Building Base Structures—What If You Had To Start Over?
Totally agree about the open concept thing looking great on paper but not always working in real life. We did a big open kitchen/living area when we renovated, and honestly, it was a pain once the kids hit toddler age. Noise just bounces everywhere, and there’s nowhere to hide the mess. I get why people love the look, but I’d never do it again without some way to close things off.
Half walls are a decent compromise, but I’ve found they still don’t help much with sound. Glass is nice for light, but again... not much for privacy or noise. Pocket doors are fine for saving space, but yeah, they’re pretty much useless if you want quiet.
If I had another shot, I’d go for more defined rooms with wide openings—maybe double doors you can actually shut. Gives you options without feeling boxed in. Open concept is great until you actually have to live in it day-to-day.
Building Base Structures—What If You Had To Start Over?
I get where you’re coming from. We did the whole open concept thing in our last place because it looked so sleek in the renderings, but man, the reality was just... loud. Every little sound carried. I’m not even talking about kids—just having a couple friends over and suddenly you can’t hear yourself think. I do like the look, but honestly, I’d rather have a few more walls and maybe some big doors I can actually close when I want peace. Open concept is nice for showing off, but living in it day-to-day? Not always as dreamy as it seems.
BUILDING BASE STRUCTURES—WHAT IF YOU HAD TO START OVER?
I get what you mean about the noise, but I’ve actually found open concept can work if you’re a bit strategic. Materials make a huge difference—acoustic panels, rugs, even bookshelves can really help with sound. Sometimes it’s not the walls themselves, but what you put in the space.
BUILDING BASE STRUCTURES—WHAT IF YOU HAD TO START OVER?
Yeah, I’ve noticed the same thing—open concept isn’t automatically a noise nightmare if you plan it out. I’m all about keeping costs down, so here’s what’s worked for me: First, skip the pricey acoustic panels and look for thick rugs at discount stores or even secondhand. Layering them helps more than you’d think. Bookshelves are great too, especially if you fill them up (even with stuff that’s not books). I once used a row of mismatched cabinets as a divider—looked quirky but really cut down on echo.
If you’re starting from scratch, I’d say focus on where the noise actually travels. Sometimes just rearranging furniture or adding curtains can make a big difference. No need to go overboard with fancy materials unless you’ve got the budget. It’s more about being clever with what you’ve got lying around.
BUILDING BASE STRUCTURES—WHAT IF YOU HAD TO START OVER?
Honestly, I’d rather put money into solid walls and doors than mess around with a bunch of makeshift fixes. Rugs and curtains help, sure, but nothing beats actual separation if you want real quiet. Open concept’s fine until you’ve got three people on Zoom calls at once... trust me.
