Any home can bring family and friends together. However, some homes make hosting feel like a more natural experience—particularly for the homeowners. If you love to bring people together and enjoy at-home brunches, football watch parties, wine nights, dinner parties, holiday hosting and everything in between, buying a home that accommodates seamless entertaining may top your list. Here are some features to look for when purchasing a home for entertaining
Open Floor Plan
An open, airy space makes hosting appear effortless. When the kitchen, dining and living spaces flow together, guests can comfortably mingle and move throughout the home. As the host, you can be engaged during the party while also tending to hosting duties. An open floor plan will make the house feel grander, regardless of the square footage.
Butler’s Pantry, Dirty Kitchen, Party Pantry
A space to conceal dirty dishes, hold the already prepped food and store your serving ware can be an invaluable part of a home designed for entertaining. A butler’s pantry can store the overflow of dirty dishes, serving bowls and platters so it doesn’t take up space in the main kitchen. It’s also a place to temporarily set prepared food so you can quickly bring it out when it’s time to serve. When the party’s over, it’s the perfect place to store the platters, linens and other serving essentials.
Dedicated Dining Area
Whether it’s a dining room or a generously sized kitchen that can accommodate a dining table, having a dedicated dining area is necessary if you love to host. Whether you love to serve formal meals or prefer cocktail parties with grazing, having a place to sit and eat will invite your guests to sit down and stay a while.
Spacious and Functional Kitchen
No matter the occasion, the kitchen often becomes the primary gathering spot, no matter how well-appointed the rest of the home is. A spacious kitchen and well-thought-out layout mean the kitchen will remain functional for hosting and comfortable for your guests. A large island, plenty of counter space, multiple stoves and two sinks and dishwashers are all features that can help accommodate a crowd.
Parking Availability
If you love to host large-scale gatherings, it’s essential that your guests have a space to park. If the home is on a busy street, it may not be able to accommodate an influx of parked cars. Considering the home’s parking availability can help avoid any future entertaining frustrations.
Indoor-Outdoor Flow
A home seamlessly connecting the interior to the outdoors will allow guests to effortlessly float from one space to another. Large doors that open to the outdoor living space will invite guests to enjoy whichever space they feel most comfortable in.
Flex Spaces
As you tour homes, assess how the rooms can be used differently, depending on your needs.
For example, a dining room can double as a dining space and a cocktail lounge. Or, a living room can double as a space to mingle and a place for family movie nights. Ample seating options will help everyone feel comfortable.
