House Designs Perfect for Entertaining
When dreaming of their ideal house design, many homeowners take in to consideration the entertainment aspect of having friends and family over for dinner parties, drinks and special occasions. When deciding on floor plans for entertaining, you should consider your home fully occupied when planning kitchen, dining room and living room areas to ensure you will have enough space for hosting guests. Here are our top kitchen ideas to keep in mind so that your finished home is a perfect layout for entertaining all year round.
Open Layouts
Some of the most popular house plans available today are those with open layouts. Open layouts increase the options for entertaining guests, fostering a sense of togetherness in the heart of the home. Choosing an option that combines larger spaces, such as the kitchen and living room, creates a shared experience of cooking and eating. Look for plans with wide openings or walkways, where the dining room flows effortlessly from the kitchen into other living and entertaining spaces.
Without walls limiting flexibility, smaller tables can be joined to a dining room table to accommodate extra guests, or the space can be left open to allow guests to move around, mingle and chat. In addition, house designs with open layouts can make your home feel larger than the square footage would have you believe. By removing constricting doorways and widening passages, you obtain a sense of spaciousness even with a smaller, less expensive floor plan.
Big Kitchen
This seems an obvious one, but as a family who has food and entertaining as a focal point, what you define as a ‘big kitchen’ may vary. When choosing a spacious kitchen, look for floor plans that offer spacious central islands, abundant countertops and workspaces, cupboards and butlers pantries. Some cupboards and the butler’s pantry will often be situated off to the side or behind the kitchen and overall, the convenience and style of this type of kitchen will create a space that is suited for easily hosting many guests. Having a central island bench is also quite popular in that it creates a link between the family and meals areas without interfering with each individual space.
Indoor/Outdoor Dining
Entertaining at home is a breeze when you choose a house design which incorporates a spacious, covered outdoor area with the internal kitchen, dining or living area. Not only does an indoor/outdoor dining area allow your guests to flow from the kitchen to the outdoor entertaining area with ease, it also gives your home a sense of spaciousness and increases overall ventilation. Combining this layout with a designer kitchen as a focal point is absolutely perfect for entertaining.
Before You Start
Before choosing a floor plan, it’s important to assess your lifestyle. Is a single story sufficient or would you like a multi story home? Do you prefer an open floor plan or individual rooms? Do you want your new house plan to include formal dining? Or do you simply prefer relaxed family gatherings in an open planned space around the kitchen?
If you need a little help or advice on deciding on the perfect floor plan and home design, our team can offer you direct one-on-one service to provide you with a home to suit any block on any budget. Browse through our extensive range of designs or contact us today!