Home 18 Open-Floor House Plans Built for Entertaining By Zoe Denenberg Zoe Denenberg As a professional baker, Zoe Denenberg has spent the past two years traveling across the country—from Alabama to Hawai'i—working in farm-focused pastry kitchens. She has written about food, travel, and culture for Southern Living since 2019. See more of Zoe's work at https://zoedenenberg.wixsite.com/portfolio and follow her on Instagram. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on December 3, 2021 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Rachael Levasseur/Mouve Media SE Open floor house plans are in style, and we don't see them going anywhere any time soon. 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 off 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 sun room can all engage in conversation. While there are certainly virtues held by the closed-floor-plan house (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, you'll be hosting 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 ask for? 4 bedrooms and 4 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 The only feature that rivals the long great room and kitchen? The double-doors that open onto the matching screen porch. 2 bedroom and 2 bath1,611 square feetSee 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? The versatile flex room built into this charming cottage. 4 bedrooms and 3 1/2 baths3,208 square feetSee 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 private retreat. 2 bedrooms and 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 master suite. 4 bedrooms and 5 1/2 baths 4,540 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're already imagining many cocktail hours hosted on home's the two porches. 4 bedrooms and 4 1/2 baths3,610 square feetSee Plan: Whiteside Farm 07 of 18 Dogwood Place, Plan #1975 Brandon Ingram If you're looking for an open floor plan with a degree of privacy, this plan if for you. The central spaces are open and inviting, but the master suite and library enjoy a bit of seclusion, as do the upstairs bedrooms. 4 bedrooms and 4 baths 2,992 square feet See Plan: Dogwood Place 08 of 18 Evergreen Cottage, Plan #2003 Lake & Land Studio Darling, you're evergreen. This stylish cottage has everything you need—including a sprawling, open first floor—and nothing that you don't. 3 bedrooms and 3 baths 1,921 square feet See Plan: Evergreen Cottage 09 of 18 Tennessee Farmhouse, Plan #2001 Donovan DeFerraro There's just enough space for a cozy breakfast nook in this classic, yet modern house plan. The second-floor bonus room and flexible daylight basement leave lots of room for customization. 4 bedrooms and 4 1/2 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 and 4 ½ baths2,233 square feetSee Plan: Aiken Street 11 of 18 Elberton Way, Plan #1561 Southern Living The expansive family room can be portioned off any way you may choose, 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 to 4 bedrooms and 3 ½ baths3,469 square feetSee Plan: Elberton Way 12 of 18 Farmhouse Revival, Plan #1821 Designed by Historical Concepts This house plan has topped our list of 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 and 4 ½ baths3,511 square feetSee 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 it's built 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. Square Footage: 2,1483 Bedrooms and 2 1/2 baths See Plan: Lowcountry Cottage 14 of 18 Stone Creek, Plan #1746 Designed by Mitch Ginn The back porch is built into the central living space of the home, allowing for lots of natural light in the breakfast nook. Square Footage: 2,6394 or 5 Bedrooms and 4 baths See Plan: Stone Creek 15 of 18 Cottage of the Year, Plan #593 Southern Living The Cottage of the Year is surely a winner. While the common area is completely open, an independent vestibule and screen porch connect two wings with living suites. And yes, there's a guest cottage with its own porch. Need we say more? 4 bedrooms and 3 ½ baths2,718 square feetSee 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, just 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 and 4 baths 1,910 square feet See Plan: The Langston 17 of 18 Orange Grove, Plan #1848 Southern Living This design somehow 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 each and every room. 3 bedrooms and 3 ½ baths2,440 square feetSee 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 is slightly set off to offer a degree of privacy. 3 bedrooms and 3 ½ baths2,345 square feetSee Plan: Wildmere Cottage Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit