When asked why they’re choosing to remodel, many homeowners will mention hosting as a reason. Whether they want more space, a newer style, or better functionality, hosting more often and with greater ease is usually part of their motivation. We get it – sharing your home with others is a part of life, and it’s a downer when you don’t enjoy it.
So, how do you build a home that’s suited for entertaining? As experienced builders and remodelers, we’ve seen which additions and upgrades stand the test of time and serve our clients well. Scroll below for our top tips and ideas!
Layout is King
When creating a home centered on entertaining, layout is king above all else. Traffic patterns and your floor plan’s flow dictate functionality – planning with thoughtfulness is key. For example, all the organizing in the world can’t outpace bad storage. The same goes for a hosting-friendly layout; an inefficient floor plan results in bottlenecks and stress, whereas smart design guides guests through your home with ease.
Indoor/Outdoor Areas
Is there anything better than enjoying perfect weather with family and friends? Indoor-outdoor spaces are the best of both worlds; they make the most of gorgeous days and provide a failsafe against unexpected storms or heat waves. There are numerous ways to enhance the flow between your home’s indoor and outdoor spaces, including sliding doors, porches, patios, decks, oversized windows, retractable screens, and garage doors.
Outdoor Gathering
Moving from indoor to outdoor spaces, backyards are another fabulous place to entertain. If you love filling your home with people, then investing in your yard will bring endless value! Just like indoors, designate zones for cooking, grilling, mingling, eating, relaxing, and playing. A few of our favorite features include outdoor kitchens, fire pits, pergolas, pools, hot tubs, saunas, lush landscaping, and swinging seats or benches.
Home Bar + Buffet Space
Whether you’re mixing cocktails or steaming lattes, a home bar or buffet is a fantastic tool for hosting! One of our favorite tips is locating your bar or buffet slightly away from the kitchen to give the cook a little breathing room from mingling guests. A well-stocked bar is about much more than alcohol; they’re perfcting for filling with soda, sparkling water, juice boxes, coffee pods, or other self-serve beverages.
Prep Kitchens and Pantries
This design secret weapon has stood the test of time and been reinvented for different eras. Prep kitchens and pantries help hide away the kitchen’s many messes, appliances, and other clutter. Cooking an elaborate meal takes a lot of work – wouldn’t you rather enjoy your efforts without worrying about cleaning right away? Butler’s pantries and prep kitchens allow host’s to look their best while hiding the mess!
Eat-in Kitchen Islands
A well-designed home contains a balance of formal and informal spaces. Not all gatherings warrent sitting around a dining room table, sometimes you just want to keep things casual. Eat-in kitchens and islands are natural hubs for socializing, from happy hour to brunch to baking together to party grazing. No matter what you do, guests are always drawn to the kitchen – why not embrace it and be prepared?
Ready to Remodel?
Are you ready to start building your entertaining-friendly home base? Please, get in touch with our team, we would be happy to connect and work together!
Photo Credit: Arcwind via Unsplash