The holiday season is a busy time, with visits from family and friends, special meal preparation, and hosting get-togethers. A good kitchen design is the key to successful entertaining. Get the design right, and everything else falls into place.

Entertainment System

An entertainment system can be incorporated into any kitchen, no matter how large or small your gatherings are. Music helps set the mood. Speakers in the kitchen and adjoining living areas (and the yard if extending outside) work well. A wall-mounted TV is good for sports or watching the ball drop on New Year's Eve.

If controlling music, TV, or lighting with a smart device, designate a storage drawer with a charging station. If live music is more your thing, bring instruments into the kitchen for guests to play, or turn the adjacent living area into a music room.

Layout

Look at how your kitchen is laid out and think about what you need when entertaining. Position is crucial for everyday tasks and hosting. Distinct work zones for prepping, cooking, and cleaning up. Plan where you'll serve food and where people will eat. Position the island to face the room, so you can prep while guests gather around. We dig into kitchen layout in our layout guide.

Beverage Bar

Drinks are an important element of any festivity. Instead of having to keep guests topped up, set up a beverage bar where everyone can help themselves. Make it as basic or as sophisticated as you like, but it's essentially a drink-related area, preferably away from where you'll be preparing food. Clear counter space for a coffee machine, spirits and soft drinks, cups and glassware, and an undercounter refrigerator. If space allows, include a full beverage center with storage, serving space, dishwasher, and sink.

Open Plan Kitchen

The best kitchen design for entertaining is an open plan space. We spend so much time in the kitchen that it makes sense to embrace it as a living area. As guests arrive, you can prepare and serve food while still enjoying their company.

Seating

Seating is essential for guest comfort. Think about how many people are coming and what type of party. Barstools at the island are the first port of call, with chairs around a dining table. Banquettes, armchairs, couches, beanbags, and footstools serve well in living areas. Just make sure traffic flow isn't hindered.

Talk through your kitchen with a designer

If you're planning a kitchen for entertaining, we'd love to talk through what works for your home.

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