For years the trend of open plan living has reigned supreme, yet a new contender is entering the ring - broken plan living.
A twist on open plan, broken plan retains that sense of openness, while also offering more privacy and cosy nooks. It's a chance to get creative with your home, allowing you to play with shelves, partitions, and even half walls. So if you’re looking for a new home layout, here’s some inspiration to get you started…
Shelves and screens
First things first, you don’t need to undertake a massive renovation project to achieve a broken plan space. If you already enjoy an open layout, but you want to divide up space, get creative with your furniture. Shelving and screens can help block off areas of your home, enabling you to create new nooks for studying, working, or relaxing. What’s more, these items can also be removed, so you don’t have to commit straight away.
Glass partitions
These are a firm favourite in the broken plan movement, as the glazing provides the perfect way to keep your space feeling open, even while splitting it up. By opting for a glass partition, you allow for light to continue penetrating the whole household, yet also create quiet areas for relaxation, as glass will provide a level of soundproofing.
Looking for a bit of extra style? Opt for crittall glass. The black iron is very on-trend, especially when those bold lines are contrasted against modern white interiors.
Half walls
Half walls are the perfect way to achieve two separate rooms without completely closing them off from one another. They work particularly well in separating a living room from a kitchen, or even a living area from a study.
In the below example, this Resi project used half walls to create the feeling of a separate kitchen space in their maisonette, while still keeping it connected through the use of a gorgeous glass ceiling. This glazed feature runs all the way through the kitchen, dining, and living room, bringing a sense of continuity to space, as well as plenty of natural light.
Fireplaces
Divvy up your home through the use of this warming feature. A stylish fireplace, complete with a chimney, helps block off spaces, while still leaving plenty of room for that open feeling. Go for modern fakery or even opt for the real thing. Fireplaces come in all shapes and sizes, so ask your architect how you might get creative.
However, it’s worth noting that there is strict UK regulation concerning wood-burning fireplaces. If you’ve got your heart set on a traditional log-burner, make sure you’ve read our blog on what rules you’ll need to bear in mind.
Levels
Broken plan living doesn’t have to mean walls, it can also be achieved simply through the use of different levels in your home. Whether this is something as small as a few steps, such as those in the example below, or through creating your own mezzanine, the sky (or rather, your available head space) is the limit with this idea.
Benefits of going broken plan
- Rooms feel defined and more cozy
- Your home will be easier to heat
- Plenty of natural light can travel through your home
- Helps stop kitchen odours from overpowering the rest of the house
- More privacy for members of your household
Fancy learning more about creating your own broken plan dwelling? At Resi, we offer free consultations, giving advice to every homeowner on how to transform their space. Book yours in now.
