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[PAlady]

DH and I are looking at possibly moving.  We live in a two story home with a finished basement.  It was built in the 1970's.   We are looking for one floor living, ranch.  I never lived in an open concept home.  We have always had individual rooms in the house and not sure how I feel about having everything right out in the open.    

I would love to hear your pros and cons on open concept vs individual rooms in a home.

We have just started to look and not sure if we like the open concept.  I have been in one and am going to see a home tonight.  

Thank you for all your opinions and comments.  

[Kachina624]

You can buy a ranch that isn't open-concept and has walls and rooms.  I live in one.  I wouldn't want my messy kitchen open for the world to see.  I need walls.  In my area though, the newer houses do not have basements or attics.  That may be a regional thing but it saves everybody a lot of money.  We all have big site-built storage buildings in the back yard and of course, garages which store more junk than cars. 

[Group 5 minus 1]

A rancy style home is not an open style home.

[mimomof4]

After looking in homes that were built in the 60's and 70's and had the separate room concept, I prefer the open concept.  Its a much better use of the space, especially if your home is smaller.  Depending on your health situation the open concept is easier for you to move around as well.  If you or your DH ever need to use a walker or wheelchair, its much easier to get around in the open concept than the separate rooms. I also think there are different levels of open concept as well.  Some homes have an open kitchen living area but still have separate dining rooms/office space.  The open concept give a larger more open kitchen as opposed to most of the homes I've looked at which were built in the 60's and 70 and haven't yet been reconfigured.  My parents opened up their kitchen which made a huge difference in the look and feel of the home.

[On It]

I love a ranch home but hate open concept. I would never consider buying one. It is an HGTV phenomenon that is beautiful as a newly finished product. The first dirty coffee cup on the counter is there staring at you and all your guests. The lack of privacy would really grate on my nerves.

[manny2]

I have open concept, and I love it. It is really a preference, so good luck in your search!

[Janey2]

I think you have to take each home you look at on its own merits. I do not like the full open concept. All I see is one big room with lots of furniture trying to separate the areas into different "rooms".  I hate it when the kitchen seems to be in the living space, especially if you have company. In the end you have to decide what's good for you, and you will know when you walk into the right house. By the way rooms with walls are coming back. Everything seems to come around again.

[Snowpuppy]

If you're looking at a new build you'll likely find open concept all that's offered.

As @Kachina624 mentioned, no basement saves the builder $ but lack of walls in an open concept also saves the builder $. 

If you look at a pre-2000 home you may find a basement and a less open concept but you'll likely have washer/dryer hookups in the basement.

[nyc1]

@PAlady   I LOVE OPEN CONCEPT.  I've lived in several apts with more closed off rooms and in my current home (23 years).   Open concept doesn't mean that as soon as you walk in you can see to the other end of the house and that there are no walls.  There are degrees of how open the house is.   I LOVE how light and airy it is and how easy it is to entertain.   In my house there are no rooms that you can actually close off with a door on my main floor but there are walls in strategic places so there is some privacy.  My neighbor had one the the bays of her garage made into an office so she has a room she can close off and the balance of the house is open.   I know people with ranch homes and the same applies to their layouts... various degrees of open concept.

There are a lot of versions of Open Concept.    Good luck with your seach. 

[Sweetbay magnolia]

IMO, if you like the location of the lot and the neighborhood, that's the most important thing.  As well as the quality of the build.

My home is 30 years old and there'd be no way to change the layout without big bucks and it's not worth it, IMO.  There is some seclusion and partitioning, so I wouldn't call it "open", but it flows well.  I see people he(( bent on a concept that may or may not make sense, simply for the sake of "the latest thing".

Good luck finding the home!  Today, I'd be happy in an apartment, there are so many fix-its going on here.