How to Turn Your Kitchen into the Perfect Entertaining Spot
If you like to invite guests over, check out these key ingredients for turning your kitchen into a sociable hub
Amanda Pollard
20 October 2018
Senior Editor at Houzz UK and Ireland. Journalist and editor specialising in interiors and architecture.
Senior Editor at Houzz UK and Ireland. Journalist and editor specialising in interiors... More
Love to entertain at home? Include these important elements in your kitchen design to ensure guests feel comfortable and relaxed, and to make it easy for you to prepare the space, cook up a feast and clean up afterwards.
This article is from our Most Popular stories file
This article is from our Most Popular stories file
Squeeze in ample seating
If your kitchen-diner isn’t huge, but you still want to welcome guests, think about ways to sneak in more seating. A clever trick is to build a banquette, which is more flexible than the usual table and chairs set-up.
A bench seat like this one is great for allowing guests to squeeze on, so you can seat more people than you would if you had four chairs around the table.
An added bonus of a banquette is that you can fit storage beneath the seats. Ask a carpenter if they can incorporate a lift-up top so you can access the empty space inside.
Looking for someone to build a bench seat? Read reviews of carpenters and joiners in your area.
If your kitchen-diner isn’t huge, but you still want to welcome guests, think about ways to sneak in more seating. A clever trick is to build a banquette, which is more flexible than the usual table and chairs set-up.
A bench seat like this one is great for allowing guests to squeeze on, so you can seat more people than you would if you had four chairs around the table.
An added bonus of a banquette is that you can fit storage beneath the seats. Ask a carpenter if they can incorporate a lift-up top so you can access the empty space inside.
Looking for someone to build a bench seat? Read reviews of carpenters and joiners in your area.
Clear the decks
To accommodate guests, your kitchen needs to be uncluttered and as spacious as possible. To achieve this, make sure you have enough storage to keep everything tidied away. Even if your room is cosy and eclectic, like this one, you can still include some practical storage.
Here, the wooden display cabinet is ideal for storing glasses, cups and tableware, while the open shelves keep cooking equipment out of the way, yet easily accessible.
To accommodate guests, your kitchen needs to be uncluttered and as spacious as possible. To achieve this, make sure you have enough storage to keep everything tidied away. Even if your room is cosy and eclectic, like this one, you can still include some practical storage.
Here, the wooden display cabinet is ideal for storing glasses, cups and tableware, while the open shelves keep cooking equipment out of the way, yet easily accessible.
Build in a bar area
An informal way to get people chatting while you’re preparing food is to incorporate an island or peninsula. It can be a large central area or a small breakfast bar like this. As long as there’s enough worktop space to prop glasses, you’ve got yourself a sociable spot where guests can hover.
For added comfort, invest in some bar stools. In this space, there’s only one perch, which is fine for an intimate evening with a friend. However, if you’re expecting a few guests, it’s best to move the stool out of the way to allow people to stand comfortably around the bar area.
An informal way to get people chatting while you’re preparing food is to incorporate an island or peninsula. It can be a large central area or a small breakfast bar like this. As long as there’s enough worktop space to prop glasses, you’ve got yourself a sociable spot where guests can hover.
For added comfort, invest in some bar stools. In this space, there’s only one perch, which is fine for an intimate evening with a friend. However, if you’re expecting a few guests, it’s best to move the stool out of the way to allow people to stand comfortably around the bar area.
Eliminate smells
Avoid overwhelming your guests with cooking odours by ensuring you have a means for fumes to make their way out of the room. A good extractor fan is the obvious solution, and there are lots of models to choose from.
This sleek, modern version hangs above the central hob to instantly catch the odours as they appear. If you prefer a more minimal design, look for extractor fans that can be concealed in the ceiling or beneath a wall unit. Alternatively, invest in a pop-up model that can be tucked into the worksurface when not in use.
Avoid overwhelming your guests with cooking odours by ensuring you have a means for fumes to make their way out of the room. A good extractor fan is the obvious solution, and there are lots of models to choose from.
This sleek, modern version hangs above the central hob to instantly catch the odours as they appear. If you prefer a more minimal design, look for extractor fans that can be concealed in the ceiling or beneath a wall unit. Alternatively, invest in a pop-up model that can be tucked into the worksurface when not in use.
Get kitted out
At the planning stage of a new kitchen, it’s a good idea to factor in how much entertaining you’ll actually be doing. If you like to socialise at home often, incorporate that into your kitchen design – particularly when choosing appliances.
Opt for the largest fridge-freezer you can afford and can fit into the space. Make room for a dishwasher, and consider installing a double oven. The initial outlay might be more, but if it’s going to work with your lifestyle, it might be worth compromising on other expensive items in order to make entertaining easier.
At the planning stage of a new kitchen, it’s a good idea to factor in how much entertaining you’ll actually be doing. If you like to socialise at home often, incorporate that into your kitchen design – particularly when choosing appliances.
Opt for the largest fridge-freezer you can afford and can fit into the space. Make room for a dishwasher, and consider installing a double oven. The initial outlay might be more, but if it’s going to work with your lifestyle, it might be worth compromising on other expensive items in order to make entertaining easier.
Set the mood
One of the best ways to make guests feel relaxed is with lighting. It’s important to avoid harsh overhead illumination, but at the same time you don’t want the room to feel dingy.
A layered lighting scheme is key, with pendants and downlights at ceiling height, over-the-counter LED strips beneath the wall units, and perhaps a few table lamps dotted around. With some careful planning, you can create a space that’s bright enough to see clearly, but with a warm, welcoming feel.
One of the best ways to make guests feel relaxed is with lighting. It’s important to avoid harsh overhead illumination, but at the same time you don’t want the room to feel dingy.
A layered lighting scheme is key, with pendants and downlights at ceiling height, over-the-counter LED strips beneath the wall units, and perhaps a few table lamps dotted around. With some careful planning, you can create a space that’s bright enough to see clearly, but with a warm, welcoming feel.
Choose surfaces wisely
For you and your guests to feel relaxed in the space, the last thing you want is to worry about spillages and damage. Consider this when choosing your flooring, cabinet finishes and worksurfaces.
Go for materials that are durable and easy to maintain, so you don’t spend your evening anxiously hovering over everyone’s wine glasses. A composite worktop like this quartz one is a good choice, as it’s sturdy, strong and a breeze to clean.
Tell us…
Do you like to entertain in your kitchen? What’s your recipe for success? Share your ideas in the Comments section.
For you and your guests to feel relaxed in the space, the last thing you want is to worry about spillages and damage. Consider this when choosing your flooring, cabinet finishes and worksurfaces.
Go for materials that are durable and easy to maintain, so you don’t spend your evening anxiously hovering over everyone’s wine glasses. A composite worktop like this quartz one is a good choice, as it’s sturdy, strong and a breeze to clean.
Tell us…
Do you like to entertain in your kitchen? What’s your recipe for success? Share your ideas in the Comments section.
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Your 'hood is a friendly one. So we have frequent get-togethers at various homes during the year. None of them "start and end in the kitchen". There are two houses that serve off a kitchen bar/counter, but once the food is taken - everyone migrates elsewhere be it a game room, living room, front yard, back yard or a nice size dining room. But gathering around in kitchens? Nope - that's not the best place unless you wish to constantly smell food, listen to dishes, pots, trays, etc. clunking or ice popping and the fan going. Most people have smaller size kitchens that can only hold less than 4 people. Not great places to party - at least in our 'hood.
Lampsusa, I agree. We have a semi-open house. Every time we have a party, even when there are 40-50 people, everyone congregates in the kitchen despite the fact that the den is just 10 feet away and I set the food up on the dining room table which is at the other end of the house. It gets so crowded that I have to actually herd people to the den and the attached library which opens to the den. Go figure. I’ve learned over the years to get everything done ahead of time so I’m not trying to cook or clean among a herd of people.
The kitchen is often the place where people congregate most so we totally agree that it's an important space to get right.