Open vs Closed: Take a design check

Pooja Khanna Tyagi

The primary difference between these two types of kitchen designs is that a closed kitchen is enclosed within walls while an open kitchen is integrated with the living and dining area to form an open plan home. Since the layout of the kitchen has to be highly functional and efficient, learn about the pros and cons of an open kitchen design and a closed kitchen design so that you can make an informed choice.

Open kitchen 

In an open kitchen layout, a similar decor, flooring and colour scheme is introduced within the living room, the dining area and the kitchen to visually integrate these into a single space. Note that modular kitchens are most suitable for an open kitchen design. 

Pros

• An open kitchen design creates a highly functional space that is ideal for cooking, watching television, supervising the children, helping them out with their homework and so on. This type of layout allows one to spend time with the family while cooking or cleaning.
• The absence of partition walls within the kitchen creates a bright and airy space with plenty of natural light. 
• An open plan kitchen is ideal for kitchens that do not have windows or are devoid of any natural light.
• Another advantage is that an open kitchen layout creates an interactive space that allows one to entertain guests and converse with them while cooking.
• Additionally meals can be served easily into the dining space from an open kitchen design.

Cons

• The soiled utensils create a lot of chaos and visual clutter, which is visible from the formal areas of the home. Make a note that one can opt for a sliding door within the open kitchen so that kitchen can be closed whenever it is messy.
• Indian cooking involves a lot of tempering with oil or ghee, which creates smoke that spreads into the formal areas of the home.
• Additionally some kitchen odours and grime is generated while cooking. Therefore, it is essential to invest in a good chimney that prevents kitchen odours from spreading into the rest of the home.
• Noise is produced while cooking by the whistles of the cooker, the use of the mixer-cum-grinder and the chimney result in a noisy living-cum-dining area.
• There is limited space for storage since there are hardly any walls and fewer cabinets.
• Heat is produced while cooking which may make the air-conditioning less effective.

Closed kitchen

A closed kitchen is a traditional kitchen plan that ensures privacy and fewer distractions while cooking.

 Pros

• The best part of a closed kitchen is that it is accessed through a door and the kitchen mess is not visible from the formal areas of the home.
• A lot of kitchen odours, grime and smoke is created while cooking but is confined to the closed kitchen only.

 Cons

• Unlike open kitchens, one cannot interact with friends or family while cooking.
• A closed kitchen design gives a comparatively smaller look to the house.
• Extra movement and efforts will be required to transfer meals from a closed kitchen into the dining room. 
• However, one can create a cut out within one of the kitchen walls so that food can be served directly from the kitchen window into the dining space.