Philadelphia, PA - Although most homeowners consider their homes a private and intimate sanctuary, many Americans are entertaining friends and family at home instead of going out.
A GfK survey from a few years ago revealed that up to 50% of respondents hosted guests monthly. Following this, more recent reports state that half of all Americans planned on throwing an event in their home. Case in point, several Philly homes have become the venue of in-demand supper clubs. By reimagining their living rooms as dining concepts, these homeowners are able to seat guests and serve them delicious and expertly made home-cooked meals.
Having said this, not every home is guest-ready. Although you shouldn’t have to change your home style just to cater to others, if hosting is something you enjoy and do often, it’s important that your space is conducive to entertaining. Being that the living room is usually the biggest and most lounge-friendly space in a home where guests end up congregating, this area is a good place to start. Read on to find out effective tips you can roll out in your own home.
Get A Sectional Couch
Guests who feel uncomfortable are unlikely to have a good time. If your space doesn’t have adequate seating arrangements, this can leave many feeling cramped or even unwanted. To prevent this, get yourself a seating solution that can accommodate the average number of guests you have over and then some. One of the most effective seating types that can cover this is an L shaped sectional. On Living Spaces, you’ll see that these sectionals boast a lot of legroom. Some models, like the Burton, can even seat up to seven people with room to spare. Since these couches also come in adjustable units, you can reconfigure your sectional to suit your space, guests, and activity. In a pinch, sectionals can even double as a bed, which is great should any guests have to stay over.
Choose A Multifunctional Coffee Table
While some modern homes eschew coffee tables for the sake of more space, a multifunctional coffee table can actually serve you and your guests very well. Unlike traditional versions that follow a more basic design, multifunctional ones can either be lift-tops, nesting, or storage types. These are specially designed to function more flexibly, thanks to their components, which can be pulled out to store items or act as Ottomans. During a party, these can come in handy. For example, Wayfair’s Sparta coffee table has an extendable tabletop that can be pulled up to double as a makeshift bar for your guests. The cubby underneath this can also house any breakables, like vases or catch-alls, that you might want to stow away during a busy event.
Invest In Mood Lighting
Last but not least, lighting can make or break your home’s ambiance. To ensure that your houseguests feel relaxed and engaged, choose the right mood lighting. Ideally, you’ll want something on the warmer side, as this will evoke feelings of warmth, comfort, and ease. If you’re serving food, keeping a more inviting light can also improve how appetizing your dishes look. To illustrate, if you’re serving stuffed peppers, which are an easy make-ahead dish that works great for parties, a soft, glowy light will help accentuate the rich colors of the chiles and enhance the contrast against the lentils. Of course, since there are times that you’ll need something more functionally bright for your living room, try investing in a light source that has multiple modes. To illustrate, the Flair floor lamp from West Elm uses soft touch technology to allow users to adjust brightness settings. As such, you can keep it brighter on days when you’re doing chores and then dim it down when you’re hosting.
