The festive season will be here before you even know it. That means celebration, family get-togethers, catching up with friends, and of course, hosting parties. But, is your living room really party-ready? Nope, we are not wondering about when you last used the vacuum in there last. The real concern is just how inviting your space actually is.
Look through this quick checklist to get a reality check.
1. Is there enough seating in your living room?
This is the first thing you need to check. If you are inviting folks over, the least you can do is make sure that everyone has a place to sit. You can bring in extra chairs, use the storage ottomans, or even create mini conversation corners across the space. For larger gatherings, the party has to spill over to other areas of the home. In that case too, have enough seating available throughout the area you leave accessible to your guests.
2. Does your living space encourage conversations?
The first thing you need to analyze is your seating plan. Are the couches or chairs too far apart? Can people in the room interact with the others without having to scream or fall off their chairs? Can people see one another or does the seating plan cut people off? You can create a cozy space with a variety of furniture that faces one another, like a sectional, some chairs, a couple of armchairs, a set of couches, and so on.
3. Does your living space have any conversation starters?
A conversation starter can be anything from a unique piece of artwork, a souvenir you picked up on a trip, some of your photo displays, a cool piece of furniture, like a new hidden TV lift cabinet, or new window treatment. You need to have something that will grab people’s attention and get the conversation going.
4. Does your living room area have a TV?
If it does, it is certainly a bad idea, unless you are specifically getting together to watch a game. The most awful thing about a TV in the living space is that the minute it is turned on, the conversation dies out. Many designers are against having a TV in your hosting space, but then not everyone can have a special TV entertainment area at home. The next best solution is to hide it. No, we aren’t talking about throwing a blanket over it. We are talking about hiding the TV in style, in a hidden TV lift cabinet. A hidden TV lift cabinet will put your TV away so it won’t be a distraction. It won’t get in the way of your meaningful conversations. In fact, the hidden TV lift cabinet might be the topic of conversation itself!
4. Is your living space appropriately lit?
Most spaces have regular lights on the walls and on the ceiling, but that does not mean that the lighting is appropriate. That is the basic level of lighting. For parties, many prefer layers of lighting. It adds depth to the space. You can get that depth by using light sconces, table lamps, and even floor lamps. Create pockets of light instead of relying on sterile basic lighting.
5. Does your living space have proper traffic flow paths?
When hosting guests, it is important that no one feels stuck- literally and mentally. If there isn’t enough room between your furniture and the walls or between various pieces of furniture, people won’t be able to move around freely. And if the traffic flow paths are not clear, people will feel stuck. That is not what you intend to do when we have people over. Move things around a little so that there is easy traffic flow in the space. It will encourage people to get up and catch up with someone across the room. The more the mobility, the better the conversations.
Once you have these things settled, you are all set to plan your parties. So, go on and live it up!