If you have experience living in an apartment or house where the living room is combined with the kitchen, you know exactly what you like and don't like about this idea, and whether you are ready to "go for it" again.
And if you don't have experience, we suggest looking at the advantages and disadvantages of such a space.
Plus #1: Large open space
Apartments in Cyprus, as well as houses, are quite spacious. Nevertheless, sometimes you want more space, air and light. In this case, a kitchen combined with a living room is just the perfect option.
Residents immediately have at their disposal:
- A large room of 15-20, or even more square meters
- More windows in that room
- Convenient space for joint leisure time - with a large family or a group of friends
- Space for design ideas, placing all kitchen appliances, and beautiful furniture for the living room.
Free space is very valuable to people who have managed to accumulate a lot of possessions in small apartments. After that, they really want to have a room where they can literally run from one wall to the other.
Minus #1: More clutter, more cleaning
A large space is always tempting. The temptation to place as many functional (and not so functional) things in it as possible. It seems like "this gorgeous chest of drawers will fit perfectly", and a set of chairs stretches behind the chest, and behind them is a beautiful shelf... and so on.
People who are not psychologically prepared to regularly assess the clutter of a large room often suffer from owning a spacious living area because it is cluttered. In small rooms, everything is simpler. A few extra things already make you want to quickly clean them up and tidy up.
By the way, about tidiness! It is always more difficult to clean a large room. For some reason, we think that washing the floors in two rooms of 10 sq. m. is easier than in one room of 20 sq. m.
And if you consider that the kitchen is a place where dirt, grease, and garbage constantly accumulate. You will have to clean this large room constantly.
But if you are only afraid of cleaning and do not suffer from clutter, then you can easily solve the problem by calling a cleaning service.
Plus #2: creating a unified space for family gathering
A large living room with a kitchen is always an idyllic picture where the whole family sits on a big sofa in front of the TV, playing board games or sitting in front of the fireplace.
Indeed, such a large space is an extra reason to gather everyone together. But this is not only about the atmospheric and aesthetic pleasure, but also a purely practical aspect.
For example, having children in the family, both small and grown-up. Little ones constantly need to be watched, so mom can sit the baby on a carpet or in a playpen, and quickly prepare lunch. Thus, mom and the child are in the same room.
An older child can also play nearby or do homework while parents do housework. This saves time and brings everyone together: from the little ones to grandparents.
Especially important is the presence of common space for families where at least half of the members are so-called extroverts. It is very difficult for them to be without daily communication.
A large living room will also be very useful if you often have guests. But if you combine this very kitchen with the living room, the habit will be preserved, and the comfort will increase.
Minus #2: Family members start to interfere with each other.
The pluses mentioned extroverts for a reason. It is not recommended for families with introverts to have a room where the functionality of two rooms is combined. People will simply find it difficult to relax when there is constant movement around them. And in the kitchen-living room, this is inevitable.
If a person who often cooks likes solitude, it is better to make the kitchen a separate room. The same applies to the place of rest. If the family prefers quiet joint leisure time, then the living room should be separated. So that sounds of cooking, TV from someone's bedroom, etc. do not reach there.
It is very important, if you have decided to combine the living room with the kitchen, to allocate a separate room for each family member. Even spouses often choose an option where each has their own corner - a study, boudoir, and so on. Otherwise, it is better to refuse the combination in order to preserve personal space.
Plus #3: modern design and lifestyle
A living room with a "built-in" kitchen is a truly modern and stylish option. And not only from a design point of view, but also from a philosophical point of view of life.
Many people today prefer to spend less time cooking in order to engage in more interesting activities: family, work, hobbies. Therefore, a large kitchen with all the bells and whistles is a thing of the past for some people.
Nowadays, it is not customary to receive guests in the kitchen (see above about habits), especially among the younger generation. It is not customary to have a lavish feast on holidays, as you can go to a restaurant or have a picnic. Or, according to the Cypriot tradition, gather a large family in the patio. Many women refuse to stand at the stove for hours in the morning and evening to cook first and second courses, and compote.
Therefore, the kitchen becomes not the most important attribute in an apartment or house. And accordingly, it can be combined with the dining-living room.
Minus #3: Expensive renovation
Stylish, beautiful, modern, functional. Of course, it costs money. And sometimes a lot. Because designing such a large and important space often requires the involvement of a professional designer.
You also have to consider the maximum comfort of all zones and furniture items. You need to carefully plan the placement of kitchen cabinets so that all dishes fit inside. Because if they are visible, the living room will start to look messy.
A good stove, powerful hood, refrigerator, soft living room furniture - all this must be placed ergonomically, conveniently, and reasonably. It is not always easy to choose everything in color and size. Sometimes you have to make custom furniture, which is more expensive than buying ready-made.
Also, imagine that you need to do zoning: this is to raise the floors or create a visual division (bar counter, decorative lattice, etc.), add light to those corners where it is not enough. There are quite a few tasks and expenses involved.
If you want to make a redevelopment in your apartment, add the corresponding expenses: for obtaining permission, for construction work.
The fact remains: equipping a separate kitchen and a separate living room in 90% of cases is easier and cheaper than a common area.
Plus #4: it is convenient to combine cooking and dining areas
Agree that it is much more convenient to set the table, especially for the whole family, in one room. Dividing the kitchen and dining room makes sense only if there is a servant who serves dishes during meals.
But running back and forth between rooms is very inconvenient and harmful to health. During meals, doctors recommend staying in complete rest.
Therefore, many small families prefer to have breakfast, lunch, and dinner in the kitchen. Reached out - grabbed the salt shaker. Reached out with the other hand - put some extra toppings. With large families, it won't work out.
If you have 4 or more people living with you, it makes sense to think about a large living room that is connected to the kitchen and at the same time serves as a dining room.
In this case, there are many advantages:
- everyone can gather around a large table, and no one will elbow each other
- you can do your own things together: one makes a sandwich, the other fries bacon, the third heats milk in the microwave - and everyone has plenty of space, no one will get in anyone's way
- it's convenient to entertain guests and have feasts, if you're used to it
- it's easy to feed young children at a common table - there's always somewhere to put a high chair.
Yes, a lot of space is definitely the best solution for large families.
Minus #4: the spread of unpleasant smells and loud noises throughout the living space.
Many people consider cooking smells as the number one downside. We won't be so categorical. After all, progress does not stand still. Powerful hoods and quality ventilation systems have already been invented. So everything that is cooked in the kitchen stays in the kitchen.
But still, it is worth stocking up on a lot of reservations and nuances.
The hood won't help if you:
- often cook meat and fish, not vegetables steamed;
- use a lot of spices and seasonings;
- cook a lot, as a result, the room does not have time to ventilate, and moisture accumulates from the steam.
By the way, about humidity: a lot of condensate often forms in the kitchen where a lot of cooking is done. Especially in the cold season. And often, an air dehumidifier is needed in the kitchen.
Finally, not everyone remembers about loud noises that come from the kitchen. Perhaps you won't be cooking cutlets every day, but there is a reason why there is an expression "clanging pots." Cooking is not a quiet process. You need to shake off the spoon, tapping it on the pan. Something falls. Water gurgles.
These sounds will be unpleasant for household members who are used to relaxing in the living room in silence. If the common area is a noise-free area, it is better to separate the kitchen from the living room.
And a little more on the issue of hygiene. If there are pets in the house, they can easily be forbidden from entering a separate kitchen. But if the kitchen is combined with a common room, such a ban will not work. If it is important to you that your pet does not enter the food area, consider this issue.
Plus #5: Space-saving for more necessary rooms
This option is suitable for those who have initiated a serious renovation. For example, you can add a living room element (sofa, TV, shelves) to a spacious kitchen, and completely convert the living room into a separate room - a bedroom or an office.
There is also an option to "split" the living room. Part of it can be connected to the kitchen, while the other part can be enclosed in a small but useful room. For example, it can be turned into a dressing room, storage room, utility room, and so on.
Some people have enough imagination to rearrange their apartments in such a way as to remove or, conversely, expand the corridor. In any case, by combining the kitchen and living room, you can save a few square meters for another, more necessary room.
Minus #5: Losing the "guest" room
The living room often serves as a guest room, especially in apartments with a small number of bedrooms. And at those times when friends or relatives stay overnight, some inconveniences arise.
For example, the hosts wake up earlier, while the guests wake up later, or vice versa. And this means that someone may not be able to have breakfast or disturb someone else's sleep. After all, the kitchen is the most common and often visited area.
Of course, the problem can be partially solved with a screen, a decorative curtain, and other similar options. But this will only visually limit the space, and the noise will not go anywhere.
Plus #6: you can place a lot of kitchen appliances
It has already been said that not everyone needs a full-fledged kitchen now. But this does not mean that people refuse household appliances, rather the opposite, they buy them in large quantities. After all, it makes life easier!
A spacious room provides a great opportunity to place ALL appliances in the kitchen area and still have plenty of space for cooking. This is still a dream for many - to cook without feeling cramped, even if it's only once a week.
Here's a brief list of appliances that can be placed in a kitchen-living room:
- a large (two- and three-chamber) refrigerator, which is relevant for large families
- a stove with at least 4 burners
- a microwave
- a coffee machine
- a dishwasher
- an electric grill
- small appliances - toaster, waffle maker, food processor
- a multi-cooker, bread maker
- devices for canning - dryers, juicers, etc.
You can also have ample and open surfaces for cooking, a large and deep sink, and auxiliary items (towel warmers).
Tip: If the space allows it, you can place a washing machine and dryer in the kitchen-living room area, you just need to mask them nicely.
Minus #6: sometimes there is simply no space left for the living room
If you don't stop in time, plus number six turns into minus number six. The kitchen occupies almost all the space, and there is simply no room left for the living room.
Of course, this is not always a problem for everyone. Some people are perfectly happy with a comfortable sofa and a coffee table, and everything else is a sacred kitchen realm. But in most cases, families still want to share the space equally.
In addition, kitchen waste (especially if cooking is done frequently) and various things "crawl" into the living room area. This doesn't look very tidy, so these things should be carefully thought out in advance.
Who will benefit from a kitchen combined with a living room
In summary, it can be assumed that a kitchen and living room combined in one space will be convenient for:
- Large families with children who need supervision.
- Sociable families. Those who like to spend a lot of time together.
- People who love large and open spaces. In the house, you can combine the kitchen with the living room and immediately create a "second light": this will result in a simply huge room!
- People who like to host large groups of guests.
- People who love to cook and want to do it in a free space.
And of course, a large multifunctional room will appeal to those who are tired of living in cramped spaces! Free space will make every day happy.
Who is suitable for a kitchen separated from the living room?
Sometimes a separate kitchen is a necessity. In which cases is it better to at least partially separate the kitchen from the living room:
- For people who love impeccable cleanliness. Maximum hygiene is possible only if the food and living areas are separate.
- For people who need personal space. Some people like to cook alone, some like to have lunch.
- For people who love peace and quiet. After all, the kitchen is a place of movement and noise, sometimes quite loud.
- For small families who cook and eat little at home. In this case, the kitchen will also serve as a dining room, while the living room will remain a separate free room.
- For residents of small apartments. Combining the kitchen with the living room in a one-bedroom apartment means losing an additional room that could come in handy. In this case, the kitchen can be "extended" by combining it with a balcony.
- For residents of apartments where it is difficult to make alterations. If the kitchen and living room were originally designed as separate rooms, it is necessary to properly arrange the documents, demolish the wall, and make a grand renovation.
Of course, everything is conditional. The final decision can only be made by the whole family. The most important thing is that everyone familiarizes themselves with the pros and cons listed above.
Several Tips on Zoning and Renovating
1. If possible, avoid renovations. It's difficult, time-consuming, and expensive. On Cyprus, you can find properties of different types, so it's best to decide whether you want a combined space or separate kitchen and living room at the stage of buying real estate.
2. Carefully consider zoning. Lighting, playing with textures and coverings, multi-level flooring, and conditional visual separation can help. Keep soft furniture away from surfaces occupied by cooking.
3. Don't rush to fill all the space with furniture and appliances. Otherwise, it will quickly lose all its attractiveness and "airiness." Focus on built-in furniture and cabinets that hide all utensils.
- 4. Perhaps you will like the averaged option, partial separation. This can be achieved in various ways. For example, by installing very large sliding doors. When they are open, there will be a feeling of a common space, and when closed, the kitchen will remain a separate room. You can also make large openings in the dividing wall, so-called "windows". And even shutters can be added there! If you remember the TV series "ALF" and other American movies, you can see this idea there. It is very popular in the West.
- 5. When combining, avoid an abundance of textiles - after all, in the kitchen area, it gets dirty quickly. Get covers for your sofa and other soft furniture.
- 6. Do not skimp on the hood and ventilation. And if necessary, purchase a dehumidifier. Otherwise, the common area will be filled with unpleasant odors, and hidden corners will be covered in mold.
Interested in property in Cyprus? Check out DOM! The agency's website features the largest database of real estate in the country - more than 30,000 residential and commercial properties throughout the island! Here you will find information on the latest developer projects. Choose and contact professional brokers who will help you make the right decision.
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