A kitchen is not defined solely by its units, its materials or the central island. It defines how guests are welcomed, how conversations take place and the prominence given to domestic life. The choice between an open-plan and a closed kitchen completely transforms the experience of a home: it alters the views, the flow of movement, odour control and the relationship between the person cooking and those in the living room.

In a comprehensive refurbishment, this decision must be made before the final layout is drawn up. Knocking down a partition wall can create the impression of extra space, but it also requires more precise planning of services, ventilation, lighting and storage. Enclosing a kitchen can bring order and privacy, but it should not condemn the space to a lack of light or awkward circulation.

Open-plan versus enclosed kitchen: the decision starts with the floor plan

The right question is not which option is more fashionable. It is which layout best suits the existing architecture and the actual habits of its occupants. A penthouse intended for frequent gatherings does not function in the same way as a family flat with a kitchen used intensively on a daily basis. Similarly, a compact city flat requires different solutions to a house with several social areas.

In Barcelona, many flats in traditional apartment blocks feature internal kitchens, separated from the living room and set back from the façade. In these cases, opening up the kitchen can bring natural light into the centre of the home and give a fragmented floor plan a sense of continuity. However, if the wall to be removed contains structural elements or houses complex services, the project requires a more refined strategy than simple demolition.

Proportion matters too. A small open-plan kitchen set against a spacious living room may appear exposed and lose its presence. A generous kitchen connected to a smaller room may overwhelm it. The right balance is achieved when the volumes, circulation routes and work areas are designed as a unified whole.

What an open-plan kitchen offers

An open-plan kitchen creates a social space. The person cooking is not isolated, and the living room becomes a natural extension of the food preparation area. This connection is particularly valuable in homes where daily life is concentrated within a few square metres or in properties designed to entertain guests.

Visual continuity is another major advantage. By removing solid partitions, light flows more freely and the home feels more spacious. In a well-planned layout, an island, a peninsula or a dining table can define the transition between cooking, dining and relaxing without the need to erect walls.

Visible design, not an exposed kitchen

Opening up the kitchen means accepting that it will form part of the living room’s interior design. The cabinet fronts, worktop, appliances and even small everyday objects are on display. That’s why it’s important to create a calm and cohesive look: built-in units, ample storage, a material palette that ties in with the rest of the home, and lighting that distinguishes between the cooking area, the living space and the dining area.

The extractor hood is no longer a secondary feature. It must have sufficient capacity, operate at a reasonable noise level and be properly integrated. When you cook frequently, a good extraction system makes all the difference between a pleasant space and a living room that retains odours.

It is also worth considering noise. The dishwasher, fridge, extractor hood and small appliances share the space with conversation, a film or a phone call. Choosing quiet appliances and ensuring sound absorption through textiles, wood, curtains or suitable finishes prevents the social area from feeling too harsh.

When a separate kitchen is the better choice

A separate kitchen still makes perfect sense. It offers independence, helps contain smells and noise, and ensures the living room remains uncluttered even whilst a meal is being prepared. For those who cook daily, use techniques that generate steam or work from home near the living area, this separation can be a definite advantage.

It is also an effective solution in homes with a busy family life. Whilst one person is cooking, another can rest, study or attend a meeting without being disturbed by the noise in the room. The door provides a useful boundary, not necessarily a barrier.

Closing off without blocking the light

An enclosed kitchen need not be an isolated space. A glazed sliding door, a fixed panel of ribbed glass or a metal partition with slim profiles allow you to maintain a visual connection and let light through. The degree of transparency can be adjusted according to the desired level of privacy.

This solution works particularly well when the kitchen has its own window and the living room needs separation, but you do not want to sacrifice the sense of visual space. Glass can also frame the kitchen as an architectural feature: a functional, tidy room with a character of its own.

In residential projects, an enclosed kitchen also allows for the use of more technical materials without forcing them to interact directly with the living room. You can opt for a durable worktop, continuous cladding and large-capacity storage, whilst maintaining a more domestic or more formal feel in the living area.

Technical aspects that influence the choice

The ideal layout depends on factors that are not always apparent on a first visit. The position of drainpipes, ventilation ducts, load-bearing walls and light fittings determines the feasibility and cost of each option. Relocating a kitchen is not simply a matter of moving furniture: it involves reviewing slopes, extraction systems, electricity, air conditioning and building regulations.

Ventilation is crucial. In an open-plan kitchen, the extractor must be designed for actual use, not for a magazine-style photo shoot. If you cook frequently, a decorative extractor hood with limited capacity may prove insufficient. In a closed kitchen, the door helps to contain odours, but it is no substitute for a properly sized system.

Lighting deserves equal attention. An open-plan kitchen requires layers of light to ensure the worktop is comfortable to use without turning the living room into an overly technical space. Functional lighting under wall units, task lighting over an island or dining table, and adjustable ambient lighting allow you to adapt the atmosphere to suit every moment.

Storage is the other major decision point. When you open up the kitchen, everything that doesn’t have a designated place becomes visible. It’s worth planning for the larder, recycling, small appliances and crockery before choosing the layout of the cabinet fronts. A minimalist kitchen only works when its organisation is sorted from the inside.

The middle ground: separating when necessary

Between an open-plan and a closed-off layout, there is a third option: the flexible kitchen. A sliding partition system allows spaces to be joined for an informal dinner and separated during busier cooking sessions. It is not a one-size-fits-all solution, but it can work very well in homes where seemingly conflicting needs coexist.

A peninsula with a glazed top, a folding door or sliding panels integrated into a unit are ways of defining boundaries without fragmenting the floor plan. The key is for the mechanism to be convenient, quiet and easy to use. If it requires effort or obstructs movement, it will end up permanently open or closed, thereby losing its purpose.

Choose according to your lifestyle

Before making a decision, it’s worth observing a typical week at home. Is the kitchen used for cooking every day, or does it serve more as a gathering place? Are there children, is anyone working from home, or are there frequent gatherings? Does the home receive plenty of natural light? Is there space for a separate larder? These answers are usually more useful than any trend.

At FFWD Arquitectos, we view the kitchen as a piece of interior architecture, not as a catalogue of modules. Whether it is open or closed, and its relationship with the living room, must respond to a specific floor plan, a way of living and a material identity that is consistent with the whole.

The best kitchen is neither the most open nor the most secluded. It is the one that allows you to cook comfortably, entertain effortlessly and enjoy your home even when everyday life isn’t perfectly organised.