Are open floor plans going out of style?

Dusty Rhodes • January 17, 2024

Closed floor plans: For years, they were yesterday’s news. In recent interior design trends, it’s been all about open concept floor plans. But in recent years, there have been reports of buyers looking for more walls. What gives?


Long story short, the pandemic and the rise of remote work have influenced the kind of homes buyers seek. During lockdowns, open spaces granted less privacy and families sought privacy in separate spaces. Even as restrictions eased, the benefits of having separate rooms left its imprint on interior design trends.


As a result, soft versions of closed floor plans have been making their way back into the woodwork. Home designers have seen more requests for dividing walls and offices in building plans. There is also an understandable emphasis on outdoor living.


We can sense the winds of change, but we also want to know—is this change permanent? Or, will building trends revert to the open kitchen and floor plan we are familiar with? We looked up the opinions of experts, so you don’t have to.


Are Closed Floor Plans Making a Comeback?


Yes, to some extent. But open floor plans aren’t out of the equation. After all, architects can’t just ignore the overwhelming benefits of open floor plans, which include freedom of movement, maximizing small spaces and natural light, and allowing creative furniture layouts. Overall, it depends on who you ask whether dividing walls will become the next “hot” home trend.


For instance, more interior designers than ever are promoting separate rooms as a hot design trend for 2024. Formal dining rooms and separate living rooms, which have long been considered outdated, are now coming back too. HGTV also predicts the rise of compartmented spaces like children’s homework spaces and meditation rooms that emphasize quiet concentration and solitude.


Recently, the Architectural Digest affirmed the ongoing need for “hybrid spaces” that offer multiple functions for the same space – another ongoing effect of our days of staying at home. This points to the ongoing need for residents to have separate spaces that can convert to various functions, allowing different household members to use parts of the home for specific purposes. It’s one of the great strengths of closed floor plans, but it can also be applied to some open concept areas. 


Are closed floor plans right for you?


In the end, it’s all about what you want. Do you think that a dedicated dining area is convenient, as well as a separate living area where residents can relax away from the main part of the house.? A family room can be a more relaxed living area while a guest room can remain pristine for out-of-town visits. Having private areas with a workspace, whether it’s a home office or garage workshop, can also become part of an advantageous home layout.


No matter whose opinion you read, one thing is certain. Home design will rise to meet consumer demand. As lifestyles change, so will homes adapt. Time will tell if including more walls will stick, or if the modern home builder will revert to the airy, open floor plans that have captured our fancy for years.


The Case for Closed Floor Plans


It’s normal for experts to come to different conclusions even after looking at the same evidence. Realistically, it’s unlikely that the rise of remote work and school post-pandemic has not influenced life at home at all. When voices regarding this trend are mixed, we must consider—what reasons could be behind an overarching closed floor plan shift?


The Need for Definition in Larger Homes


The average home size has more than doubled since the 1950s, and Americans are now expressing challenges about defining spaces in open floor plans. Since the typical home in 2020 was around 2,300 square feet, homeowners found that there weren’t enough room dividers or fancy bookshelves to designate what part of the kit-living-den combo is for what.


Not Wasting Space


Lack of definition leads to another problem: unused space. Whereas a closed floor plan could easily integrate a cozy home office or kid’s playroom, homeowners report wasted opportunities when there are too many options for a space. A great room has a lot of potential, but if there is no spatial definition, there can be wasted square footage.


The Need for Privacy & Quiet

Let’s not forget another factor driving the need for closed floor plans: privacy. In fact, the author of this article also went from an open floor plan to a closed floor plan after the pandemic. The need for more walls and privacy increases as one spends more time around the same people.


When multiple family members must work, learn, and play under the same roof, it is challenging when one must concentrate on a work assignment while another wants to play guitar. Having separate rooms on the same floor resolves this problem. It also helps parents of young children and fur parents put up gates to control traffic flow for safety reasons.


Freedom to Decorate in Closed Floor Plans


Closed floor plans offer another advantage: the freedom to assign unique design concepts to different rooms. While you can make one bathroom “dark and moody,” you can make the office bright and full of plant life or experiment with some bold paint colors.


When there is one open floor plan, homeowners are compelled to unify wall colors and fixtures. For instance, combining the living room with a dining room means requires that these living spaces have a harmonious color palette.




Source: Marketplace Homes

Dusty Rhodes Properties is the Best Realtor in Myrtle Beach! We do everything in our power to help you find the home of your dreams. With experience, expertise, and passion, we are the perfect partner for you in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. We love what we do and it shows. With more than 22 years of experience in the field, we know our industry like the back of our hands. There’s no challenge too big or too small, and we dedicate our utmost energy to every project we take on. We search thousands of the active and new listings from Aynor, Carolina Forest, Conway, Garden City Beach, Longs, Loris, Murrells Inlet, Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, Pawleys Island, and Surfside Beach real estate listings to find the hottest deals just for you!

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By Dusty Rhodes • November 10, 2025
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By Dusty Rhodes • November 3, 2025
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By Dusty Rhodes • October 13, 2025
From the first coat of paint you used to freshen up your house’s trim to the stress of wrangling your way to a deal, you’ve been through a lot in that place. Now you’ve made it to the final hurdle of selling a home: moving out! Don’t worry, this is the easy part… but you want to do it right. Here’s how to get through the last leg of your journey without any bumps along the way. How to move out on time Once the paperwork is signed at closing, the buyers will officially own the house—and you won’t. That means that, technically, if you or your stuff is still there after the close, “the buyer could evict you,” says Joshua Jarvis , founder of Jarvis Team Realty in Duluth, GA. So make sure to have your exit strategy in place! Still, most buyers will understand if you need a bit more time and have a legitimate reason—like if you can’t move until the weekend due to your work schedule. Just be sure to discuss these issues as soon as possible before the close, so your buyers can plan accordingly. Decide what to leave behind To make sure you’re leaving behind everything the buyer wanted—and that you agreed to—double-check the closing documents . There should be an itemized list of what comes with the house . And even if the buyers didn’t formally request them, it’s just good form to leave certain types of things behind. Such as? “Generally speaking, you should leave anything that’s bolted to the wall,” says Jarvis. “Some homeowners want to take their fans and blinds to the next home, but generally if it’s screwed in, it stays.” Also, if you and the buyers agreed to transfer any services—such as alarm monitoring or pest control —be sure to set that up before you go. Leave the buyers a detailed note in the house, or ask your agent to get in touch with theirs to make sure the transfer goes smoothly. If you do inadvertently take an item that the buyers had requested, they have the right to ask for it back—and they could potentially sue you in civil court for the cost of a replacement. So, when in doubt, feel free to check with the buyers before you grab and go. But don’t leave anything else behind Just as important as what you leave behind is what you don’t. Your buyers have a right to move into a home that’s been cleared of furniture and other movable items they didn’t expressly request. “Some folks leave all kinds of unwanted clothes, furniture, paint cans, and other items, thinking they are helping the buyers,” Jarvis says. If you truly think your buyers might love to have your old planting pots or kiddie equipment, go ahead and ask—but please don’t assume they’ll welcome your leftovers. Even if you’re careful, you might forget something—at which point the buyers may contact their agent to get it back to you, but they also have the legal right to just keep or get rid of it. So double-check areas (e.g., the attic, garage, basement, storage shed, kitchen, and bathroom drawers) where people commonly overlook items. Clean up It’s common courtesy to leave the place not only clear of your possessions but also clean. However, that doesn’t mean you have to leave it immaculate. “Generally, you shouldn’t have to pay to have it deep cleaned,” Jarvis says. In most cases, a simple broom-clean will do. That means wiping down the countertops, cleaning out drawers, sweeping or vacuuming all the floors, and giving the bathroom and kitchen appliances a once-over so the new owners aren’t grossed out when they arrive. Are you forgetting anything? Before you close the door for the last time, run through a quick checklist. Did you eyeball every room for stray items? Have you forwarded your mail and turned off the utilities? Is the water running in the jacuzzi? We all get in a bit of a rush even in the best planned moves, but you won’t be able to get back in, so it can’t hurt to do a final run-through before you move out. Once you’re ready, it’s time to leave. You can drop a line to your real estate agent to let them know you’re out, although it’s usually a courtesy more than a necessity. If you’re feeling truly gracious, feel free to leave a note, card, or bottle of bubbly congratulating the people who’ve inherited your former home. Given all the fond memories you’ve built between those walls, wouldn’t it be nice to start the home’s new owners off on the right foot? And buy yourself some Champagne, too. Make it the good stuff—you’ve earned it.