Well folks, with Thanksgiving in the rear view mirror, we can officially say that it’s Halloween. And if you think that Halloween is but one day on the calendar, I would urge you to visit any HomeSense or Home Depot like 6 weeks ago and see that they think Halloween begins well before the kids have even returned to school.
Here’s how the Fall schedule looks in our household: September is back to school/football. Early October is Thanksgiving/football. The day after Thanksgiving to October 31st is Halloween/football. November 1st to December 25th is Christmas… and football. We have fully jumped on the trend of celebrating holidays that used to last a day over the span of weeks and months. Once one event passes, we are on to the next thing and don’t mind enjoying that occasion for an extended period.
Anyhow, as this past weekend was Thanksgiving, the idea of getting together with friends and family is still fresh in everyone’s mind. We hosted a couple of get togethers at our house over the weekend, something that I enjoy doing very much, and we cooked our first full Thanksgiving meal in our home #adults. Now, when I say “we” cooked, I mean I cooked and made a mess while my wife cleaned and sanitized the disaster that I left in my wake. Everything went off without a hitch, our guests enjoyed themselves, as did we. Thanksgiving is in the books and after this experience I can confidently say that this holiday and time of year is shooting up my holiday power rankings. I think I would put it right behind Christmas as my second favourite holiday.
My next big epiphany from the weekend, as I mentioned above, I really really really like to host events at our house. Ever since we have owned our own home aka not lived at our parents, I have looked for any occasion to invite friends and family over to our house to enjoy food, drinks and good company. Why? My wife says that I like attention. That’s true but probably not to the extent that she thinks I do. I like cooking, making drinks, providing fun and making memories. Can’t get enough of it.
Our house is also well designed for entertaining. I like to take advantage of that. The main spaces (kitchen, dining, living) are basically one big room with subtle separations between them and it makes for a great time. However, people always end up gravitating to the kitchen and that fact brought my wife to say “I wish we had a bigger kitchen”. Me too. Kitchens are the best, my favourite room in our house and if it’s done right, can never be too big. This is what gave me the idea for today’s blog: what makes a house great for entertaining.
I asked this question on my Instagram story yesterday and got some great input from a lot of my followers. If you’re like me and want to host every event and holiday get together at your house, this list is for you!
The Kitchen. As previously stated, I love kitchens, and regardless of whether or not you plan to host any sort of event at your house, this is an important part of the home to consider before deciding to buy. Kitchens are expensive! If it’s not right for you when you move in, there is a big renovation in your future. Some buyers plan for this, others don’t, but it’s important to think of no matter what.
What makes a kitchen good for entertaining? The first thing a lot of people will tell you is that it needs to be ”open concept” and at first glance, I would agree but with one caveat. The open concept kitchen is a double edged sword in that it is open to the rest of the house. Great for large groups congregating but not optimal if you don’t plan to clean the open concept kitchen as the event takes place. Open concept also applies to your guests’ eyes so keeping it clean is a must. Also, if you’re like my wife and don’t want everyone hanging out in the kitchen, something a bit removed or separated from the main living spaces might be more desirable. Regardless, you need to strongly consider how you’re going to use the space and what your preferences are for hosting your guests.
The kitchen is also massively important for cooking, surprise surprise. Plenty of counter space, a big/capable oven, and then proximity to the dining and living spaces are considerations when you’re talking food. A big kitchen island can also double as a side board or buffet for serving food, but only if it’s accessible to the guests.
Dining areas. And there can be multiple! This is where open concept is a must. Open and large spaces are critical for hosting bigger groups and will allow everyone to enjoy the food comfortably. Formal dining spaces are great for formal dinners where everyone is seated around a table. Less formal spaces like a kitchen island, dinette, or living room are more suitable for a more casual dining experience. Also, when planning where you want people to eat, they will eat wherever you put food. So if you don’t want people eating meatballs on your couch, don’t put those in your living room. If you don’t mind people snacking on said couch, put out some bowls of chips or a charcuterie board in your living room.
Seating. Guess what? People don’t typically like to stand for the entirety of a party or dinner. They are going to find places to sit so you better provide something suitable. This again is where open concept is massively important. Well connected spaces allow for parties to spread into multiple areas while still feeling like it’s one event. People don’t like to go to parties where they are alone or secluded. If you want to host large family dinners, the formal dining area is important! Is it big enough to seat 10+ people? Is it close enough to the kitchen to be practical for serving a seated dinner?
Outdoor spaces. Unfortunately we live in Canada so your outdoor spaces aren’t going to see any use for at least 4 months of the year. But for the rest of the year, people really like to be outdoors. Outdoor spaces should include almost all of the things listed above. Cooking, dining and seating areas that are in close proximity to your indoor spaces, are well connected and comfortable. Think of adding a structure or umbrella to provide some shade or cover if it rains. Make sure that your lawn and gardens are kept up so the overall appearance is tidy and appealing to the eyes. Some sort of outdoor feature is also nice, beig that you are outside. Something like a pool or a fire pit that you can’t have inside your house. Also, make sure that you have access to beverages. Portable coolers or an outdoor fridge will allow your guests to access drinks during the event. At the very least, is your outdoor space close enough to your kitchen or something similar so that people can grab something quickly. This brings me to my next point.
A bar/drink station. If you are a budding mixologist, you likely have a home bar set up somewhere in your home. Your guests will appreciate this. And while a bar can be almost anywhere in your house, there are a few key things that you need in order to be successful. Often times, these things are found in a kitchen, which can be good or bad depending on how you want to use your kitchen. A fridge is important. Cold drinks are better than warm ones. A sink for rinsing glasses/pouring out any remains from old cups. A countertop to cut things and mix things on. Sone hosts will prefer that this all happens in their kitchen, others will want a secondary space set up for this.
Last but not least logistics. Think of the flow of people and identify any potential bottlenecks. Tight hallways or spaces between rooms will make it difficult for people to move around your home. Does the home have a large entryway that can accommodate multiple people arriving/leaving at the same time? This is one of the things I look for immediately upon entering a home. A crowded entryway will make things somewhat difficult and uncomfortable right off the bat. What about cars? Does your street have sufficient parking for a lot of visitors? Another big consideration: a bathroom. Where will your guests go to the washroom? Personally, I find a secluded powder room to be the most effective and comfortable place for your valued guests to do their business.
Suffice it to say there is a lot to consider if you are a big entertainer or want to become one. Most people are proud of their homes and are eager to show them off. They also want to be around their loved ones and to provide some fun and entertainment when the time comes. This is a beginner list and is of course highly dependent on your own preferences when hosting. Here’s to good times and good people… in your own home!
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