Needless to say, open-plan living looks gorgeous online. You’ve got the huge spaces, loads of light, beautiful minimalist furniture, and not a single cable or crumb in sight; it just has a way of making it seem like any house can become a home with that amount of coziness, right? But do you know what those perfect homes don’t show? The noises, the smells, and getting more specific here, the way every sound from the kitchen somehow echoes through the entire house like it’s in surround sound.
Yeah, the last decade or so, open plans have had their moment, and yeah, in theory, open spaces make everyone feel connected. In reality, it’s just everyone being too close for comfort. It obviously depends on who’s living with you, of course, but there’s never any silence. You might be trying to read a book on the couch, and your spouse might be cooking, and the smells (and noises) distract you. Maybe you have kids, and they’re doing homework at the dinner table, well, even that will get distracting, too.
In a weird way, it’s basically communal living with prettier furniture. That’s why every home needs boundaries, and seriously, even the happiest households need a little separation sometimes.
There’s The Beauty Of A Little Bit Of Separation
It’s weird to say, but having walls used to feel old-fashioned. But now, it feels luxurious. Seriosuly, not everything needs to be open all the time. There’s something incredibly satisfying about walking into a space that has its own identity, a living room that’s just a living room, a dining area that doesn’t double as a workspace, and a home office that doesn’t smell like what was cooking two hours ago.
But the trick is all about finding that middle ground. You still want the light, the connection, the flow, but just with a bit more control. Now, yes, you can put up wall if you want, but if you can’t afford that or don’t want to go that route, there’s at least some other options like internal steel doors (but you will need walls for these technically), partition walls, and shome homes will even use curtains and furniture to help create those barriers for separation.
Boundaries Mean Sanity
It’s funny how much calmer a home feels once it’s got a few proper divisions. There’s less noise, fewer arguments, and more moments where everyone can just exist in peace. Honestly, it’s not even about being antisocial; it’s about giving everyone the option not to share every single moment.
But for the most part, a bit of separation keeps a home functional and friendly. Just think about it for just a second; it means cooking smells stay where they belong, TV noise doesn’t travel, and people stop competing for the quietest corner (or just going to their room to shut everyone out).
Every Home Needs To Have Healthy Boundaries
There’s absolutely nothing wrong with boundaries for a home, seriosuly, even the happiest of couples and families just flat out need this. Besides, think of it like this: a well-balanced home feels like a relationship that works, there the aspects like being comfortable, connected, and still respectful of personal space. You can love open-plan living and still want a door you can close every now and then.
Just keep this in mind: homes are meant to hold life, not contain all of it in one giant room. The best ones know how to give everyone their moment together when it’s fun, separate when it’s needed. So yes, homes need boundaries, real ones (but sure emotional ones help too), and once you’ve got them, you’ll honestly wonder how you ever lived without them.
Thanks for stopping by!
Magda
xoxo