Whether you’re holding a big party or entertaining a small gathering of close family and friends, the kitchen is often where everybody gets together for food and drinks. With this in mind, it makes sense that you’d want your kitchen to have all that you need to make your guests feel comfortable and have everything they need.
If you want a kitchen that will impress guests during parties, here are some great kitchen layout options that will help you host parties they will remember for all the right reasons.
1. Open-Concept Kitchens
Open-concept kitchens make for an excellent venue for you and your guests. With an open-concept kitchen, you can seamlessly focus on preparing food and drinks while also mingling, and your guests will have plenty of space to relax and enjoy themselves.
Remember that it’s a great idea to establish work zones in an open-plan kitchen, so you have plenty of space to operate in. In many cases, “natural” barriers like countertops will help make it clear where boundaries are. The strategic placement of chairs and appliances can also help draw boundaries in a way that’s obvious but not too formal.
With your work zones established, you will have enough room to work while being close enough to your guests to make the most of your hosting skills.
2. Kitchen Islands
If you have enough space, kitchen islands are great for entertaining. A kitchen island is an ideal place for food and drinks as everybody has easy access to them, making it a focal point of the room or the house.
A kitchen island also gives your guests easy access to all the food they like without you having to spend your time playing waitress. If you don’t have a large kitchen and budget, a conveniently placed table can work just fine.
3. Bar
Your guests are likely to get thirsty, and a bar is a great way to allow them to help themselves. Ideally, it would help if you created a bar area with all they’ll need, including a range of glasses and other items such as olives and lemon slices for cocktails and other drinks.
Having a fridge close to your bar is ideal. If you have the space, a refrigerator dedicated to drinks and sundries can be even better. Also consider installing a built-in wine rack that will look great while not taking up too much room in the kitchen.
You can even make things a little more fun and recommend some great ideas for cocktails; you can also use a TV screen or even a digital menu board to technologically display your cocktail recipe suggestions.
4. Seating
If it’s a dinner party, seats are a given, but if it’s another type of party, remember that people won’t want to stand the whole time. Arranging bar stools in your kitchen is a great option because they take up little space and can be located at countertops, islands, and bars to help make them more of a focal point.
Also make sure people have a place to eat if islands and other areas are taken up. You can also consider comfortable benches along walls that won’t take up a lot of space, and the base of some benches can also double as storage space.
5. Open Shelving
Open shelving looks great in any kitchen and is also very affordable. With a coat of paint, open shelves can add character to otherwise bland walls, and they can also make a small kitchen look larger. The benefits don’t stop there either, because they make it easier for you and your guests to grab kitchenware as needed.
6. Clutter-Free Layout
A clean layout that’s easy to move about in and with nothing to trip over is essential for your kitchen. Before your guests start arriving, remove as much clutter as you can. Items like unnecessary toasters and kettles can be stored in your cupboards or even in another room if necessary.
Less clutter will help provide more space so you have more room to put out some great-looking spreads.
7. Mood Lighting
The right lighting will help you get your kitchen feeling bright and energetic for larger occasions while allowing you to opt for a more intimate ambience if you’re entertaining a small group. In addition, mood lighting can help you create a different ambience for different parts of the room, such as lowered lights in seating areas away from where the action is.
Strip lighting can also be very effective at creating the right ambience. For example, when placed in strategic places such as underneath cabinets, strip lights can provide light for bars and other kitchen features while also adding a “glow” that attracts people to certain parts of the room.
8. Get a Trash Compactor
You don’t want to be spending too much of your time clearing trash away, but you also probably don’t want trash to start piling up. A trash compactor will make it easier for you to dispose of trash quickly without it taking up too much of your time.
If you don’t have the budget for a trash compactor, keep plenty of trash cans available so your guests can also help by throwing trash away. Being prepared for the inevitable trash will also mean less work for you to do the next morning.
The Bottom Line
Hosting a party can be daunting, no matter how large or small. There are issues like catering to deal with, and you will want to make sure that your guests are entertained and as comfortable as possible.
Having a suitable kitchen layout is one way to help ensure that your gathering goes well and everybody has an evening to remember. With some effort and a little creativity, your kitchen can be a center point for a party you can be proud of.
