Creating a Home for Entertaining

Whether you love to throw parties that don’t end until the wee hours, host elegant dinners or simply like to kick back and chill with a few friends, the spaces in your home should be accommodating for socializing. After all, you want guests to feel welcome, in a comfortable atmosphere that puts them at ease. So before your next get-together, take stock of the following to see if anything needs a redo, to ensure your home’s spaces are prime for entertaining.

Entryway

First impressions are lasting impressions, so take care to make sure your entryway is as inviting as the rest of your home. That means including ample hooks or hangers for coats and seating, if you have the room, so that guests can take off their shoes (if your home is a shoe-free zone). Add a runner or area rug to infuse warmth, along with a vase of fresh flowers or a houseplant for a cheery greeting. 

Seating

Having plenty of spaces for guests to sit is key—but don’t worry if you don’t have a lot of real estate to work with. Ottomans can easily double as seats, as can large throw pillows. Or invest in some stylish folding chairs that you can pull out/store away as needed. Have a kitchen island? Consider adding stools if you don’t already have island seating.

Lighting

When it comes to social events, having great lighting ranks up there with having plenty of seating, as lighting can make or break the mood of an evening. For a relaxing ambiance, you’ll want to use warm-colored bulbs. You might also consider swapping standard switches for dimmer switches. That way, you can layer lighting by keeping some lights bright while dimming others.

Powder Room

Elevate a ho-hum powder room by including small touches, such as aromatic hand soap and lotion, fluffy hand towels and an LED candle or two.

Home Bar

A home bar is for not only serving adult beverages and non-alcoholic drinks, but is also ideal for putting out appetizers and snacks. Plus, it gives guests an alternative to hanging out in the kitchen or dining room. Don’t have a home bar? A bar cart serves the same purpose—and you can easily switch it up from room to room.

Guest Bedroom

If you invite out of town guests, they’ll need somewhere to spend the night, so why not extend the invitation to stay with you? Make sure your guest bedroom is cozy, with clean sheets, extra blankets and plenty of pillows.

Outdoor Spaces

Just like indoors, you should also have enough seating areas outdoors, for when the weather cooperates. Even a few chairs on a covered front porch gives guests a place to mingle. String lights create a fun vibe, while a backyard fire pit is a popular place to relax. 

Sound System

An amazing playlist always helps set the mood for entertaining. Short of a built-in sound system, strategically placed smart speakers ensure guests can enjoy tunes no matter where they are.