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 Formal dining rooms and separate living rooms, which have long been considered outdated, are now coming back too.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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What Stays With the House When You Move?

By Dusty Rhodes • March 30, 2026
When you’re selling your home , it is natural to assume that anything you can safely remove is yours to keep—like the light fixtures you painstakingly cleaned and repaired, or the appliances you bought last year. But the truth is, the buyer may want some of those items, too, and sometimes it's better to part ways with these items for the sake of the sale. Rather than keep everything, you should decide what you'd like to keep and what you'll leave behind as a way to entice buyers into making an offer, particularly in today's market where buyers are holding more of the cards than ever. What stays with the house? Generally, certain items stay with the house when you sell and move. Some features may seem obvious, but the truth is, you're probably expected to leave more behind than you think. Some of these items can include: Built-ins: Built-in bookshelves, benches, and pull-out furniture generally stay inside the home. Landscaping: Trees, shrubs, and any flowers planted in the ground should stay in the yard. Wall mounts: If you have TV wall mounts or picture mounts that might damage the wall if you remove them, it is a good idea to leave them in place when you move. Custom-fit items: If you have custom-made curtains , plantation shutters, or blinds, leave them on the windows and doors. Hardware : If you upgraded the knobs and drawer pulls in the bathrooms and kitchen, you should either leave those behind or install replacements before you move. Alarm systems : Wireless alarm systems are designed to be removed. Otherwise, leave the alarm monitoring station attached and either relocate or cancel the monitoring service. Smoke detectors : Smoke detectors and sprinkler systems should stay in the house, especially if you plan to move before selling the house. What can you take? While you’re expected to leave some items behind, in general your belongings are yours to keep. Here are some examples: Patio furniture, lawn equipment, and play sets : If you have a wooden swing set in the backyard and a bistro table on the front porch, take those items with you. Appliances : Some lenders require that a home have an oven installed before approving a loan, but for all other appliances, it's up to you to decide what you will take and what you will offer as part of the home. Some light fixtures : Generally, homeowners leave light fixtures behind, but if you’re attached to a certain fixture, you can make arrangements with the buyer to take it. Built-in kitchen tools : If you can safely remove a mounted spice rack or the pasta arm, you can take it with you. Rugs, basic curtains, wreaths : Small decor items like rugs or curtain rods that can be safely removed can be taken. What should you consider leaving? Some of your personal items can be used to help sell your house—or increase the asking price. Before you take everything just to take it, consider offering some hot items like the following: Appliances : Homeowners, especially new homeowners, don’t always have their own appliances. Many buyers would be more likely to place an offer on a home if it came fully stocked with appliances. Custom swing and play sets : If you have a swing set or playhouse your children have outgrown and you notice a potential buyer has children, offer to include the item with the deal. Kitchen built-ins : Built-in spice racks, pantry organization, and windowsill shelves can really help sell a kitchen. Consider offering the items to an interested buyer. Light fixtures, curtains, rugs, and other upgrades : If you’ve upgraded the light fixtures or have custom rugs in the entryway, a buyer may be willing to increase his or her offer to keep those items in the home.  If you’re not sure what would entice a buyer, ask your real estate agent to provide suggestions. Don't have an agent yet? Here's how to find a real estate agent in your area.

Top Mistakes Homeowners Are Making in 2026 (And How To Avoid Them)

By Dusty Rhodes • March 23, 2026
Let’s be clear: selling your house is absolutely possible right now. According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), roughly 11k homes sell every day in this country. And the sellers who are making their moves happen all have one thing in common: they’ve adjusted their strategy to match today’s market. They’re realizing inventory has grown. Homebuyers are more selective. And buyer expectations are higher. The sellers who struggle are usually approaching today’s market with yesterday’s expectations. Here are the three biggest mistakes they’re making – and how to avoid them. 1. Pricing Based on What Their Neighbor Got a Few Years Back Setting your price is the most important decision you make when you sell – and the one that’s most often mishandled. Realtor.com data shows almost 1 out of 5 sellers in 2025 had to drop their price. Here’s what those sellers went wrong. Buyers have more choice and more negotiating power now that inventory has grown. And house hunters will actively avoid your house is if feels like it’s priced too high. That’s why overpricing usually leads to: Fewer showings Less competitive (or lowball) offers Longer time on market And all three of those side effects are things you don’t want to deal with. What To Do Instead: The good news is the cure is simple. Just price for today’s buyer, not yesterday’s headlines. Lean on your agent’s knowledge of recent comparable sales, current competition, and local buyer behavior to land in the value “sweet spot” that drives traffic and urgency from day one. 2. Trying To Skip Repairs That Buyers Now Expect A few years ago, you could sell as-is and still get well above asking. Today? Not so much. Right now, NAR says two-thirds of sellers are making at least some repairs. And the reason why is simple. In a market with more inventory, buyers compare homes side by side. Homes that don’t show well (or feel dated) are going to lose attention quickly, even if the issues are minor. What To Do Instead: Ask your agent which high-impact, low-stress updates they’d recommend for your house. The goal isn’t perfection. It’s helping buyers see themselves moving in without a mental to-do list. Small investments in staging, repairs, and curb appeal can make a huge difference in how quickly offers come in – and how strong those offers are. 3. Playing Hardball When Buyers Try To Negotiate Today’s buyers have housing affordability at the top of their minds. And since money is already tight, they’ll be pickier and will probably ask for some compromises from you. Whether that’s making repairs, giving them a credit at closing, or taking just a few thousand dollars off your asking price, negotiating is normal again. So, if something pops up in the inspection, you’re going to need to be open to talking about it. If you’re not, you may very well see your buyer walk away. And some sellers are figuring this out the hard way. Redfin data shows one of the big reasons home sales fell thru in 2025 was inspection or repair issues. Odds are those homeowners weren’t willing to flex a bit to get the deal done. What to Do Instead: Meet with your agent to make sure you understand what buyers in your area care the most about. Align your price with value, present the home clearly and confidently, and stay open to reasonable negotiations that keep deals moving forward.

10 Aging-in-Place Features Pros Swear By

By Dusty Rhodes • March 16, 2026
They’re often called aging-in-place features, but things like curbless showers, nonslip flooring and wide walkways and doorways can benefit everyone, no matter their age or ability. “Regardless of aging in place, there is a place for these in day-to-day life, whether it be a teenager on crutches, a family member having had surgery, active kids,” designer Dana Bass says. “It’s not just about aging in place. We’ve got to account for unplanned life emergencies.” Designer Tammy Battistessa of Ellaire Kitchen & Bath Design agrees. “Whenever possible, I include aging-in-place and universal design features in every project, as I believe many of these features benefit clients of all ages and abilities, in addition to allowing a client to safely remain in their home for a longer period of time,” she says. Creating a home that can adapt also makes it more sustainable. “Aging in place is a key element to making legacy homes that can evolve over time,” architect Tim Barber says. With all that in mind, we asked more than 50 home design and construction professionals to share the aging-in-place features they always recommend. Here are the 10 that came up again and again. 1. Wide Walkways and Doorways Planning ahead is one of the most important steps when incorporating aging-in-place features. Many of these elements require thoughtful design and construction, so it’s wise to start early — and to consider hiring professionals who understand the nuances. “Thinking through how you will really use the space makes all the difference,” designer Haiku Durden of HDS Design says. “Having a designer involved really makes a difference.” A professional can help you create a plan that works for your current needs and anticipates future ones. “We currently default to aging-in-place features when our clients are near retirement or retirement age,” says designer Jenny Guggenheim of Guggenheim Architecture and Design Studio . “Preplanning by adding blocking behind the wall finish, spacious floor planning to allow for wheelchair or walker use.” In fact, spacious layouts are among the most commonly recommended aging-in-place strategies. Wide walkways and doorways — and generous clearances around furniture and fixtures — make it easier for anyone to move through the home comfortably. Installing a continuous flooring material throughout also reduces tripping hazards caused by changes in height or texture between rooms.