Separate Your Kitchen From Your Living Room With A Sleek Sliding Design Solution

Open-concept living spaces definitely have their benefits. They are great for entertaining, feel incredibly spacious and bright, and can make a space look larger than it really is. On the other hand, the separated rooms of more traditional floor plans have their pros too. They can make rooms feel more intimate, reduce noise levels by blocking sounds, and result in better energy efficiency by keeping temperatures in rooms more stable. If you've found yourself in a position to choose between these two layouts and are struggling, there is another option that may be the perfect solution. Instead of making sacrifices for either floor plan, get the best of both by installing glass dividers.

Glass dividers or partitions are essentially walls that will provide some privacy while still giving the look and feel of an open-concept home. These dividers keep the spacious and bright feeling that open-concept floor plans allow for, but they also reduce some sound and can help your home be more energy efficient. Some glass dividers can open and close like doors, giving you even more flexibility over how private a space is at any given time. Plus, the look of glass adds a sleek, modern touch to any space. You may be tempted to immediately run to the nearest home improvement store, but before you do, you should know more about the many style options, some of the major potential cons, and, of course, learn what the price of glass room dividers really is.

Whether you are designing and building a new home or renovating an older one, there are many ways to incorporate a glass partition. The first decision to make is how large you want it to be. You can use a glass divider to create a faux wall anywhere, but keep in mind that glass dividers are not load-bearing. Aside from that restriction, you can do nearly anything. You can completely separate a kitchen by adding multiple glass walls with sections that can open and close to create a sealed room, or you can create an archway entrance with a glass frame. Finally, keep in mind that the glass does not need to reach the floor. A home can feel much more open-concept even with smaller internal windows.

While glass can tend to feel modern, especially when paired with black and white metals, your glass divider does not have to remind you of an office space. With some tweaks, you can move away from the minimalist, industrial look and into a more organic or whimsical one. Using more intricate details like stained glass and a variety of pane shapes can help you achieve nearly any aesthetic. Framing the glass in wood rather than metal is another easy way to create a cozier atmosphere. If this sounds more like your style, you will be happy to learn that creating affordable and beautiful faux stained glass is easier than you think.

Glass dividers probably sound like a perfect solution right about now, but there are some definite cons to keep in mind. First and foremost, there is the mess. Glass can be a pain to keep clean, especially when you have whole walls of it in your home. Add in pets and children, and you will find yourself cleaning glass all day. Cleaning each pane, especially on a floor-to-ceiling partition, can be very tiring and frustrating, and in a busy area like the kitchen, you will likely find yourself constantly seeing dust and fingerprints.

In addition to the difficult upkeep, these partitions can be expensive to install, typically costing between $180 and $540 per linear foot of glass. If you want a more intricate look like stained glass or shapes of glass other than the typical rectangular or square panes, you will probably find yourself paying far more. Even details like doors might increase your total cost. However, the increased energy efficiency from better natural lighting and lower heating and cooling costs may help you save some money on energy bills in the long run.

If you can overlook the maintenance and up-front cost, then a glass divider may be the perfect solution in your home to give you the perfect balance between a spacious open concept and a cozy traditional floor plan.