Having a small open concept space can either feel too cramped and chaotic, or bright, connected, and functional, depending on your design. The difference usually comes down to the room’s floor plan. In this guide, you’ll see some small open-concept kitchen and living room floor plans I’ve designed, so your small home feels well-planned rather than overcrowded.
16×20 One-Wall Kitchen With Island And Open Concept Living Room Layout
This design combines a one-wall kitchen with a sink facing the island and aligned seating to create an eye-pleasing 16′ x 20′ open-concept room.
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Layout Details: This 16′ x 20′ design combines a compact single-wall kitchen with an island and a cozy living room that shares a single open space. The kitchen is found along the left 16′ wall, with the island sitting near the center, and the seating area faces a TV on the opposite wall.
Along the kitchen side, the refrigerator is located on the bottom end, followed by the sink and then the range at the top. Standard-depth base cabinets are used to maximize floor area in the living room. A 4′ x 2′ island sits opposite the sink with 36″ aisles on either side, giving you prep space and a spot for serving or eat-in dining if wanted.
On the living room side, there’s a 7′ x 3′ sofa that faces the TV, with a 4′ x 2′ coffee table in between. The furniture is centered in the middle of the room, so foot traffic can pass on either side freely. Clearances for the walkways are functional, and the seating area is intimate, but still provides room to pull up an additional accent chair or two to accommodate more people for gatherings.
Dimensions:
Room size: 16′ (depth) x 20′ (width)
Kitchen width: 7′ of the 20′ wall, with 13′ reserved for the living zone
Base cabinet/appliance depth: 30″ for the range & sink, 36″ for the refrigerator)
Island size: 4′ x 2′
Aisle between cabinets and island: 36″
Aisle between island and sofa: 36″
Sofa size: 7′ x 3′
Coffee table size: 4′ x 2′
Space between sofa and coffee table: 24″
Space between coffee table and TV wall: 36″
Design Tips:
Use the island as a visual divider between the kitchen and living room. Install pendant lights or a contrasting island color to designate and define the space.
Choose a slim, low-profile sofa with raised legs to help the shared space feel more open.
Make sure the TV size matches the viewing distance and is placed about 7 to 9 feet from the sofa for most mid-size models.
Opt for streamlined cabinetry and hardware, so you have plenty of room walking past the island without encroaching on the living area.
Use a rug under the sofa to designate the living area from the kitchen.
18×18 Square Studio-Style Apartment Kitchen & Living Area Floor Plan
This square room positions an L-shaped kitchen in one corner, with a nearby central multi-use dining table, and a curved sectional in the other corner to create a functional multi-use floor plan.
Layout Details: This 18′ x 18′ square studio style design offers an L-shaped kitchen, dining and prep table, and a cozy corner living area with a sectional. The kitchen’s placed at the top left, facing a 4′ x 3′ dining and prep table that acts as an island in a pinch. You can use the surface for prepping food, eating, or working at your laptop. There are 36″ walkways around the tabletop, so one or two people have plenty of room to maneuver.
On the top wall, there’s a small pantry on the end leading to the range with a countertop on either side. The left wall continues the L with a double sink and finishes at the refrigerator. With the addition of the middle island, you have an efficient and compact work triangle that is contained within a few steps.
The living zone is tucked into the bottom-right corner with an 8′ x 6′ L-shaped sofa and a 42″ x 18″ coffee table in front. There’s a space of about 44″ between the dining table and the sofa corner, so that there’s room to get through without bumping into the furnishings.
Dimensions:
Room size: 18′ x 18′
Kitchen upper run on the top wall: 8′ long
Kitchen side run on the left wall: 8′ long
Base cabinet/sink depth: 30″
Refrigerator depth: 36″
Pantry cabinet depth: 30″
Dining/prep table size: 4′ x 3′
Aisles around dining/prep table: 36″ to the counters)
Diagonal passage between the dining table and sofa: 43.7″
Sofa size: 8′ x 6′ curved or L-shaped
Coffee table size: 42″ x 18″
Clearance sofa to coffee table: 24″
Clearance coffee table to wall: 24″
Design Tips:
Use the dining/prep table as a mini-island – Go with a counter-height piece with storage or shelving underneath and a 12″+ overhang if you want to sit there.
Keep the upper cabinets on the kitchen walls and use the pantry for bulk food storage.
Use an L-shaped or chaise style sectional to fit in and define the living corner and allow room for a walkway.
Choose a narrow coffee table so there’s space to easily walk around.
Consider hanging pendant or semi-flush lighting over the dining table.
Add a floor lamp near the sofa to brighten and separate the “kitchen/dining” and “living” zones.
14×22 Narrow Efficiency Kitchen & Living Design Plan
This idea lines up the kitchen along one wall, with a multi-purpose breakfast bar island, and a compact seating area for a symmetrical design that’s functional and appealing.
Layout Details: This 14′ x 22′ narrow floor plan places its one-wall kitchen along the left side with a 4′ x 2′ breakfast bar island for eat-in dining, followed by a cozy seating area. The kitchen runs along the full 14′ wall with the refrigerator at the lower end, followed by the range and sink. The setup uses standard-depth cabinets to keep the profile compact and give 36″ of space between the island and seating. The bar allows for two bar stools with 24″ in between, so each person has an adequate amount of arm room.
Beyond the bar, the space opens up to the living zone with a 5′ x 3′ loveseat and a round 3′ diameter coffee table facing the TV on the right wall. You can add additional accent chairs as needed to accommodate more guests, or opt for a slightly larger couch and still have room to navigate around the room comfortably.
Dimensions:
Room size: 14′ x 22′
Kitchen/appliance depth: 30″ for the range & sink, 30″ for the refrigerator
Distance from the cabinets to the bar counter: 36″
Bar counter size: 4′ x 2′
Clearance from bar counter to loveseat: 60.1″
Loveseat size: 5′ x 3′ (can accommodate a larger sofa)
Coffee table size: 3′ diameter
Clearance loveseat to the coffee table: 23″
Clearance coffee table to the TV wall: 24″
Design Tips:
Choose backless or low-back stools for the bar so you can push them under the counter when not being used.
Use a round coffee table to soften the edges, especially in a narrow room.
Mount the TV on the wall or use a slim media console to save floor space.
To keep the room open, use a loveseat or smaller apartment-sized sofa rather than a full couch.
Run your lighting in zones, with task lighting over the bar and soft, indirect light by the loveseat.
16×16 Open Plan L-Shaped Kitchen And Living Space Layout
This plan places an L-shaped kitchen in one corner, with a small dining set for four below and a compact loveseat-and-TV grouping on the other side, creating a comfortable living area within its 16′ x 16′ room size.
Layout Details: This 16′ x 16′ open-plan room design starts with an efficient L-shaped kitchen in the top-left corner and leaves the rest of the room open for dining and lounging. The kitchen has its refrigerator on the far left, followed by a single basin sink, dishwasher, and then rounding the corner, there’s a range. This setup offers a tight kitchen work triangle, making meal prep quick and easy. There’s 3′ x 3′ table that also works as an island nearby with seating for up to four.
The living space sits along the right side of the room and features a 5′ x 3′ loveseat facing a TV console on the bottom, with a 4′ x 2′ coffee table in between. There are 3′ walkways between the kitchen area and the living zone, around the coffee table, and in front of the TV console. This way, there’s no interference with the seating area while cooking.
Dimensions:
Room size: 16′ x 16′
Left kitchen run: 7′
Top kitchen run: 8′
Sink base width: 24″
Refrigerator depth: 30″
Dishwasher width (DW): 24″ is typical
Island size: 3′ x 3′
Aisle between the island and the kitchen cabinets: 3′ (0.91 m)
Clearance between the kitchen zone and the loveseat: 3′
Loveseat size: 5′ x 3′
Coffee table size: 4′ x 2′
Clearance between the loveseat and the coffee table: 3′
Clearance from the coffee table to the TV console: 3′
TV console size: 5′ x 1.5′
Design Tips:
Install a square or round pendant grouping over the island to better frame and designate the space.
Define the living zone with a rug under the loveseat and coffee table to separate it from the kitchen.
Keep the TV console streamlined or wall-hang the set to increase space.
Consider lighter finishes such as the same flooring, cabinet, and furniture tones so the kitchen and living space are cohesive.
15×20 Combined Cozy Kitchen With Rectangular Living Space Layout
This design positions an L-shaped kitchen with a slightly offset island on one side, with a sofa, table, and console on the other for a balanced arrangement that is cozy and efficient.
Layout Details: This 15′ x 20′ rectangular room design combines an L-shaped kitchen with an offset island and an intimate living area. The kitchen is tucked into the upper-left with the refrigerator at the lower end, where it’s easily accessible for snacks and drinks. The sink and dishwasher are arranged past the fridge on the left, followed by the range and a peninsula counter on the top. A 3.5′ x 2.5′ island allows for two stools to be used as a casual dining spot.
The living area fills the right half of the rectangle with a 7′ x 3′ sofa on top. Below the couch is a 4′ x 2′ coffee table and a 5′-wide TV console on the opposite side. The opening between the kitchen counter and dining stool to the sofa is about 3′ and works as a natural passage from the cooking zone to the TV area.
Dimensions:
Room size: 15′ x 20′
Refrigerator depth: 30″
Sink base: 24″ wide with adjacent dishwasher
Counter run beside the range: 4′
Aisle between the refrigerator and island: 3′
Island size: 3.5′ x 2.5′
Clearance from the island to the bottom wall: 3.5′
Walkway from the kitchen opening to the sofa: 3′
Sofa size: 7′ x 3′
Distance from the sofa to the coffee table: 3′
Coffee table size: 4′ x 2′
Clearance from the coffee table to the right wall: 3.5′
Viewing distance from the coffee table to the TV console: 5.5′
TV console size: 5′ x 1.5′
Design Tips:
Use the island as the gathering point – choose a counter-height cabinet for versatility.
Choose lighter color finishes so the eye flows easily throughout.
Consider pendant lighting over the island to add style and function.
Place wall lamps near the sofa to better illuminate that side of the room.
Add a rug under the sofa and coffee table to muffle sounds and frame the seating.
Ensure you have the proper viewing distance from the TV console to the sofa.
Try to maintain the 3′ walkways to keep the space from feeling cramped.
15×20 Corner-Oriented Open Plan Kitchen with Dining And Living Area
This plan is a slightly different take on the last one that swaps out the peninsula and island and uses slightly smaller furniture for a more open feel.
Layout Details: This 15′ x 20′ rectangular room design features a one-wall kitchen in the upper-left corner and then flows easily to the dining and living areas. The refrigerator, dishwasher, and 24″ sink stack along the left wall, with the range along the top. This setup keeps the work triangle compact and gives the room an open feel that is easily accessible.
Instead of using a central island, this one goes with a round dining table with chairs that sit in the open space between the kitchen and living areas. The table is slightly offset so you can walk comfortably around it, but still close enough to double as a staging or prep spot for cooking. On the right side, there’s a 6′ x 3′ sofa along the upper side and a TV console on the bottom, with a small 3′ x 2′ coffee table between them. The access to seating and dining creates a relaxed feel, with adequate space for moving around the room or for gatherings.
Dimensions:
Room size: 15′ x 20′
Left kitchen leg with sink, DW, and fridge: 8.5′
Top kitchen run with the range and counter: 7′
Sink base width: 24″
Dishwasher width: 24″
Refrigerator depth: 30″
Sofa size: 6′ x 3′
Coffee table size: 3′ x 2′
TV console size: 5′ x 1.5′
Typical clearances around the dining table: about 3′ to 3.5′ for walkways
Distance from the sofa to the coffee table: about 3′ to 3.5′
Distance from the coffee table to the TV console: about 5′
Design Tips:
Choose a round table to prevent sharp corners from interfering with the traffic path.
Add a statement pendant over the dining table for extra emphasis on this zone.
Use a narrow coffee table so there’s more room to move through.
Select a slightly smaller sofa and armless dining chairs to maintain better walking clearances.
Repeat your finishes to tie the kitchen, dining, and living pieces into one cohesive open concept design.
12×24 Minimalist Studio Plan with Open Galley Kitchen and Small Sitting Area
This functional layout organizes a single-wall kitchen, with a long island to create a galley on one side, with a tight but comfortable sitting area on the other, resulting in a minimalist studio feel.
Layout Details: This 12′ x 24′ minimalist studio plan goes for maximum efficiency in its narrow footprint by lining up an open-style galley-style kitchen with a long island with seating. The design places a full-height refrigerator on the far left, followed by a dishwasher, sink, and range arranged in a straight line. The long island-style counter with stools creates a galley aisle with prep space for the cook on one side and seating for up to four people in the outer area.
On the right side of the room, there’s a 5′ x 3′ loveseat that’s facing a wall-mounted TV, with a 3′-diameter round coffee table in between. There’s room to go with a larger sofa instead of end tables or extra space to accommodate more friends or family if desired. The current furniture placement allows for wide 3′ walkways that wrap around the island and seating, so you can move easily from the kitchen to the living area without any problem.
Dimensions:
Room size: 12′ x 24′
Kitchen runs along the top wall: about 17′ total with 3′ space at each end
Refrigerator depth: standard 24″ to 30″
Dishwasher adjacent to sink: 24″ wide
Sink base: 24″ wide
Clearance between the kitchen counter and island: 3.36′
Island/bar counter length: 10′ with stool seating for about 4
Clearance from the island to the bottom wall: 5′
Loveseat size: 5′ x 3′
Distance from the loveseat to coffee table: 3′
Coffee table size: 3′ diameter
Distance from the coffee table to TV wall: 3′
Design Tips:
Keep the upper cabinets minimal to reinforce the minimal design theme.
Use the 10′ island as your main dining table.
Choose full-back stools if this is your everyday spot for eating meals.
Run continuous flooring of the same material from the kitchen to the sitting area.
Choose a compact loveseat and a round coffee table if you want more floor space.
Stick to a limited, light color palette by using whites, soft woods, and a few accents to realize a minimalist feel.
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