How to Design a Home That’s Perfect for Entertaining Guests

Designing a home that is perfect for entertaining can be overwhelming. When trying to be the host with the most, it’s easy to get lost in the planning. How many seats are at the dining table? Is the outdoor space large enough? Are the kitchen appliances equipped to feed a crowd? How does the lighting affect the mood? When designing the perfect entertainment area for guests, there are key elements to consider.

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Plan for an Outdoor Entertaining Area

During the warmer months, your outdoor spaces are just as important as the indoor areas for entertaining guests. Inviting outdoor areas allows guests to enjoy the fresh air and sunshine as well as the food, drink and company you provide. Ensure that you incorporate a backyard porch or patio space into your building plan when designing your home.

Creating a flow between your home’s indoor and outdoor areas encourages guests to move easily between these areas. Install entry points like sliding glass doors or french-style windows between the indoor living area and your patio or build a screened porch area to create the ideal transitional space between the indoors and outdoors. An inviting outdoor area should be equipped with features that allow you to cook and entertain guests while ensuring they feel comfortable. Consider installing an outdoor kitchen equipped with a high-quality charcoal or gas grill and ample counter space for prep; you can add bar stools to the opposite side of the bench so you can chat with guests while you cook. Add an outdoor fireplace, firepit or electric radiant heater to keep the space warm when it cools down in the evenings.

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Opt for an Open Floor Plan

A flexible, open floor plan is key when designing a home for entertainment. Your home should offer spaces that can accommodate large parties and quaint gatherings; an open floor plan allows for the convenience of both. Open floor plans allow for guests to stay involved and connected even from across the room as socializing, cooking and dancing all occur in the same space. Open floor plans that enable the best entertaining are a combined kitchen and living room or a combined kitchen and dining room. Look for kitchen appliance packages that match the aesthetic of your dining room or living area to create a cohesive look for your floor plan.

Consider Building Guest Rooms

Providing private space for guests to stay overnight is a thoughtful convenience, especially if you regularly host out-of-town friends and family. Without the hassle of finding a hotel to stay in, your guests will enjoy a more intimate visit.

Consider fully furnishing a guest bedroom or two with amenities such as a TV, a mini-fridge, a bookshelf, closet space and extra towels, pillows and linens. Guest bedrooms can be built into attics, a finished basement or above the garage. But for the ultimate comfort, consider building a grandmother’s suite (accessory dwelling unit) in your backyard equipped with its own bathroom and kitchenette. Private guest rooms provide the perfect area for guests to recharge and relax after a party.

Set the Mood with Lighting

Different lighting sets the tone for the party and can also help you organize your home into entertaining zones. Choose low, ambient lighting like floor or table lamps for conversation areas. Spot or task lighting like pendant lamps is ideal for cooking and food prep areas. Twinkle lights and other decorative lighting are excellent options for outdoor spaces. Lighting also plays an important safety role. Installing footlights or garden lights in your outdoor entertaining area ensures that guests can easily navigate around your yard. Opt for solar-powered lighting for the outdoor areas; it’s more eco-friendly and affordable over the long term.

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Include a Media or Games Room

Media and game rooms create intentional areas for fun and rambunctious enjoyment while keeping it separate from other areas of the home. These spaces are ideal for hosting kids’ parties and game nights with friends. Outfit your media room with large, cozy couches with throw pillows to create a soft space for guests to sit and relax. Add media centers, game consoles and a well-stocked board game cache to find out who the real competitors are in your group. Add a wet bar to transform your basement, den or rec room into the ultimate indoor entertainment space.

Invest in a Walk-in Pantry

Nothing can ruin a party faster than running out of food and snacks for your guests. Ensure this is never an issue by investing in a walk-in pantry. It can house extra food and provides storage space for spare serving ware and utensils like cutlery, serving platters, folding chairs and pushcarts. Storage is essential for cultivating the perfect entertainment home, and a walk-in pantry provides space to prevent your kitchen from feeling cluttered.

Add a Half-Bath or Guest Bathroom to the Ground Floor

A bathroom on the main floor is a thoughtful convenience for guests in multilevel homes. It helps separate the entertaining areas of your home from the private spaces like bedrooms.

Invest in high-quality fixtures for your guest bathroom. Zline appliances offer sleek, modern faucets in finishes like brushed nickel or matte black, which are guaranteed to impress your guests.

Choose a matching sink with a modern design like oval or rectangular vessel models to give your guest bathroom a sense of luxury. In addition to toilet paper, hand towels and soap, stock your guest bath with items your guests may have forgotten, such as Q-tips, feminine hygiene products, lotion, spray deodorant and tissues.

Create the Ultimate Space for Friends and Family to Gather

Equipping your home with high-quality appliances and creating a floor plan that encourages people to mingle and explore can help you throw an unforgettable get-together.

However, creating a perfect home for entertaining comes down to your preferences and how you like to host, whether with formal sit-down dinner parties or casual backyard cookouts. Design an entertainment area that makes you feel like you can provide a welcoming and memorable moment for those you love and care about most.