Open Plan Living and Air Conditioning — Why It's Different
Open plan kitchens, dining areas and living rooms are popular in modern Sydney homes. They create a spacious, connected feel but they present a real challenge for air conditioning: you're cooling a large, often irregularly shaped space with multiple heat sources (oven, fridge, people, windows facing different directions). Getting it right matters for comfort and running costs.
The Core Challenge: Calculating the Right Capacity
Air conditioner capacity is measured in kilowatts (kW). For a standard 4m x 5m (20m²) bedroom, a 2.5–3.5kW unit is usually adequate. For an open plan area, the calculation changes:
- Add up the full square meterage of the connected space
- Add extra capacity for kitchens (cooking generates heat) and west-facing windows (afternoon sun)
- Vaulted or high ceilings require more capacity than the floor area suggests
- As a rough guide: 100 W per square metre, plus 10–20% extra for open plan adjustment
For a 50m² open plan living area in Sydney: aim for 6–7kW minimum, more if you have high ceilings or significant west-facing glass.
Option 1: High-Capacity Single Split System
A single split system in the 7–8kW range (such as Daikin FTXM71 or Mitsubishi Electric MSZ-GL71VGD) can handle most large open plan areas. Benefits:
- Simpler installation (one indoor unit, one outdoor unit)
- Lower purchase and installation cost than multi-head systems
- Works well for rectangular open plan spaces
Limitation: a single unit may struggle to reach a corner or L-shaped section of a large open plan.
Option 2: Multi-Head Split System
A multi-head system uses one outdoor unit connected to 2–3 indoor units. This allows you to put units in different zones of the open plan area or extend coverage to adjacent rooms. Benefits:
- More even distribution across large and irregularly shaped spaces
- Individual control of each indoor unit's temperature
- Looks cleaner than multiple independent systems
Brands: Daikin, Mitsubishi Electric, Samsung and Panasonic all offer quality multi-head systems.
Option 3: Ducted Air Conditioning
Ducted is the premium solution for large homes — one outdoor unit feeds air through ceiling ducts to multiple rooms and zones simultaneously. For open plan living combined with multiple bedrooms, ducted is often the most practical long-term solution. It is, however, significantly more expensive to install.
Ceiling Fan — Still Worth Having
A ceiling fan in the open plan area is a valuable complement to any air conditioning. It costs almost nothing to run, distributes cooled or heated air more evenly across a large space, and allows you to set the air conditioner slightly higher (or lower) while maintaining the same comfort level.
Key Features to Look For
- High energy star rating (4+): Open plan units run more hours than bedroom units
- Wi-Fi control: Pre-cool the space before you get home
- Auto-swing: Distributes air horizontally across the full width of the space
- High-wall vs floor-console units: High-wall units push air across the room better in tall open plan spaces
Find the Right Unit at Oceania Appliances
We stock a range of quality second-hand and refurbished air conditioners from Daikin, Mitsubishi Electric, Samsung and Panasonic. All come with our 3–6 month warranty and free delivery across Sydney. Visit our Wetherill Park showroom or shop online.