House Parties – A house party in Richmond, California, USA – Photo Courtesy: David Lee
Have you ever heard the expression that all good parties end up in the kitchen? Well, for the most part, it’s true: heading to the kitchen at a good party makes a lot of sense because it’s where the liquor is stored, but it’s also a good idea thanks to the space it provides and the vibe. People tend to head into the kitchen to get a drink when they’ve hit an awkward lull in their conversation in the main room, and inevitably they’ll run into someone who they get chatting to there, leading to more and more of your guest list eventually packed into that room like clowns in a clown car.
If you want to ensure that your house is well suited to entertaining large quantities of guests then you need to make sure that you think long and hard about your kitchen layout and whether it is conducive to a party atmosphere.
Here are some things that can help:
House Parties in the Kitchen
Traffic Lanes
A Holiday Party in New Orleans, USA – Photo Courtesy: Infrogmation
The traffic lanes are the routes through any room that people will take regularly when passing in and out. If you are hoping to manage the ‘people cramming into your kitchen’ scenario, then you need to make sure that there is space for people to get in and out and around. Otherwise it will quickly become an annoyance as your guests have to get up and move out the way every time someone heads in to get to the kitchen. Having two separate doors is of course ideal – while a door leading to the garden is even more practical as it allows people to stand outside and chat while smoking etc during house parties.
Table
A kitchen full of friends in Natalia’s home in Chicago, USA – Photo Courtesy: Natalia Wilson
Another useful feature to have in your kitchen is a table. Having a table in your kitchen can provide many different benefits, giving you somewhere to sit while you wait for the pasta to boil, letting people keep you company while you cook etc. Tables are also ideal for parties however as they enable your visitors to sit around and chat while having somewhere to stand their drinks and the nachos. Of course, tables can also be a handy place to store a buffet – and that way you know people are going to gravitate there. A couple of bar stools can also be a useful provision allowing more people to fit themselves in.
Music
Swing Dancing in the Kitchen – Photo Courtesy: Danielle Buma
One reason people might sometimes crowd into the kitchen at a party is so that they can try and escape the music that’s probably blaring out from the living room. That’s not to say that the kitchen can’t also have its own quiet music though to provide a backdrop, so consider finding a space for a radio or speakers for your iPod so that you can cater to your kitchen-bound friends.
Flooring
Friends sit around on the kitchen floor during a party – Photo Courtesy: Adrian Purser
Finally, consider the type of flooring that will be best for your house party. Of course, having lots of people drinking in your kitchen will make spillages likely, but at the same time, you want a floor that will be comfortable to sit on. Find a material that is both comfortable and easy to maintain and your kitchen will be ready to party!
Lance Abraham, the author of this article, is a part of the team at Baybrook Remodelers, suppliers of replacement windows in Connecticut. An avid technophile, Lance is always looking forward to getting his hands on the latest gadgets to hit the market.
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