One huge perk of having your own space? You can host, entertain, and have your friends over as and when you want.<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re big on entertaining, and you\u2019re planning to offer up your place as the de facto spot for gatherings with your friends, you\u2019ll want to design your home to meet this specific need. In this article, we walk you through exactly how to design a home that\u2019s great for entertaining, and point out all the factors to consider.<\/p>\n[\/spb_text_block] [spb_text_block animation=”none” animation_delay=”0″ simplified_controls=”yes” custom_css_percentage=”no” padding_vertical=”0″ padding_horizontal=”0″ margin_vertical=”0″ custom_css=”margin-top: 0px;margin-bottom: 0px;” border_size=”0″ border_styling_global=”default” width=”1\/1″ el_position=”first last”]\n
If you\u2019re planning on hosting a lot, the overall layout and design of your home should be conducive to that.<\/p>\n
For example: if you\u2019re staying in a mansionette or a landed property<\/a> with more than one level, make sure that you have a toilet (or at least a powder room) on the first level. This way, your guests will have easy access to the toilet, and they won\u2019t have to go up to the second floor in search of it.<\/p>\n Also, you\u2019ll also want to ensure that your bedroom is housed in a separate, standalone space, and appropriately blocked off<\/a>.<\/p>\n These days, it\u2019s trendy to have the main living area<\/a> \u201cflow\u201d into a sleeping area, especially in studio apartments or smaller spaces. Some folks might have archways (without doors) separating their bedroom from their living space, which means their bedroom (and its clutter) is visible to any guests who are over.<\/p>\n This is completely based on personal preference, but you might have an easier time hosting if you can shut your bedroom door. This way, you won\u2019t need to rush to put away personal items, every time your friends are over!<\/p>\n[\/spb_text_block] [spb_text_block animation=”none” animation_delay=”0″ simplified_controls=”yes” custom_css_percentage=”no” padding_vertical=”0″ padding_horizontal=”0″ margin_vertical=”0″ custom_css=”margin-top: 0px;margin-bottom: 0px;” border_size=”0″ border_styling_global=”default” width=”1\/1″ el_position=”first last”]\n Your entryway<\/a> sets the tone as your guests walk into your home, and it should be both inviting and functional.<\/p>\n We recommend warm lighting, which is cosier and less harsh than cold lighting. Also consider having some sort of shelf or storage in space, so that your guests can put down their belongings. You can even add hooks on the walls for guests to hang their masks – it\u2019s not necessary by any means, but definitely a nice touch!<\/p>\n[\/spb_text_block] [spb_text_block animation=”none” animation_delay=”0″ simplified_controls=”yes” custom_css_percentage=”no” padding_vertical=”0″ padding_horizontal=”0″ margin_vertical=”0″ custom_css=”margin-top: 0px;margin-bottom: 0px;” border_size=”0″ border_styling_global=”default” width=”1\/1″ el_position=”first last”]\n If your sofa<\/a> and other seating options are lined up and facing the television, this isn\u2019t exactly conducive for conversations. You\u2019ll want to have seating options facing inwards, so that guests can face each other while they sit and chat. (If you don\u2019t find this functional for day-to-day living, you can always rearrange your furniture once your party is over).<\/p>\n When positioning your furniture, also make sure there\u2019s enough space for people to walk and maneuver easily.<\/p>\n Extra seating is always great – the last thing you want is for your guests to be standing around awkwardly, because there aren\u2019t enough seats for everyone. These can come in the shape of footstools, storage benches<\/a> or ottomans<\/a> that can live in your other rooms (or even your storeroom) until they\u2019re needed for an event.<\/p>\n For folks who are planning to entertain a lot, there will <\/i>be a point in time when someone scuffs your sofa, spills red wine on your rug, or accidentally scratches your table. With that in mind, opt for low maintenance and durable furniture and seating that can withstand wear and tear.<\/p>\n For sofas, for example, it\u2019s a good idea to get machine washable sofa covers that can be slipped on and off easily. The same thing goes for rugs – opt for a machine washable rug, instead of one that has to be dry-cleaned and handled carefully.<\/p>\n Let\u2019s say you have a study next to your living room, and you\u2019d like to take advantage of that space and use it to host as well. If you have glass sliding doors<\/a> between your living room and study (instead of regular doors), this opens up the space both visually and physically. Because you can see through to your study, your home will look that much bigger, and you can easily push the sliding doors to the side to add more square footage to your entertaining space.<\/p>\n[\/spb_text_block] [spb_text_block animation=”none” animation_delay=”0″ simplified_controls=”yes” custom_css_percentage=”no” padding_vertical=”0″ padding_horizontal=”0″ margin_vertical=”0″ custom_css=”margin-top: 0px;margin-bottom: 0px;” border_size=”0″ border_styling_global=”default” width=”1\/1″ el_position=”first last”]\n You know what they say – the kitchen<\/a> is the heart of the home. When you have guests over, they more often than not naturally gravitate towards the kitchen, so you\u2019ll want to have this designed in a way that\u2019s conducive for entertaining.<\/p>\n If you have the space (and budget!), consider having two separate spaces – a wet vs dry kitchen. The wet kitchen is where you do any heavy-duty cooking, such as frying. You can close the door to hide the mess and entertain your guests in the dry kitchen, where you\u2019ll do \u201clight\u201d food prep and hosting activities such as assembling canapes, cutting cake, and pouring wine.<\/p>\n A kitchen island<\/a> looks great, and it\u2019s functional as well. You can make cocktails or pour wine for your guests here, before migrating to the dining table<\/a> for dinner. If you\u2019re hosting a casual get-together or something interactive like a DIY pizza party, you might even choose to pull up a couple of stools so that everyone can eat at the island.<\/p>\n Also consider adding a second sink and extra powerpoints to your kitchen island, for more convenience. You might need to use your first sink (located at your kitchen counter\/main prep area) for some light washing up; whilst you do that, your guests can wash their hands at the second sink, without having to wait around. Extra powerpoints will also come in handy if your guests need to charge their phones, or if you\u2019re having hotpot and need to plug in your electric cooker.<\/p>\n In a kitchen that\u2019s built for entertaining, storage is key. You want to have your counter space free so that people have space to sit around and chat, and this means you\u2019ll need enough cabinet space<\/a> so that you can keep your appliances and equipment tucked away.<\/p>\n Other than cabinets, you can also use open shelves<\/a> to store hosting necessities such as wineglasses, extra cutlery, and beverages. This makes it easy for your guests to help themselves.<\/p>\n[\/spb_text_block] [spb_text_block animation=”none” animation_delay=”0″ simplified_controls=”yes” custom_css_percentage=”no” padding_vertical=”0″ padding_horizontal=”0″ margin_vertical=”0″ custom_css=”margin-top: 0px;margin-bottom: 0px;” border_size=”0″ border_styling_global=”default” width=”1\/1″ el_position=”first last”]\n Got a balcony, and want to use that space to host as well? We recommend installing balcony blinds, since the weather in Singapore is so unpredictable. With balcony blinds<\/a>, you can keep out the dust, rain, and any insects, and make sure that your event goes off without a hitch.<\/p>\n As for furniture, if you don\u2019t have balcony blinds and are intending to have your furniture be exposed to the elements, you\u2019ll specifically need to get outdoor furniture<\/a>. This category of furniture tends to be made from hardwood, synthetics or metal, and anything that falls within this category can withstand wind, rain, insects\u2026 you get the idea.<\/p>\n If you do have balcony blinds, though, you\u2019re effectively transforming your outdoor space into an indoor space. With this in mind, you do have more options when it comes to furniture. You can technically put any of your favourite pieces outdoors, but given that Singapore\u2019s climate is really humid, and there\u2019s moisture in the air even when it doesn\u2019t rain, we recommend going with durable materials to err on the side of caution.<\/p>\n For example: you can\u2019t go wrong with teak furniture, which is hardy and resilient, and even repels water. For this reason, teak doesn\u2019t warp, crack or become brittle, and is one of the best options for outdoor furniture.<\/p>\n[\/spb_text_block] [spb_divider type=”thin” text=”Go to top” top_margin=”0px” bottom_margin=”30px” fullwidth=”no” width=”1\/1″ el_position=”first last”] [spb_text_block animation=”none” animation_delay=”0″ simplified_controls=”yes” custom_css_percentage=”no” padding_vertical=”0″ padding_horizontal=”0″ margin_vertical=”0″ custom_css=”margin-top: 0px;margin-bottom: 0px;” border_size=”0″ border_styling_global=”default” width=”1\/1″ el_position=”first last”]\n Want to check out home renovation projects, and see how homeowners design their homes for entertaining? Browse here on Hometrust<\/a>, or click the button below to get connected with expert designers.<\/p>\n[\/spb_text_block] [\/spb_row] [spb_boxed_content type=”whitestroke” custom_bg_colour=”#f2f2f2″ box_link_target=”_self” padding_vertical=”4″ padding_horizontal=”5″ width=”1\/1″ el_position=”first last”]\n If you are reading this, you are probably wondering how you can create your dream home.<\/p>\n2.Your Entryway<\/h2>\n[\/spb_text_block] [spb_image image=”17446″ image_size=”full” frame=”noframe” caption_pos=”below” remove_rounded=”yes” fullwidth=”no” overflow_mode=”none” link_target=”_self” lightbox=”no” intro_animation=”none” animation_delay=”200″ width=”1\/1″ el_position=”first last”]\n
Lengkong Tiga ($78,000) by The Creative Studioz<\/a><\/h6>\n[\/spb_image] [spb_text_block animation=”none” animation_delay=”0″ simplified_controls=”yes” custom_css_percentage=”no” padding_vertical=”0″ padding_horizontal=”0″ margin_vertical=”0″ custom_css=”margin-top: 0px;margin-bottom: 0px;” border_size=”0″ border_styling_global=”default” width=”1\/1″ el_position=”first last”]\n
3. Your Living Room<\/h2>\n[\/spb_text_block] [spb_image image=”17447″ image_size=”full” frame=”noframe” caption_pos=”below” remove_rounded=”yes” fullwidth=”no” overflow_mode=”none” link_target=”_self” lightbox=”no” intro_animation=”none” animation_delay=”200″ width=”1\/1″ el_position=”first last”]\n
HDB BTO at Northshore Drive ($50,000) by De Style Interior Pte Ltd<\/a><\/h6>\n[\/spb_image] [spb_text_block animation=”none” animation_delay=”0″ simplified_controls=”yes” custom_css_percentage=”no” padding_vertical=”0″ padding_horizontal=”0″ margin_vertical=”0″ custom_css=”margin-top: 0px;margin-bottom: 0px;” border_size=”0″ border_styling_global=”default” width=”1\/1″ el_position=”first last”]\n
Living room layout<\/b><\/h3>\n
Prepare extra seating<\/b><\/h3>\n
Always go for low maintenance\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n
Opening up your space<\/b><\/h3>\n
4. Your Kitchen<\/h2>\n[\/spb_text_block] [spb_image image=”17448″ image_size=”full” frame=”noframe” caption_pos=”below” remove_rounded=”yes” fullwidth=”no” overflow_mode=”none” link_target=”_self” lightbox=”no” intro_animation=”none” animation_delay=”200″ width=”1\/1″ el_position=”first last”]\n
674B Yishun Ave 4 ($55,000) by 9 Creation Pte Ltd<\/a><\/h6>\n[\/spb_image] [spb_text_block animation=”none” animation_delay=”0″ simplified_controls=”yes” custom_css_percentage=”no” padding_vertical=”0″ padding_horizontal=”0″ margin_vertical=”0″ custom_css=”margin-top: 0px;margin-bottom: 0px;” border_size=”0″ border_styling_global=”default” width=”1\/1″ el_position=”first last”]\n
Wet vs dry kitchen<\/b><\/h3>\n
A kitchen island<\/b><\/h3>\n
Storage, storage, and more storage<\/b><\/h3>\n
5. Your Balcony<\/h2>\n[\/spb_text_block] [spb_image image=”17449″ image_size=”full” frame=”noframe” caption_pos=”below” remove_rounded=”yes” fullwidth=”no” overflow_mode=”none” link_target=”_self” lightbox=”no” intro_animation=”none” animation_delay=”200″ width=”1\/1″ el_position=”first last”]\n
25 Terrasse Condo ($48,000) by Livspace<\/a><\/h6>\n[\/spb_image] [spb_text_block animation=”none” animation_delay=”0″ simplified_controls=”yes” custom_css_percentage=”no” padding_vertical=”0″ padding_horizontal=”0″ margin_vertical=”0″ custom_css=”margin-top: 0px;margin-bottom: 0px;” border_size=”0″ border_styling_global=”default” width=”1\/1″ el_position=”first last”]\n
Balcony blinds<\/b><\/h3>\n
Balcony furniture<\/b><\/h3>\n
Renovating soon? Let Hometrust recommend the best interior designers.<\/strong><\/h2>\n