
Should You Go For Open or Closed Concept Kitchen?
We see more and more families embracing the open-concept idea over the years and for good reasons! Having an open concept kitchen definitely helps to open up the space and allow for more interactions.
Of course we have a fair share of homeowners who prefer the closed concept kitchen as they would rather contain the smell and noise from cooking in the kitchen and also ensure safe movements when they are engrossed in what they are doing.
That said, not everyone may necessarily have the option of having an open kitchen as it is also largely dependent on the layout of the home. For a start, homeowners can see if there are any existing walls separating the kitchen and the living or dining area. The next step would be to determine if they are structural support walls. Structural walls are represented by bold lines on the floorplan and hacking will be limited to the parts that are not structural supports.
For floor plans that allow for both open and closed concepts, other than the layout of your home, you need to take into consideration your needs and lifestyle before choosing a concept!
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Open Concept Kitchen:

An open concept kitchen means that there are no walls separating the kitchen from the rest of the house. This gives visibility into a space which is a great option for someone who enjoy entertaining and having guests over. It also creates the illusion of a bigger space that attracts homeowners with smaller floor areas to adopt. Having an open concept kitchen also means having better ventilation. This means smells are able to dissipate much quicker compared to an enclosed kitchen.
Pros:
- Space seems bigger
- Brings more light into the kitchen
- Allow interaction between spaces
- Better ventilation

Cons:
- Additional cost and time for hacking works
- Lesser storage space with less additional wall
- Easier for noise and fumes to escape
- More effort to ensure overall tidiness
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Closed Concept Kitchen:

If you are a frequent cook that is concerned about the smell or noise from cooking or you simply want more privacy and less disturbance in the kitchen, a closed kitchen concept may be more suitable for you. A closed concept kitchen is achieved with a partition separating the kitchen from the rest of the house. Closed concept kitchens also have more potential for storage space as you have more walls to mount your cabinets on.
Pros:
- Noise and fumes will not travel as much
- More privacy for those who see the kitchen as their private sanctuary
- More storage space with the wall against the cabinet
- No additional cost for hacking works
Having a closed kitchen will definitely feel smaller and allow less interaction in the kitchen, it will be difficult to host multiple cooks. Another thing to note is that it might get warm when you are cooking or baking in a closed kitchen.

Cons:
- Space may feels smaller and covered
- Harder for interaction with other family members
- Can feel warmer when cooking in the kitchen
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Conclusion:
Aside from looking at your lifestyle and needs, there are also some other factors you can consider: the needs of everyone else in the household, the time restrictions and the budget for the renovation. It is also good to remember that there are ways to achieve a middle ground between an open and closed kitchen. You can go with a half-wall half-glass combination and pair it with a swing or sliding door to mimic the look of an open kitchen that allows for light and visibility into the kitchen while enclosing the space to contain noise and fumes from the rest of the home.
Lastly, for layouts that have the extra space can also consider having two kitchens, a wet kitchen that is enclosed and a dry kitchen that connects to the rest of the house.
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The Minimalist Society is a brand that focuses deeply on purpose and social good for our society at large. We do so by crafting experiences that makes people’s lives simple through interior design. We have been featured extensively by renowned online portals, in print and on screen, such as The Straits Times, Business Insider, Lianhe Zaobao, The Business Times, Singapore Home and Decor, Lookbox Living, Houzz, Cromly, Qanvast, Vulcan Post, Yahoo and MM2 Entertainment Singapore. At Team Minimalist, simplicity is a goal, a work style, and a measuring stick. By leading a life of purpose, our home owners can embrace only on the things that will add to the mission of significance and ultimately living their best story.