Home 18 Open-Floor House Plans Built For Entertaining You'll be the family's favorite holiday host with such an open home. By Zoe Denenberg Updated on January 9, 2023 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Rachael Levasseur/Mouve Media SE Open-floor house plans are in style and are most likely here to stay. Among its many virtues, the open floor plan instantly makes a home feel bright, airy, and large. Traditional closed-plan designs often waste precious square feet by separating the house with hallways and doors—an open plan minimizes these transitional spaces, instead opting for a layout that flows right through from room to room. This design allows for an enlarged living space where guests in the kitchen, living room, dining room, and even the sunroom can all engage in conversation. While a closed-floor-plan house does have some benefits (hello, privacy!), an open-concept design can transform even the quaintest cottages into an ideal entertaining space. It leaves your home feeling warm, bustling, and bright—and the large shared spaces are endlessly versatile and flexible. If you're dreaming of an open-concept home, you'll swoon over this collection of some of our favorite open-house plans. Send out the invites. With these open-floor plans, your family will surely want you to host the holidays this year. 01 of 18 American Farmhouse, Plan #1996 Cindy Cox An inviting American Farmhouse with a sweeping kitchen island, a dining area that stretches right into a living room with a charming fireplace, and a wrap-around front porch. What more could we want? 4 bedrooms, 3.5 baths 2,718 square feet See Plan: American Farmhouse 02 of 18 Hawthorn Cottage, Plan #2004 Southern Living House Plans; Photo: Lake and Land Studio, LLC What's the only feature that rivals an extended great room and kitchen? A set of double doors opened onto the matching screen porch. Enjoy the main living space, with the bedrooms tucked away to the side for privacy. 2 bedrooms, 2 baths 1,611 square feet See Plan: Hawthorn Cottage 03 of 18 Gilliam, Plan #1936 Southern Living House Plans Bring the outdoors in with a great room that flows right into a built-in screened porch. Another favorite feature? This charming cottage has a built-in versatile flex room. 4 bedrooms, 3 baths 3,208 square feet See Plan: Gilliam 04 of 18 Banning Court, Plan #1254 Southern Living The Banning Court House Plan is easy, breezy, and made for afternoon entertaining. The open living room, dining room, and kitchen make for easy hosting, and the charming library provides a welcome space for a private retreat. 2 bedrooms, 2 baths 1,286 square feet See Plan: Banning Court 05 of 18 Crane Island River House, Plan #2010 Laurey W. Glenn The focal point of this plan is the central living room, which connects the open-concept kitchen and two porches. But the real selling point? The secluded, spacious primary suite. 4 bedrooms, 5.5 baths 4,541 square feet See Plan: Crane Island River House 06 of 18 Whiteside Farm, Plan #1979 Southern Living House Plans The central family room spills into the open kitchen in this farmhouse charmer. We already imagine many cocktail hours hosted on this home's two porches. 4 bedrooms, 4.5 baths 3,610 square feet See Plan: Whiteside Farm 07 of 18 Dogwood Place, Plan #1975 Brandon Ingram This plan is for you if you're looking for an open floor plan with a degree of privacy. The central spaces are open and inviting, but the primary suite and library enjoy a bit of seclusion, as do the upstairs bedrooms. 4 bedrooms, 3.5 baths 2,992 square feet See Plan: Dogwood Place 08 of 18 Evergreen Cottage, Plan #2003 Lake & Land Studio This stylish cottage has everything you need—including a sprawling, open first floor. The deep front porch, set back from the inviting entry, extends to the kitchen, dining room, or expansive screened porch outside. Three bedrooms and two-and-a-half baths complete this comfortable cottage. 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths 2,992 square feet See Plan: Evergreen Cottage 09 of 18 Tennessee Farmhouse, Plan #2001 Donovan DeFerraro This classic yet modern house plan has just enough space for a cozy breakfast nook. The second-floor bonus room and flexible daylight basement leave much room for customization. 4 bedrooms, 4.5 baths 4,423 square feet See Plan: Tennessee Farmhouse 10 of 18 Aiken Street, Plan #1807 Southern Living This one-of-a-kind home can be yours, too. Its charming dimensions still allow for lots of space for guests—from the open kitchen and great room to the covered front porch. 4 bedrooms, 4.5 baths 2,233 square feet See Plan: Aiken Street 11 of 18 Elberton Way, Plan #1561 Southern Living Portion off the expansive family room in any way that fits your family's preferences. Try leaving room for a breakfast or dining space. Inclement weather? Don't worry: Both porches are covered, allowing for outdoor entertaining in any season. 3 bedrooms, 3.5 baths 3,469 square feet See Plan: Elberton Way 12 of 18 Farmhouse Revival, Plan #1821 Designed by Historical Concepts This house plan has topped our favorite open-plan designs for its modern-meets-rustic charm. Furnish the kitchen island with barstools to watch all the kitchen cooking action over the holidays. 4 bedrooms, 4.5 baths 3,511 square feet See Plan: Farmhouse Revival 13 of 18 Lowcountry Cottage, Plan #1121 Designed by Moser Design Group This cottage may clock in at just over 2,000 square feet, but its design is ideal for holiday entertaining. The open living area and kitchen provide lots of room for your guests, and the screened porch opens up new hosting possibilities. 2 bedrooms, 2.5 baths 2,148 square feet See Plan: Lowcountry Cottage 14 of 18 Stone Creek, Plan #1746 Designed by Mitch Ginn The back porch is built into the home's central living space, allowing for lots of natural light in the breakfast nook. Cedar shake shingles top the Cape Cod-style home, with additional bonus space to meet your family's preferences. 4 bedrooms, 4 baths 2,639 square feet See Plan: Stone Creek 15 of 18 Cottage of the Year, Plan #593 Southern Living The Cottage of the Year is undoubtedly a winner. While the common area is open, an independent vestibule and screen porch connects two wings with living suites. And yes, there's a guest cottage with its own porch. Need we say more? 4 bedrooms, 3.5 baths 2,718 square feet See Plan: Cottage of the Year 16 of 18 The Langston, Plan #273 Designed by Frank Betz Associates If you're not instantly charmed by the stone exterior, wait until you step inside. The foyer spills into a central living room, which flows into all the primary hubs of the house. It's open-concept with a few walls added to maximize kitchen cabinet space (a welcome home for all of Grandma's casserole dishes). 3 bedrooms, 3.5 baths 1,910 square feet See Plan: The Langston 17 of 18 Orange Grove, Plan #1848 Southern Living This design squeezes in three bedrooms, a media room, a dining room, and an outdoor room, all onto one floor. It maintains the feel of an open-plan home by minimizing wasted hallway space but still creates private spaces by strategically placing every room. 3 bedrooms, 3.5 baths 2,440 square feet See Plan: Orange Grove 18 of 18 Wildmere Cottage, Plan #1110 Southern Living This straightforward cottage proves just what you can do with smaller dimensions. The kitchen, dining, and living rooms flow seamlessly into each other, yet the master suite offers a degree of privacy by being slightly set off to the side. 3 bedrooms, 3.5 baths 2,345 square feet See Plan: Wildmere Cottage Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit