I'll Say It, Knocking Down Walls Is Sometimes a Lazy Renovation — Here's How to Embrace Your Home's Existing Layout

A narrow kitchen layout with a central island unit and sloping roof with a wall of sliding glass doors out to the garden.

If you're planning a renovation project, you will likely have considered taking down walls to create more space or light in a room. But before you knock two rooms into one — hold fire. That’s because experts are always keen to use an existing layout, if possible, and they have some tried-and-tested design tricks that work every time.

“When it comes to home renovations, most homeowners think they need to knock down walls to change everything up,” says Emma Deterding, founder and creative director at Kelling Designs. “However, embracing the existing layout can be incredibly freeing. Rather than seeing fixed walls as limitations or negatives, you should use them as a starting point for creativity.”