Broken plan: the best of both worlds
Open plan has been the unchallenged king of interior layouts for decades. Promising fresh and expansive spaces, it moved us away from small and claustrophobic rooms to completely revolutionise how we experienced our homes. An open-plan house was and is a sign of prestige and luxury.
But now, in the wake of a global pandemic, the whole concept of open plan is being thrown into question. When Covid-19 forced us all to take a long, hard look at our interiors, it made the drawbacks of open-plan living all too clear.
It lacked privacy for one thing, but also highlighted a lack of versatility when it came to use. Because when you need to work from home and school the kids at the same time, doing it all in one big space was always going to end in tears.
Enter broken plan living: the hero of the piece. Broken plan aims to find a balance between traditional homes with separate rooms and the boundaryless style of open plan to find something that suits everyone. But what exactly does it involve and why could it suit your home?
What are the benefits of broken plan living?
While the two styles are similar, a broken plan house layout definitely has its advantages.
- Increased privacy
Privacy is a huge motivator for moving away from an open-plan design. In an expansive room, everything is on show - there’s no hiding! While this type of layout is great for creating a convivial atmosphere, there are times when you’ll want to take time out for yourself and relax. A broken plan layout might be preferable because it creates pockets of distraction-free spaces where you can have some downtime.
- Makes working from home easier
If you’re a remote worker, you’ll more than likely understand the frustration that comes with trying to find a quiet place to concentrate. This goes double in an open-plan home, where you’ll be contending with more noise and family members walking into video calls. Broken plan gives you more control over your office environment, creating an enclosed space and backdrop that helps meetings run more smoothly.
- Spaces feel more defined
Open-plan interiors can almost feel overwhelming in their layout, leaving furniture to get lost in the rolling expanse of space. In a worst case scenario, they can look cavernous and impersonal - a kind of no-man's land, blurred into one big, hollow interior. Broken plan, on the other hand, brings in gentle partitions to create definition within spaces. It adds structure and purpose, without losing the fluidity of open-plan design.
- Allows you to be more organised
One of the most pleasing aspects of broken plan is that you can use storage to create elegant boundary lines in your space. Bring in the tall bookcases, modular shelving and long console tables. They’re fantastic for dividing up your space in a low-key way and give you even more room to keep your interiors tidy.
- More versatile and adaptable
‘Flexibility’ is a word that often gets used when describing open-plan spaces but does that really ring true? Maybe not. Open plan interiors can create an ‘all or nothing’ effect, where a single activity will dominate the entire space. Adding partitions can actually make a space more versatile, allowing members of your home to use the same space differently, all at the same time. And with loose fit furniture, you can rearrange your layouts quickly and easily to find what works best.
How to create broken plan interiors
Like the sound of a broken plan home? Then here’s how to make your own design come together. And while you could go big with dramatic room renovations, there are actually a lot of simple hacks you can use straight away to start transforming the feel of your home.
- Add partitions and screens
The key to a broken plan layout is through the use of partitions, and though they come in a variety of forms - such as low walls, curtains, or sliding doors - the one thing they have in common is that they retain the sense of connection you get from an open-plan space.
For more permanent partitions, it’s important that they don’t disrupt the flow of the room.
You should still be able to see through to the deeper parts of the space to retain that open-plan feel and, more importantly, ensure that you preserve as much natural light as possible.
Popular options for room dividers include adding fixed partitions in bedrooms, where you might want to create a discreet dressing space; or adding glass, Crittall-style screens to separate living and dining areas.
If you want something more versatile, movable screens let you define your space at your leisure, and are fantastic for adding statement visuals to your interiors.
- Bring in open-sided shelving
A mainstay of broken plan living spaces, open-sided shelving is the perfect way to create distinct zones in larger spaces. As well as providing extra storage space for books and ornaments, they also let you decide how much of a division you want to create between your zones. Add in lots of books to create more of a barrier, or allow some gaps so that you can keep an eye on the kids while they play.
- Work a home office into a living space
Home office nooks are another popular addition to broken plan spaces and help create a dedicated area where you can concentrate.
It doesn’t have to be huge - it can be a desk in an alcove or even part of your main living room. Just make sure that it’s got everything you need to stay calm and collected.
Plants and soothing colour palettes make a great combination for a home office space. But if you do think you’ll need a bit more privacy, try adding a screen or shelving to block out any distractions.
- Use wallpaper, rugs and flooring to add definition
The dividing lines in a broken-plan layout don’t always have to be a physical barrier. You can loosely suggest different zones by changing the finish on the walls or floor.
A statement rug paired up with a cosy chair and headphones is enough to create the feel of a chilled-out music space. Or a bold lick of paint on the walls might be all you need to separate your workout area from the rest of your lounge.
There’s a lot of creative ways you can transition between spaces, from gradated flooring to dramatic raised levels, so think about what might work best for your interiors.
Rethink how you see your spaces
Tired of your open-plan layout? Then why not try out a broken-plan interior instead. Even just a few small changes here and there can make a huge difference to the look of your spaces. But, if you want to go that bit further and maybe add in a bespoke home office suite or some extra storage, don’t forget to get in touch with our team at Sharps.
All our in-home Design Visits are free and you can talk with your designer about what you’re looking to achieve.
Book yours today to get started!
