News1 November 2025
Open Plan Design vs Separate Kitchen
Not sure whether to go open-plan or keep your kitchen separate? Discover the pros and cons of each layout and how TKB Kitchens can help you design the perfect space.
What Style Is Right for Your Home?
One space or two?
Open-plan kitchens have been popular for years. They make homes feel bigger, brighter and more sociable. But they’re not right for everyone. A separate kitchen can offer more focus, more storage and a clear divide between cooking and living.
If you're planning a new kitchen, it's one of the first big choices you'll face. Do you knock through and go open? Or keep the layout as it is and make it work smarter? Here's a straight look at the pros and cons of each. Giving you some useful insight from the TKB Bespoke Kitchens team on what's best for your home and lifestyle.
The case for open-plan
Open-plan kitchens are ideal for modern living. They create a social space where everything happens. Cooking, kids doing homework, guests having a drink, quick gossip with the girls. There’s more light, more flexibility and a stronger connection between the kitchen, dining and living areas.
They’re brilliant for entertaining. You’re never shut away from your guests while cooking. You can cook and chat at the same time. A breakfast bar, an island, or a feature lighting setup can help define each area without putting up walls.
Open plans also help small homes feel bigger. Removing a wall often brings in more natural light and gives you more layout options. If you’re trying to make a house feel more open without adding an extension, this could be the answer.
The Pro’s for a separate kitchen
Not everyone wants an open plan. A separate kitchen gives you a clear break between cooking and relaxing. It keeps cooking smells, mess and noise out of the living room. You can shut the door, concentrate, and keep things contained.
If you're someone who loves to cook, a separate kitchen can feel like your own space. It gives you more wall space for storage and cabinets, and you’re less restricted by needing to make everything look 'on show' all the time.
It’s also better for traditional layouts. If your home has original features or a layout that works well as it is, you might not need to open everything up. A well-designed separate kitchen can still feel spacious and modern, without knocking walls down.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What will work best?
It depends on how you live. If your kitchen is the heart of your home, an open plan can work wonders. But if you want structure, focus and plenty of storage. A separate kitchen might suit you better. At TKB Kitchens, we design both. We help you make the most of the space you have, whether that’s one big open room or a more defined layout. We can also show you ways to add separation within an open plan, like a half wall, tall units, a feature island or built-in bench seating. If you're not sure which way to go, talk to us. We’ll look at your space, listen to how you use it, and give you a design that fits your life.