Entertaining Made Easy

A guest suite. Wine fridge. Subscription to “Cheese of the Month.” These are all things that don’t appear on our list of home features that make entertaining a breeze. We tapped three experts in the field to learn about top trends and tried and true mainstays that say “welcome.”

Director of Interior Design at AR Homes®, Cathi Lane stresses that living can—and should—extend to the outdoors. By offering large, comfortable sitting areas, guests will enjoy the fresh air without sacrificing comfort. A beautiful fireplace or fire pit steals the show, even when paired with a pool and spa. But the kicker might be the outdoor kitchen, giving hosts the ease of mixing drinks and refilling the snack bowl without the constant disruption of going in and out. Plus, it’s a handy way to maximize time with guests.

Plan for ample seating. Cathi pings eight as the magic number when it comes to seating guests. Four couples or two families shouldn’t feel like they’re sitting on top of one another. A large sectional, or two large couches set paired with two comfortable chairs is perfect, she says. Cathi, who is based in Clearwater, Fla., likes to center seating arrangements such as these around a clean, linear fireplace. The warm glow of a fire offers ambience no matter which climate you live in.

Meanwhile, Jessica Davis, principal designer at JL Design in Nashville, Tenn., reminds us not to invite more guests than we can seat. So when entertaining, put some thought into where your guests will park themselves, and make sure no one will be left hanging.

Minneapolis-based architect Ashley Mitlyng (owner of the firm Mitlyng Design) is the pro to consult when aligning purpose in the home with architectural principles. She suggests that entertaining is made easiest by having seating areas where guests can be among the action, without being on top of it.

Picture a huge kitchen island, where guests can sit on one side, sipping a cool drink, while hosts assemble the salad opposite them. Conversation can flow freely, and no one’s stepping on one another’s toes (or, more accurately, leaning against that one drawer you need).

Yes, you want to be the “host with the most,” but letting your guests feel comfortable in your space is a huge part of that. According to both Ashley Mitlyng and Jessica Davis, that begins with something simple: accessible coat hooks and an obvious place for guests to stash their purses or bags.

When a guest feels like you planned your space with them in mind, they’ll feel welcome and at ease. Whether this means a coat closet dedicated to guests, a coat tree at the entry, or an entryway bench cleared for their use, guests will feel the love.

Jessica Davis likes to welcome her guests with a drink. Hot or cold, cocktail or mocktail, these are beside the point. Just a simple refreshment tells guests you’re thinking of them. Jessica doesn’t rely on her kitchen for serving, though. Instead, she creates a wet bar in the first room guests see, so they naturally walk into that space first. Jessica stresses that homeowners can create a bar area anywhere—all you need is a surface. Set out plenty of glasses, a bucket of ice and a mixture of refreshments. A few hors d'oeuvres are a nice touch, too.

An open view isn’t just beautiful to live in, it also draws guests into and throughout the home. Over at AR Homes®, Cathi Lane is on the cutting edge of new trends. And what she’s seeing in new builds and AR Homes®’ gorgeous models is an enormous emphasis on rooms with a view. That means huge glass doors (10 or 12 feet high by 20 feet wide) that open into the outdoor living space.

A fire feature is a natural place for guests to congregate. Whether it’s in front of a linear fireplace situated in the living room, as Cathi Lane likes to do, or around a fire pit in the outdoor living space, guests will feel drawn to the flames.

The warm ambience offered by the organic light source changes everything. And as Ashley Mitlyng reminds us, even more introverted guests will appreciate a fire—they can stare off into the flames!

Learn more about the new home building process and fireplace planning with these articles, or take a look at the traditional and modern fireplaces Heat & Glo has to offer.