Is Renovating an Open Floor Plan Worth It?

Homes with an open floor plan have long been touted as the modern home design. And for good reason: They allow for large, functional spaces, complete with lots of light and perfect for entertaining. For some forward-thinking homebuyers, it’s also a surefire way to boost your home’s value. 

Renovating homes from a traditional floor plan to an open concept is becoming increasingly popular—a survey done by the Better Homes & Gardens Real Estate department revealed that 62% of their agents say that homebuyers are showing a high interest in these homes.

What to Know About Open Floor Plans

The crux of this uptick in interest is functionality. High on the list of priorities for current homebuyers is finding a multi-functional space with aesthetic appeal. A home without walls in the kitchen and living room (literally) opens everything up for more frequent interaction among family members. Although it’s always recommended to eat meals together as a family at a dining table, we don’t always live in a Nancy Meyers film. With an open floor plan, you can fit in communal family time while juggling the hundreds of tasks the day demands—it might be the only way to unglue your teenager from her first love (her phone).

An unobstructed living space also brings in more natural light and good air, and makes hosting as easygoing as possible. You can have your colleagues in the living room and smoothly exit small talk and work chat to catch up with your college friends in the kitchen. And if you live in a place that’s prone to extreme climates, an open floor plan can help you cut down on your energy bill. 

But the open floor plan is not without faults: Maybe you just finished making and eating the most delicious fish tacos with your family and are getting ready for movie night. The dishes are clean, and you have Netflix queued up—a perfect setup. But what’s that smell? It’s the remnants of your dinner wafting into your kitchen-living room, and now your sofa permanently smells like Taco Tuesday.

Still, fact is fact. Homebuyers are looking to buy homes with an open floor plan and are willing to pay more for them. The modern homebuyer wants open, multifunctional spaces. With hybrid and remote work becoming a vital option for employees, people are spending more time at home and need it to be an area that transcends just serving as somewhere to sleep and eat.

As space becomes tight in cities and other urban areas, opening up a home and making it feel more spacious is a major advantage. So if you plan to sell your house in the future or are considering a renovation, check if any obstructive walls in your house are load bearing, and give your contractor a call.