What makes a house a hang-out spot?
A lot of factors go into what makes a home welcoming. From the layout to the color scheme to the amount of throw pillows you have, there are many things you can do to make your home the gathering place.
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Looking to buy your first house? Don’t make these 10 common mistakes.
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8 Easy Ways to Make Your Home the Gathering Place
1.) Location, location, location. When you’re buying a house, keep in mind proximity to family and friends, as well as your favorite local haunt. If it’s easy to get to your place, of course people will be more likely to swing by for a visit.
But if you prefer living out in the country, that doesn’t exclude you from entertaining. Just be sure to keep in mind the unique challenges your location might pose to guests. Do they know where to park since the road isn’t an option? If they have to crash in your spare bedroom after the annual New Year’s Eve bash, do you have clean sheets on hand and some extra toiletries they can use?
Of course, although it’s one of the many considerations, entertaining isn’t the first thing on your mind when you’re hunting for a new house. Check out this list of things to look for when buying a home.
2.) Improve your backyard space. If you’re thinking about renovating your house, one of the best home remodel ideas that keeps entertaining in mind is to spruce up your backyard. Put in a patio, add some flower beds, and don’t neglect the outdoor lighting.
One popular backyard remodel idea is to add a pergola, a versatile and visually pleasing statement piece to tie the whole backyard area together. It’s a great place to have bonfires, cookouts, and other outdoor celebrations.
3.) Tidy up, but don’t sweat the small stuff. Before guests arrive, it’s a good idea to clean up a bit. Start with the bathroom by clearing personal hygiene products from the sink, giving the toilet and tub a quick scrub, and placing extra toilet paper in easy view.
Then move through the rest of your house, focusing on big problems first, like dirty dishes on end tables and stacks of clothes waiting to be folded. After that, if you have time for more in-depth cleaning tasks like mopping or dusting, go ahead and tackle them.
But don’t worry about getting your house pristine. If guests start to arrive and you haven’t quite finished cleaning, don’t stress out. Nothing makes guests more uncomfortable than listening to a hurried litany of apologies about how dirty your house is. Chances are, they won’t notice a bit of dust on the bookshelf or some dishes waiting in the sink unless you point them out.
4.) Comfort first. To make your home the gathering place of your friend group or family, make sure it’s warm and inviting. An easy way to accomplish this is by making sure you have plenty of cozy seating options. For example, if you have to pull in a kitchen chair for a bigger crowd in the living room, make sure you steal a cushion from the couch.
Comfort also means making sure people have everything they need to relax and have a good time. Don’t put them in an awkward position by making them hold their cold drink in their hands the whole time or forcing them to interrupt the conversation to ask where the bathroom is. Make sure there are plenty of places to set things down, easy-to-find trash cans, and that everyone knows where the bathrooms are at the beginning of the night.
5.) Make a good first impression. Create a welcoming environment before they even walk in the door with these 3 steps to improve your home’s curb appeal.
Along those same lines, have you ever wanted to change the color of your front door to something a little bolder but haven’t because you’re worried it might be too much? Check out this guide to front door color.
6.) Pay attention to lighting. You don’t want to go overboard on super bright overhead lighting–that can make guests feel like they’re under a microscope. Instead, rely on some floor lamps to give the room a softer look.
7.) Choose warm colors in your living spaces. Another simple home remodeling idea: pay attention to warm and cool colors when you paint. While cooler colors like mint, pastel blue, and lilac can be calming, warmer colors like chocolate, saffron, or scarlet make a room feel more inviting because they make the room appear cozier and more compact.
When decorating with warmer colors, though, it’s a good idea to mix in some neutrals so the room doesn’t feel too compact. If you have a small room to begin with and paint all the walls a rich espresso color, it might make guests feel like they’ve just entered a cave.
8.) Take advantage of open floor plans. A great home buying tip or home remodel idea is to focus on open floor plans. Open floor plans allow for freedom of movement and give the illusion of more space.
If you’re remodeling, consider moving toward an open layout in the kitchen, living room, and dining room areas. It does wonders for the functionality of your living space and will likely make it easier to sell your home if you ever decide to move. 45% of homebuyers want a completely open kitchen-dining area and 70% want either a completely or partially open kitchen-family room arrangements.
An open floor plan is great for entertaining because it gives people plenty of room to spread out. Encourage guests to mingle by putting the snacks at one end of the room and drinks at the other, and by setting out some board games or card decks throughout the room.
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Overall, the best thing to keep in mind is to live in the moment. When you have people over, they pick up on your mood. If you’re frazzled and stressed out, they’ll feel it. To make your home the ultimate gathering place, build a relaxed casual atmosphere that starts with you. By enjoying the time you spend with your friends instead of whirling around the house cleaning up empty wine glasses and dirty napkins, you’ll make everyone feel more relaxed and welcome. Remember, it’s all about making memories.
As a local and trusted bank, we would love to work with you on financing your next home purchase or remodeling project! Call 877.672.4543 to speak with a bank representative, fill out our online mortgage application or visit a Mercer Savings Bank location near you today.
