What to Look for When Buying a Home With Entertaining in Mind
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, buying a home that accommodates seamless entertaining may top your list. We’ve put together a guide for what to look for when buying a home with entertaining in mind.
Open Floor Plan
When buying a home with entertaining in mind, an open space can make hosting feel 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 tending to hosting duties. An open floor plan will make the house feel grander, regardless of the square footage.
Butler’s Pantry or Oversized 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 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 serving essentials you may not use daily, like platters and linens.
Dedicated Dining Area
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. When buying a home with entertaining in mind, look for a home that has a dining room or a generously sized kitchen that can accommodate a dining table.
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 functional layout mean the kitchen will remain comfortable for you and your guests. A large island, plenty of counter space, and multiple stoves and sinks 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 float effortlessly from one space to another. Large doors that open to the patio 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. A living room can double as a space to mingle and a place for family movie nights. What may be a home office from 9-5 can turn into a guest bedroom on the weekend. When buying a home with entertaining in mind, keeping flex spaces in mind can help create a versatile home perfect for any event.
