Tips for choosing an open kitchen vs closed kitchen

If you’re confused about which kitchen design to go for, follow our guide and end your struggle of having to choose between an open kitchen vs closed kitchen for your home in Dubai. Here, we will shed light on the pros and cons of both open and closed kitchen types. An open kitchen design makes serving meals to your family easy. Entertaining your guests won’t be a hassle as you can spend time with them as you prepare meals. On the other hand, a closed kitchen design ensures complete privacy and keeps any disorder confined to that dedicated space.

Open vs Closed Kitchen Types

Before making a choice between open kitchen vs closed kitchen properties, it is important to think about your preferences. Would you like a kitchen design that is open or do you prefer to have a walled-off private kitchen? Do you do a lot of cooming that will involve the use of noisy equipment and ingredients with strong odours? Most often, larger families are keen on closed kitchens for their homes, while those who are not as regular with their cooking are better served by open-plan kitchens. 

Since kitchen renovations are not as simple as they seem and requires careful planning and budgeting, it’s important to identify which kitchen type suits your needs better. Here’s all you need to know about open vs closed kitchen types.

The Open Kitchen Concept

Let’s start with an open kitchen design. This kitchen concept gained popularity in the early 1990s. It’s the first choice for many because it makes the home appear more relaxed and inviting. It is the place where the family comes together to enjoy food as well as each other’s company. 

Speaking of choosing between open kitchen vs closed, an open kitchen is one that’s more integrated with the adjacent rooms. Generally, an open kitchen is next to the living and dining room. As the name suggests, the floor plan for an open kitchen indicates that the area is “open” from more than one side. That is how it stays connected with the living area. Several areas in Dubai, especially towards the new parts of town feature this type of open plan kitchen. The apartments for rent in Remraam, JVC and JLT are known for featuring such open-plan kitchen designs. 

Pros and Cons of an Open Kitchen

Pros: Brighter and Airy Kitchen

While discussing the different pros of cons of open vs closed kitchen, one of the biggest merits of having an open kitchen is the availability of plenty of natural light. These kitchens are well ventilated compared to their closed design counterparts.

Pros: The Cook Can be a Part of the Activities and Conversation

Speaking of the benefits of an open kitchen, let’s not forget that the person cooking won’t feel left out during parties and family gatherings. Similarly, other family members can help with the meal prep. Thus, open kitchen ideas make the room more approachable and give the host an opportunity to interact with the gusets without having to stay in the kitchen.

Pros: Show off your kitchen equipment and unique crockery

An open kitchen gives you an opportunity to display the modern kitchen utensils, appliances and crockery to your guests. A well-decorated kitchen is something to be proud of. An open kitchen is a perfect way for you to share your beautiful kitchen with your friends and guests.

Cons: You Can’t hide the mess

The open kitchen layout not only helps you to flaunt fancy appliances and other kitchen utensils but it also exposes the unwanted mess caused by the work. If you go for an open kitchen you need to be prepared for the extra burden of keeping the place always clutter-free.

Cons: Difficult to Contain Noise

Open kitchens can also get noisy with all the appliances running, which in turn may disturb other family members. Things could get more difficult if there is a sleeping baby in the house. That means you have to consider the noise factor before opting for an open kitchen.

Cons: Containing the smells is harder

One of the disadvantages of an open plan kitchen is the fact that the odours will permeate throughout the house. So if you are baking some fish or cooking up something spicy and fragrant, the smells can invade other rooms of the house too. In the long run, these can stay on in the fabrics of your sofas and chairs, which can be cumbersome for some people. 

The Closed Kitchen Concept

A closed kitchen design is one that’s isolated from the rest of the house. The walls separate the kitchen from other rooms, creating a private place for you to cook. Those who do a lot of coking often prefer this type of space so that the rest of the house remains unaffected. Many of the older residential areas in Dubai feature homes with closed kitchens. For instance, most of the older buildings in Bur Dubai, Karama and Al Qusais have closed kitchens, making such rental properties popular with larger expat families. 

For a better comparison between open kitchen vs closed kitchen, let’s take a look at the pros and cons of a closed kitchen type. 

Pros and Cons of a Closed Kitchen

Pros: Efficient Kitchen

One of the biggest advantages of closed kitchen type is efficiency! You can get creative about your storage options. A closed kitchen will give you more efficiency and freedom to cook whatever you want, whenever you want. 

Pros: More Privacy

If you are a private person who thinks of the kitchen as a sanctuary, such closed kitchen designs may be more suitable. You can cook anything you like in peace without worrying about people popping in every now and then. Closed kitchen types are the best option for those who need privacy while working in the kitchen.

Pros: A More Formal Kitchen Design

A closed kitchen layout is formal and has an air of sophistication about it. Closed kitchens are ideal for people who prefer a formal cooking experience in silence and privacy away from the rest of the house.

Pros: Mess and Noise Contained

With a closed kitchen, the walls around help to keep all the noise and smell mostly within the cooking area. So even if you are frying up heaps of fish, or indulging in a few extra chillies for the garnish, the rest of your home can be more or less odour-free.

Cons: Expensive to Alter

The idea to convert the closed kitchen to an open kitchen won’t be easy to execute. It will be expensive to tear down the walls and create an open space. Expensive alteration is one of the main disadvantages of closed kitchen design. 

P.S. you can rely on affordable kitchen upgrades to bring life to your old closed kitchen.

Cons: Less Light and Poor Ventilation

When you consider the floor plan of an open kitchen vs closed kitchen, closed designs may allow less access to natural light and ventilation as compared to an open kitchen. You may need to invest in ventilation appliances to keep the kitchen smoke-free.

That’s all for our open kitchen vs closed kitchen debate. We have discussed what each kitchen type indicates along with the pros and cons of each design. Now the choice is yours to pick what suits your personal preferences and needs. 

If you are thinking of renovating the house, you can also go with a partially open kitchen, in order to have the best of both worlds. There are several kitchen trends in 2019 to consider before deciding which kitchen design you should pick. Adding art to your kitchen whether closed or open is a good way to give the space a new look.