London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Thursday, Oct 02, 2025

Open Kitchen Layouts That Are Perfect for Entertaining and Casual Meals

Open Kitchen Layouts That Are Perfect for Entertaining and Casual Meals

Rethink closed-off cooking spaces in favor of something more inviting. Kitchens that are open to other areas of the home encourage casual family meals, conversations with the cook, and effortless entertaining. These open kitchen layouts demonstrate how to seamlessly connect cooking, dining, and living spaces.


One-Wall Open Kitchen


A single wall of appliances and floor-to-ceiling cabinetry work well in open floor plan kitchens. Here, a long island houses additional storage and a sink, keeping the work triangle compact. Island seating allows friends and family to stay close without getting in the way. Without walls to separate the two spaces, natural light from the living area spills into the kitchen, making it feel even more open and light.



Large Open Kitchen Layout


This modern kitchen design features a spacious open layout designed specifically around the family's needs. Including both an island and a peninsula provides extra counter space and centralizes storage areas. Opposite the cooking zone, a cozy dining nook with a built-in banquette offers space for quick meals. Without upper cabinetry disrupting sightlines, the kitchen maintains a fresh, open feel.



Seamless Open Kitchen Design


Repeat colors and materials to visually connect spaces in an open layout. In this open kitchen and dining area, large swaths of white create continuity and a clean look. The wood dining table also ties in with the butcher-block island countertop, but different styles of pendant lighting over the table and island help distinguish the spaces.



Open Kitchen and Dining Space


A connected kitchen and dining area makes for easy serving. In this open floor plan kitchen, the cooking zone flows easily into a dining nook with a built-in banquette and seating around a small table. For entertaining, the island can serve as a buffet for appetizers and multiple people can cozy up on the banquette.



Modern Open Kitchen


Cabinetry extends nearly to the ceiling in this sleek, modern kitchen design. The extra storage gained from the tall cabinets and the central island allows for an open floor plan that flows naturally into the dining area. The open-concept kitchen works well for entertaining, as guests can easily gather around the island or the table without feeling as if they've left the kitchen.



Open Kitchen Design Techniques


When kitchens are open to other areas of the house, it's important to integrate the styles so the rooms don't clash. This open kitchen features sleek seating, splashes of blue, and natural wood elements that flow from the cooking zone to the dining area. This design technique is often used in small kitchens to make the space look larger than it appears.



L-Shaped Open Kitchen


You don't need a long stretch of space for an open floor plan kitchen. This compact kitchen tucks into a corner and connects with a dining area and family room. Runners define the traffic flow around the L-shaped kitchen, and a mobile island helps further separate the space.



Open Kitchen Traffic Flow


The back entrance to this home is accessed through the kitchen, so an open traffic flow was an essential design consideration. To allow for passersby, the owners opted for a kitchen table instead of a bulky island. Benches on either side can be pushed under the table if needed to create a wider walkway. Double doors leading out to the patio can be propped open so friends and family can gather outside but still chat with the cook.



Small Open Kitchen Layout


In a small open kitchen, a peninsula that extends outward from one wall is often a more efficient use of space than an island in the center. This peninsula provides uninterrupted counter space and creates a divider for a casual seating area. A round table and chair provide a great alternative to putting stools around an island when space is limited.



Remodeled Open Kitchen


If you have a small, closed-off kitchen and are looking to renovate, consider taking down some walls. Removing a wall in this kitchen created space for an L-shaped layout and a large island. The remodeled kitchen now opens to the adjacent living areas for a more welcoming feel.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Trump Administration Launches “TrumpRx” Plan to Enable Direct Drug Sales at Deep Discounts
Trump Announces Intention to Impose 100 Percent Tariff on Foreign-Made Films
Altman Says GPT-5 Already Outpaces Him, Warns AI Could Automate 40% of Work
Singapore and Hong Kong Vie to Dominate Asia’s Rising Gold Trade
Trump Organization Teams with Saudi Developer on $1 Billion Trump Plaza in Jeddah
Manhattan Sees Surge in Office-to-Housing Conversions, Highest Since 2008
Switzerland and U.S. Issue Joint Assurance Against Currency Manipulation
Electronic Arts to Be Taken Private in Historic $55 Billion Buyout
Thomas Jacob Sanford Named as Suspect in Deadly Michigan Church Shooting and Arson
Russian Research Vessel 'Yantar' Tracked Mapping Europe’s Subsea Cables, Raising Security Alarms
New York Man Arrested After On-Air Confession to 2017 Parents’ Murders
U.S. Defense Chief Orders Sudden Summit of Hundreds of Generals and Admirals
Global Cruise Industry Posts Dramatic Comeback with 34.6 Million Passengers in 2024
Trump Claims FBI Planted 274 Agents at Capitol Riot, Citing Unverified Reports
India: Internet Suspended in Bareilly Amid Communal Clashes Between Muslims and Hindus
Supreme Court Extends Freeze on Nearly $5 Billion in U.S. Foreign Aid at Trump’s Request
Archaeologists Recover Statues and Temples from 2,000-Year-Old Sunken City off Alexandria
China Deploys 2,000 Workers to Spain to Build Major EV Battery Factory, Raising European Dependence
Speed Takes Over: How Drive-Through Coffee Chains Are Rewriting U.S. Coffee Culture
U.S. Demands Brussels Scrutinize Digital Rules to Prevent Bias Against American Tech
Ringo Starr Champions Enduring Beatles Legacy While Debuting Las Vegas Art Show
Private Equity’s Fundraising Surge Triggers Concern of European Market Shake-Out
Colombian President Petro Vows to Mobilize Volunteers for Gaza and Joins List of Fighters
FBI Removes Agents Who Kneeled at 2020 Protest, Citing Breach of Professional Conduct
Trump Alleges ‘Triple Sabotage’ at United Nations After Escalator and Teleprompter Failures
Shock in France: 5 Years in Prison for Former President Nicolas Sarkozy
Tokyo’s Jimbōchō Named World’s Coolest Neighbourhood for 2025
European Officials Fear Trump May Shift Blame for Ukraine War onto EU
BNP Paribas Abandons Ban on 'Controversial Weapons' Financing Amid Europe’s Defence Push
Typhoon Ragasa Leaves Trail of Destruction Across East Asia Before Making Landfall in China
The Personality Rights Challenge in India’s AI Era
Big Banks Rebuild in Hong Kong as Deal Volume Surges
Italy Considers Freezing Retirement Age at 67 to Avert Scheduled Hike
Italian City to Impose Tax on Visiting Dogs Starting in 2026
Arnault Denounces Proposed Wealth Tax as Threat to French Economy
Study Finds No Safe Level of Alcohol for Dementia Risk
Denmark Investigates Drone Incursion, Does Not Rule Out Russian Involvement
Lilly CEO Warns UK Is ‘Worst Country in Europe’ for Drug Prices, Pulls Back Investment
Nigel Farage Emerges as Central Force in British Politics with Reform UK Surge
Disney Reinstates ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ after Six-Day Suspension over Charlie Kirk Comments
U.S. Prosecutors Move to Break Up Google’s Advertising Monopoly
Nvidia Pledges Up to $100 Billion Investment in OpenAI to Power Massive AI Data Center Build-Out
U.S. Signals ‘Large and Forceful’ Support for Argentina Amid Market Turmoil
Nvidia and Abu Dhabi’s TII Launch First AI-&-Robotics Lab in the Middle East
Vietnam Faces Up to $25 Billion Export Loss as U.S. Tariffs Bite
Europe Signals Stronger Support for Taiwan at Major Taipei Defence Show
Indonesia Court Upholds Military Law Amid Concerns Over Expanded Civilian Role
Larry Ellison, Michael Dell and Rupert Murdoch Join Trump-Backed Bid to Take Over TikTok
Trump and Musk Reunite Publicly for First Time Since Fallout at Kirk Memorial
Vietnam Closes 86 Million Untouched Bank Accounts Over Biometric ID Rules
×