By Gordon Lee
Many people are changing the layout of their homes to an open plan design to help make home life a more pleasant and social affair. An open plan home can allow everyone to use the same space for different tasks while still connecting. However, there are some factors to consider before looking to open the rooms of your home to ensure you can do an excellent job. Below are some considerations to think about that can assist you in planning the perfect open design for your home and bring your family together more.
Which Walls Can You Knock Down?
The first thing you will need to look at before getting the builders in, is which walls are load bearing and which ones you can get rid of to open your space up. If you have a structural wall, it does not mean your plans are scuppered, as you may not be able to remove it entirely, but you can cut down its size. It is worth speaking to as many reputable building companies as you can who can look at the project and offer suggestions of the best way to achieve what you want.
Bring The Light Into Your Home
You may also want to consider opening your home to natural light, and an excellent way to do this is by replacing an external wall with a bi-fold door. Bi-fold doors can allow plenty of light into your home, and they also embrace open-plan designs. You can extend the usable space of your home and utilise the outdoors, creating the perfect place for alfresco dining and entertaining. You will need a patio or deck outside your home and suitable furniture, and it can help make your garden an additional room for your home when the weather is nice.
A Space For Everyone
Although you will embrace an open-plan design for your home, you will still want to define usable areas of your space so that everyone has somewhere to relax. You will need a suitable place for eating, and a space for the children to do their homework is also necessary. You will also want an area where you can sit down and relax and watch some TV or listen to music. Just because you are going with an open plan, it does not mean you cannot define the areas of your space and assign them a purpose.
Find Yourself A Reputable Builder To Do The Job
Once you have considered all your options and decided what you want to do, you will need to find a reputable builder to do the job. Ask for a quote from as many companies as possible and see what prices they come back with for you. You will also want to look at the timeframe for the work for each company and see how long the project will take. You will want to try and ensure there is as little disruption for you and your family as possible. Once you have found the best building company for the job, you can get ready to start living an open plan lifestyle and spending much more time with your family.
