How to Make the Most of your Living Room for Entertaining
In a continuation of last week’s blog where we offered tips on making the most of your dining room for entertaining, this week we’re all about the living room. After you and your guests have eaten your fill of delicious holiday gourmet, you’ll most likely end up wandering to your living room. After you’ve cleared the dishes, gotten some fresh air, and are ready to enjoy the post-meal afterglow, the last thing you want to worry about is seating. These tips will help you make the most of your living room entertaining space and get you ready to host for the holidays.
Rearrange
The biggest contender when it comes to entertaining is how your arrange your space. To make the most of your living room entertaining space, you may want to make some changes before guests arrive. What works for you and your family on any given day isn’t necessarily what will work for a crowd. One of the first things you should ask yourself when hosting a gathering is how many people will be coming. Once you’ve narrowed down your guest list, take a look around your living room. How many people can comfortably sit somewhere in your living room as it is now? You’ll want to move things around if you can’t fit all of your guests comfortably. Before your panic and stress about making sure your living room can fit 20+ people, keep in mind that all of your guests will most likely not be in one space at the same time, minus eating in the dining room. A good rule of thumb is to make sure there’s at least a solid space within the vicinity of where you’re entertaining where all guests can find some place to sit comfortably, whether it’s the dining room, a nook, or living room.
Sectionals
We love using sectionals in our living room designs because they offer bulk comfortable seating that keeps everyone facing each other for easy conversation. Sectionals can really make the most of your living room entertaining space by offering an abundance of comfortable seating that’s perfect for a crowd.
Sofa Tables
Sofa tables are so space-savvy! They can definitely help you make the most of your living room entertaining space because they’re so easy and space-saving. We love using sofa tables behind a sofa in the living room for additional spaces to set drinks and appetizers but they are also a great way to bring in extra lighting. Set a chic table lamp on a sofa table, put out some extra napkins and a few coasters and you’ll be good to go.
Pub Tables
Pub tables are an excellent way to add casual seating in your living room, if your space allows. Pub tables are great for playing games of Scrabble during the holidays and can double as extra seating, too. If your living room can host the space, we recommend incorporating a sectional for plush seating and a pub table for game playing and drink sipping. Alternatively, pub tables are great in spaces like a finished basement. Let the gaming begin! You can make the most of your living room entertaining space by mixing up various seating nooks, it just takes a creative eye to arrange your space accordingly.
Ottomans
Of course, a living room wouldn’t be complete without a gorgeous ottoman. Ottomans are perhaps the most versatile piece of a living room. For one, they work as a stylish place to rest drinks and snacks. Short on seating? Many of our ottomans are plush and perfect for a comfortable place to sit. Plus, many ottomans can open up to reveal extra storage space for things like games, blankets, and all those little things you don’t want sitting out like remotes, cables, and chords. A sleek ottoman is perhaps our favorite piece for living room entertaining space.
Declutter
Our final tip in making the most of your living room for entertaining is to declutter. As we mentioned before, pieces like sofa tables and ottomans are great ways to make the most of your space. Before guests come, it’s probably a good idea to store away things like glass, crystal, heirlooms, and chords. If you have limited table space try and pair down the amount of photos and home decor pieces you have throughout the space to free up table access. Guests will appreciate having a solid surface to place drinks so they can be hands free for grandchildren!
What about you? What’s your favorite hosting tip? If you have guests coming to your home this season, we want to hear from you! Connect with us on Facebook and Instagram and show us your style. For more ideas visit our showrooms where you’ll find the perfect piece to show off your individuality. As always, our professional staff is ready to assist you. With years of interior design experience, each of our expert staff members can help transform your space into the room you’ve always wanted. Our online store shows you just some of the many pieces we have to offer.
Be sure to check our showroom to see our entire product line. At Home Interior Warehouse there’s always something new. For more design tips and showroom updates follow us on Facebook and Instagram to see what’s in store.