Watching a big game with family and friends is great, but as everyone congregates in your kitchen, is the room designed for hosting? If you love to entertain and sports are big in your household, factor this in at the design stage of your kitchen remodel. Think about how many people will be over and what food you'll serve. Storage, food prep and beverage areas, seating, and technology all factor into a kitchen designed for hosting.

Open Plan

An open plan kitchen suits gatherings of any size and keeps everyone together with you at the heart of things. It's perfect for game days: prep, guests can get food and drinks, and everyone has a clear view of the action. Zoning the open plan space lets you create a little area for people who aren't into the game without excluding them.

Technology

Plan for where the entertainment system goes. A large wall-mounted TV is the standard for watching sports. A sound system handles music before and after the game. Built-in docking stations are handy for devices and for guests to charge phones. Routers, USB outlets, and sockets housed in a drawer or cabinet keep wires hidden.

Storage

Think carefully about storage. For game day parties, put as many cabinets and shelves in as possible to reduce clutter, without overloading the floor space. A pantry is ideal for food and cookware you only take out for entertaining. Deep drawers and corner cabinet swing-out accessories help. Islands have huge storage capacity. We dig into kitchen storage in our kitchen storage guide.

Appliances

If you love to bake and cook for an event, invest in a professional oven or range and a warming drawer. Make sure your refrigerator is large enough for all the food and drinks. A beverage bar is an excellent addition to any kitchen, especially when hosting a crowd. If you have enough space, include a dedicated sink and second dishwasher at the beverage bar, plus a wine cooler or mini refrigerator. A built-in coffee machine is worth its weight in gold. We dig into beverage bars in our beverage bar guide.

Seating

Seating matters when everyone is gathering. If people gravitate to the island, make sure they can view the TV from there. Arrange couches and comfortable chairs around the screen. Make sure those seated at the dining table can see the action. Mount the TV high enough to keep sightlines clear, or consider a TV in the kitchen and a second in the living area. Extra seating shouldn't disrupt traffic flow.

Lighting

A multi-layered lighting design lets you set the mood for every situation. Task lighting handles food prep and cooking. Spotlights highlight feature areas; dimmer switches control levels. An evening game might demand low light in the viewing area but task lighting at the island or beverage bar.

Talk through your kitchen with a designer

If you're planning a kitchen and want it set up for hosting, we'd love to talk.

Schedule a showroom visit at our 5,000 square foot showroom in Norwell. No pressure, just a real conversation about your home.

Transitions Kitchens, Baths & Remodeling
433 Washington St, Norwell, MA
(781) 871-0881