Being a party host is a big job, especially when you’re trying to make your home more inviting and comfortable for guests who might have not gone to parties in a while. But for people who love to entertain and expect to have guests this season, these home additions are must-haves in making your place more party-friendly.
Add an “island” to your kitchen
Kitchen islands serve plenty of purposes for homeowners. During ordinary days, having an island gives you plenty of space for food preparation and handling. It also gives you room over the rest of your countertops for other daily essentials so you don’t have to clear them out when you prepare a meal. They also act as more storage space for pots, pans, and kitchen cleaning supplies.
But during parties, kitchen islands are most useful when they act as the designated “food” area. It’s a great spot to have a grazing table or charcuterie board. The surrounding countertops can hold the drinks and utensils, so all guests have to do is get the food they like, and head back to the main party area.
If a permanent kitchen island is too costly, consider adding a “faux” island instead. One clever way to do this is to get yourself a large kitchen cart with a sturdy surface. Just load it up with utensils and serving essentials around the bottom shelves and place the food on top. Wheel it into the center of your kitchen to act as the kitchen island. And once the party is done, you can easily clear it up, push it to the side and it can act as another extra storage spot for your kitchen.
Turn the backyard and deck into a party lounge
Outdoor parties are perfect for people with large backyards and some patio space. There’s plenty of room for guests to walk around and chat. And it’s a great spot to add in a fire pit with some seating for some beautiful eveningget-togethersas well. For people who love outdoor barbecues, installing an outdoor grill with a built-in cooler at the side can make things even easier for serving drinks and grilling up some steaks or sausages.
But you really get to take party hosting to a different level if you transform the patio or the deck into a party lounge. Some new outdoor seating with matching tables on the patio gives guests a place to gather and rest. Add in a small bar area at one side and it immediately makes the space more sophisticated. You can even add a bar table to the fencing of the deck or the patio so guests have a spot to put drinks down.
The lounge atmosphere is heightened by installing a retractable rolling awning overhead-not only will this protect your furniture from the elements, but they’re a great spot to add some mood lights and sets the seating area apart from the backyard party floor. It indicates to the guests that this is the place to sit, get away from the sun, and get drinks while the dancing and games happen in the yard or pool area.
Create a conversation pit
Contrary to popular belief, conversation pits haven’t gone away as a “retro” theme. In fact, they may just be making a resurgence in post-pandemic home design. People love to have a place where they can gather around and talk, and it’s the perfect opportunity to make an inviting spot where people can sit and eat finger foods. Best still, conversation pits are a great place to have a theatrescreen nearby so everyone can enjoy a movie, home videos, or even host that big playoff game.
Most conversation pits are sunken areas in the living room with a perimeter of sofa seating. The center area is often filled with cushions or lined with plush carpeting so guests can stretch out and lay back while enjoying a glass of wine or some finger foods. You might want to ensure that there’s a small area in the center that acts as a coffee table where guests can rest some small plates or drinks.
Make your own photo wall
Tap into your guests’ natural love of photos and making memories by creating your own photo wall at home. Give them a red carpet feel by taking a spot to the side of your home and adding a different backdrop to it with every party (all according to the theme, of course!). The best place to do this is a place with plenty of good lighting and a lot of empty wall space. You can also choose a wall area that you can just cover with a backdrop.
To add your backdrops, you can use fold-up backdrop stands or add a dedicated backdrop mount right to the wall. Then, all you have to do is add some unique photography backgrounds, curtains, and even fairy lights to create your photo wall where guests can stand and take photos and selfies. Drop a box of props at the side that they can wear or use while taking photos for a bit more fun in every snap.
And then all you have to do is wait for those photos to come up on social media and see how much fun your guests had during your party.
