Mr. Open Concept yells, “Hey, can you turn off the TV? I’m working over here?” and Mrs. Closed Concept yells, “Hey, what was that noise? What are you doing in there?”

Every time I watch a TV show where someone is renovating a house, the change most people ask for is to make their space open concept. The next scene is a highly dramatized smashing of walls, with sometimes extremely unnecessary tools. It’s incredibly satisfying to watch.

While the open floor plan has been a huge trend, it has a few pitfalls. If you have an open floor plan, you know these situations well. The smell of that delicious salmon you cooked now lingers on the sofa cushions, you can’t seem to get the temperature right because space is so it’s harder to heat and cool, and you hate when people pop over unannounced because it’s hard to hide the mess. Only the “Monica Geller’s” and “Jane Kerkovich’s” of the world can thrive living in this floor plan.

If you don’t have the high cleanliness standard and obsessiveness of those personalities, then say hello to broken-plan living.

What is broken plan living, you ask? Broken-plan means keeping the things you love about open-plan, but also letting your rooms retain an element of privacy and specific use.

Have a look at these broken, but beautiful spaces for inspiration.

Glass lets in light, and helps to keep out sound.

Keep a Closed Floor Plan If

  • Creating spaces for specific uses, e.g., movie watching is on your list 
  • You need to control sound and contain the mess  
  • Reducing your heating/cooling costs is a priority

Move to an Open Floor Plan If

  • Making your space appear larger is a part of your plan
  • You’re looking to create a more social atmosphere where people in other areas don’t feel left out
  • Letting light through to areas that struggle to get light is a problem you’re looking to solve

Broken plan living can give you all of the above

If closed plan and open plan had a baby, it would be broken plan.
A floating partion wall makes the spaces feel separate without completly blocking out light, plus it makes for a great art wall.

Dividing your space using half walls, smart shelving, split levels, internal windows, and moveable walls are great tricks to creating zones for privacy and relaxation. These design techniques help bring in light while escaping distraction from loved ones you live with (and the undone cleaning) when the mood takes you.

These spaces feel separate, but the large arch way allows for great flow from room to room.
Screening used as a wall creates separation, but allows for air, light and sound flow.
Split-levels, bookcases, windows and screens are the base elements of creating a solid broken plan space.

If you’re in the design phase, you’re probably weighing the benefits of open and closed floor plans. Well, now you can add this smart and compromising layout to your list.