Key Takeaways
\nOpen living rooms are evolving to allow for balance between easy entertaining and intimate, zoned living.Expansive living rooms aren\u2019t as popular as comfortable, welcoming spaces with an easy flow.\u00a0People want zones defined for certain purposes, designed with personality and privacy in mind.<\/p>\n
If your home was built in the last two decades, you probably have an open-plan living room<\/a>. For a long time, this was the preferred floor plan for a bright, welcoming space, but over the past few years, we\u2019ve noticed a shift.\n<\/p>\n Now, people seem to once again prefer deliberate zones in their homes. With this in mind, we talked to a few designers to find out if open living rooms are officially going out of style.<\/p>\n Meet the Expert<\/p>\n Melanie Grabarkiewicz<\/a> is the lead designer at Meadowlark Design + Build.\u00a0 Are Open Living Rooms Going Out of Style? <\/p>\n Credit: <\/p>\n ExperienceInteriors \/ Getty Images<\/p>\n If you have an open living room and you\u2019re thinking of listing or selling your home, don\u2019t panic. Professional designer Melanie Grabarkiewicz says open plan living rooms aren\u2019t necessarily out of style<\/a>\u2014but she has seen a major shift in how people think about their homes.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n \u201cWhile homeowners are once again excited to entertain and gather in open living areas, there\u2019s still a strong desire to maintain some separation and flexibility,\u201d Grabarkiewicz says. \u201cWe\u2019re seeing many homeowners hold on to the \u2018away spaces\u2019 they created during COVID.\u201d\n<\/p>\n These zones include home offices, cozy reading nooks<\/a>, and small lounges that aren\u2019t always attainable in an open floorplan.\n<\/p>\n \u201cEven now, most homeowners still want that sense of connection\u2014being together in the same general space, even while doing different activities,\u201d says Grabarkiewicz. \u201cWhat\u2019s changing isn\u2019t the idea of openness, but how it\u2019s expressed.\u201d\n<\/p>\n Interior designer Jeff Andrews has seen this same shift in his work.\n<\/p>\n \u201cInstead of one large, continuous area, people are asking for cohesive layouts that allow rooms to flow<\/a> into each other, while still feeling purposeful,\u201d he says. \u201cIt\u2019s not about closing things off, but about creating a balance between openness and intimacy.\u201d\n<\/p>\n Want more design inspiration? Sign up for our free daily newsletter<\/a> for the latest decor ideas, designer tips, and more!\n<\/p>\n 3 Other Popular Living Room Layouts <\/p>\n Credit: <\/p>\n
\nJeff Andrews<\/a> is the principal designer and founder of Jeff Andrew Design, as well as a kitchen expert and spokesperson for Sub-Zero, Wolf, and Cove.\u00a0<\/p>\n