Open Kitchen to Living Room: Everything You Need to Know About the Trend

Once considered just a passing fad, the open kitchen is now fully integrated into our modern lifestyle. It creates a welcoming and functional space, which is why it has become so popular.

The Key Feature: The Island

The kitchen island (or bar) is the centerpiece of the open-plan layout, offering multiple uses: serving drinks, enjoying a meal, helping children with homework, or finishing dinner prep without being cut off from guests.

The island acts as a dining table, sideboard, and workspace all at once. It comes in two versions: with or without integrated technical features. The latter requires more planning to accommodate plumbing and electrical installations.

For smaller kitchens where an island may not fit, a sideboard or storage-equipped shelf can serve the same purpose.

Transparency

If knocking down an entire wall feels overwhelming, there’s a stylish and creative alternative: glass partitions. Inspired by artist studios, glass walls allow light to circulate and make the space feel more open, while still containing unwanted cooking odors.

For those wanting flexible space, large sliding wooden or metal doors on rails are also very on-trend.

Matching Styles

The living room and kitchen don’t need to look identical, but their styles should complement one another for the design to succeed. This can be achieved by using a tonal color palette for consistency, or by integrating natural materials such as wood, metal, or stone across both spaces.

Complementary doesn’t mean boring. Personalize the open area with decorative objects, artwork, and design pieces you love. Maximize storage to keep visible areas clear, highlighting your favorite items.

Regardless of your kitchen’s layout—linear, U-shaped, or semi-enclosed—the goal of an open kitchen is to improve flow and enhance the transition between spaces. While removing partitions, it’s still important to define each area’s function. Furniture like islands should also be placed carefully to maintain smooth circulation.