separate one part of the room from another.
Here are a few storage solutions that work well for traditional house plans:
- multi-functional furniture
- built-in storage
- smart shelving
- room dividers
- open shelving in the kitchen
- foldable or stackable furniture
- concealed furniture
- custom-built storage
How have you adapted to the closed floor concept in your modern home design?
