HGTV Apparently Features So Many Open Floor Plans Because 'It Gets the Male Viewers'

From Country Living

• Open floor plans are highlighted in nearly every remodel on HGTV.

• Turns out, the network uses that layout for more reasons than just functionality.

HGTV is a staple in so many households. Sure, we love hosts like Chip and Joanna Gaines, Christina Anstead and Tarek El Moussa, and Drew and Jonathan Scott. But we also like to get inspiration ideas or advice about how to make our homes even more beautiful. (Okay, fine. We enjoy yelling at the TV during House Hunters, too.)

HGTV has seen many styles come and go—we can thank Joanna for the upswing in farmhouse decor, for example. But one layout that never seems to lose its luster is the open floor plan. You see nearly every renovation end up with living, kitchen, and dining spaces that all flow into one another. And, finally, we have an answer as to why.

Ronda Kaysen, a New York Times contributor, appeared on NPR to discuss all things HGTV and its massive success. In the midst of her conversation, she casually dropped that open floor plans are big amongst a certain audience.

“I spoke with HGTV executives,” she said. “And the reason that they are so big on open concept is because it gets the male viewers. Like, guys like to watch sledgehammers and, like, taking out walls.”

She also added that, “It’s for TV. It’s not for, like, what’s the best interests of the house, necessarily.”

Host Lulu Garcia-Navarro was likely as humored as you are. “Are you telling me that open-plan concept, which we are all prisoner to, is because dudes like to watch HGTV and sledgehammers?” she asked.

The answer, apparently, is yes. "Dudes will only watch HGTV if there's sledgehammers," she said. "This is how you get your boyfriend to sit with you on the couch and watch it if you get to watch Jonathan Scott, like, knock down a wall."

So there you have it, people! As Kaysen said, “We all live in a house without walls because it looks good on TV.”

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