Open plan living has become one of Australia’s most popular design choices, especially for new one-storey homes. By removing internal walls and allowing the kitchen, dining and living areas to flow together, homeowners gain brighter spaces, better traffic flow and stronger connections between daily activities. Achieving this look starts with defining zones using furniture and lighting, keeping a cohesive colour palette, planning clear pathways and maximising natural light.
With thoughtful storage, low-profile furniture and smart use of soft furnishings, an open plan layout can feel spacious, functional and beautifully balanced.
What Is Open Plan Living?
Open plan living combines the kitchen, dining and living areas into one open space rather than separating them with walls.
This style is popular in modern homes because it enhances social interaction, increases natural light and creates a relaxed, flexible layout. Without barriers, light moves freely through the home, making the space feel brighter, airier and more expansive.
For families building their dream home, especially single-storey designs, open-plan living offers practicality and connection. Parents can supervise kids while cooking, family members stay engaged during daily routines, and movement through the living areas becomes easier and more intuitive.
The shift toward open plan homes reflects a desire for open space, smooth flow and multi-purpose zones that adapt to changing needs. Instead of confined rooms, homeowners prefer layouts that support entertaining, working, relaxing and dining in a single, flexible environment.
At its foundation, open plan living is guided by visual continuity, cohesive styling, and maximising natural light. When combined, these elements create a warm, functional and contemporary home suited to modern lifestyles.
4 Benefits of Open Plan Living
1. Creates a Brighter & Airier Home
Large, open-plan living spaces allow natural light to travel further across the home. Without interior walls blocking sunlight, living areas feel more uplifting and expansive. High ceilings, glass sliding doors and open sightlines enhance this brightness, creating an airy sense of space that supports energy efficiency and improves comfort year-round. Maximising natural light, through windows, skylights or open access to an outdoor entertaining area, is one of the simplest ways to make an open space feel fresh, modern and spacious.
2. Enhances Family Connection
A major advantage of open plan living is its ability to bring people together. Parents can supervise kids from the kitchen island, help with homework in the dining space or chat with family while preparing meals. Even when each person is engaged in different activities, the open feel of the environment supports continual connection. This layout also enhances visibility and safety, making it easier to monitor young children while still enjoying daily routines. Open plan living strengthens family life by creating room for interaction, comfort and shared experiences.
3. Perfect for Entertaining
Open plan homes are ideal for entertaining, allowing guests to move effortlessly between the kitchen, dining areas and living zone. Whether hosting a dinner party, casual barbecue or weekend gathering, the open plan home encourages easy flow and ensures everyone remains part of the conversation. When paired with sliding doors connecting to an outdoor entertaining area or alfresco, the space becomes even more versatile. Indoor–outdoor entertaining is central to Perth living, and a well-planned open space makes transitions seamless and enjoyable.
4. Flexible for Changing Needs
As families grow, hobbies evolve, or lifestyles shift, open-plan living designs can easily adapt. Furniture placement can transform the space without structural changes: a dining area can become a study nook, the living room can expand for growing families, or modular sofas that can be reconfigured for different occasions. This flexibility ensures the home evolves alongside the people living in it, making the design a long-term, future-proof solution.
Design Ideas for a Functional Open Plan Space
Designing a practical open plan space requires careful attention to zoning, storage, acoustics and layout. Below are five design ideas that support functionality, comfort and style in an open plan home.
1. Define Functional Zones Without Walls
To maintain structure within an open plan home, use décor and furniture to outline specific zones. Area rugs, feature walls, pendant lights and furniture groupings can separate the living zone from the dining space or kitchen area without interrupting the open feel. Using complementary colours or textures across each zone can also reinforce their function while maintaining visual continuity. The result is an open space that feels purposeful, connected and easy to navigate.
2. Plan Clear & Unobstructed Pathways
Traffic flow is essential in an open floor plan. Plan pathways that allow people to move easily between the kitchen, living areas and outdoor spaces. Avoid placing large furniture along natural walkways or blocking access to sliding doors. Ensuring easy flow enhances comfort, prevents bottlenecks and supports daily activities, from cooking to gathering around the dining table.
3. Choose Furniture That Supports Conversation
Furniture placement shapes how people interact within an open plan space. Floating sofas and armchairs, rather than being placed against walls, this helps create conversation-friendly seating and define the living zone. Low-profile furniture also keeps sightlines open, making the space appear larger. Modular pieces allow for flexible arrangements, enhancing both style and functionality.
4. Build In Clever Storage Solutions
Effective storage is key to maintaining the clean, open look of an open plan living home. Built-in cabinetry, walk-in pantries, hidden storage within benches, and multi-functional furniture pieces such as storage ottomans keep the space organised and clutter-free. Good storage solutions also improve the home’s layout by maintaining an uncluttered, visually appealing environment.
5. Improve Acoustics and Comfort
Because open plan spaces can echo, incorporate plenty of soft furnishings, rugs, curtains, upholstered chairs and cushions, to absorb sound and add warmth. Mixing soft textures with hard surfaces also enhances comfort and style. Designers often introduce textured elements or décor to soften acoustics while preserving the clean lines and open feel of the space.
Lighting and Colour Schemes for Open Plan Homes
Lighting and colour significantly influence the atmosphere of an open-plan space. Because the layout relies on visual cohesion rather than walls, choosing the right lighting layers and colour palette is essential to maintaining harmony.
Layer Your Lighting
A successful open plan layout uses multiple types of lighting to enhance functionality and mood:
- Ambient lighting (e.g., LED downlights that are included standard in Redink builds) for general illumination
- Task lighting (e.g., kitchen pendants, under-cabinet lights) for work zones
- Accent lighting (e.g., wall sconces) for depth and ambience
Strategic lighting not only improves visibility but subtly defines each zone, helping the home adapt to different activities and times of day.
Keep a Harmonious Colour Palette
A cohesive colour palette ensures visual continuity across the open plan space. Soft neutrals such as white walls, greys, taupes and warm earthy tones make the space brighter and more inviting. Accent colours can add interest, but use them sparingly to avoid overwhelming the open feel. Feature walls, artwork or décor are ideal for subtle colour additions.
Maximise Natural Light
Position living areas near windows or glass doors to maximise natural light. Use sheer curtains that enhance brightness, and avoid placing tall furniture in front of windows. Natural light complements an open plan design by enhancing the sense of space and comfort.
Balancing Privacy and Openness
Open plan living encourages social interaction but still benefits from small private moments. Create micro-zones such as study corners, reading nooks or cosy seating areas within the open space. Use furniture, glass partitions or half-height walls for subtle separation without closing off the area. In single-storey homes, it’s easy to incorporate semi-secluded areas adjacent to the main living zone to balance interaction with privacy. Soft furnishings help reduce noise transfer, improving comfort in larger open spaces.
Incorporating Outdoor Living Areas
A well-connected outdoor entertaining area can elevate open plan living by extending the usable space and increasing ventilation and natural light.
Seamless Indoor–Outdoor Flow
Large sliding or stacker doors connect the living and dining areas with the alfresco, creating a seamless flow and enhancing the experience of outdoor dining. This is ideal for Perth’s climate and ensures gatherings feel effortless and connected.
Material Consistency
Use similar flooring tones, ceiling finishes and colour palettes indoors and outdoors to create cohesion and visual continuity. This enhances the sense of openness and strengthens the home’s design style.
Benefits of Ventilation and Natural Light
Connected outdoor spaces allow breezes to move through the home, providing natural cooling. They also enhance brightness, making the open space feel larger without increasing the home’s footprint. For alfresco inspiration and open plan home designs, explore our latest layouts.
Build Your Dream Open Plan Home with Redink Today! Contact Us To Learn More!
Open plan living brings together light, space and connection to create a home that truly enhances everyday life. Whether you’re building for family living, effortless entertaining or long-term flexibility, Redink Homes can help you design a layout that feels open, practical and beautifully cohesive. Our expertly planned floor designs maximise natural light, improve traffic flow and blend indoor–outdoor living seamlessly. If you’re ready to bring your dream open-plan home to life, get in touch with our team and explore the designs that suit your lifestyle.
