You know the feeling…there are homes where you instantly feel welcome, taken care of, and impressed.
The lights are warm and wine is already open. Someone ushers your coat to a place you don’t even have to think about, and before you know it, you host glides you from conversation to conversation in spaces that are open yet intimate.
You’ve been to that kind of home, and you know that kind of host. But what does it feel like to be the host creating that experience for your guests?
Designing a home to support dinner parties and weekend guests is about knowing how to make people feel comfortable, anticipated, and enthralled without them necessarily realizing how you did it! And that starts with specific features in your home design…
THE essential DESIGN FEATURES FOR ENTERTAINING
First, let’s cover the “must-haves.” These are the home design features that anyone who ever hosts will need…or risk guests feeling out of place (or even those living in your home if they have to shuffle or adapt to make way for visitors).
A Kitchen Island Designed for Circulation
While you entertain, the kitchen island is a social hub as much as it’s for food prep. BUT if guests gather there and crowd the wrong corners, or hover awkwardly while you try to cook, then your island layout is working needlessly against you. (Seriously, it’s not your guests…it’s your kitchen island!)
Resolving this can be as simple as rearranging stools, or as complex as a full kitchen renovation. Our team can show you how a few inches or angles can improve movement dramatically…
Start with some kitchen island inspiration in this complimentary flipbook!!
Sound Design with Intention
The wrong acoustics can DESTROY the energy of an event. Too echoey, and guests practically shout to hear each other (you can thank that passing industrial design fad). And too muffled means you lose ambience.
Sound design MATTERS.
An acoustics upgrade can be a subtle one with big impact, like installing acoustic panels disguised as art, or updating a space with thoughtful furniture placement, or incorporating textiles that absorb excess noise.
But if your guests frequently say, “What?” or retreat to quieter rooms, OR if your playlist disappears into the background, it’s time to really “tune your space.”
A Guest-Focused Entryway
A well-designed entryway should be welcoming and intuitive (even before beautiful). Picture statement lighting, designated coat storage, and a drop zone that doesn’t look like one!!
Adding storage or styling the entry doesn’t require a full remodel, by the way! A weekend redesign or some new millwork can make a big impact…
The next time people come over, just watch and reflect. If your guests hesitate at your door or fumble with where to place things, you’ve found your next update.
Mood-Zoned Lighting Scenes
Lighting should evolve with the time of day, the space you’re in, and the event you host. Even within the same event, you should set one tone for prepping and another for dining, then another for winding down.
With today’s lighting design AND lighting technology options, you can add this without invasive rewiring. Simply installing dimmers can transform a room!! This is one of those details that every guest feels, even if they don’t know how to put it into words.
Ventilation That Eliminates Kitchen Smells
Delicious though it was, no one wants the aroma of yesterday’s salmon lingering during brunch. Ensure your kitchen design includes powerful ventilation to keep air clean and the vibe fresh.
This is best addressed during kitchen remodel planning, but high-end insert hoods can be added to existing cabinetry in a pinch. If you entertain frequently and rely on open kitchen spaces, effective ventilation is a MUST.
A Powder Room Worth Talking About
Every guest will see the powder room, so why not make it unforgettable?! You can add statement wallpaper, designer lighting, and a floating vanity to quickly turn a basic space into a “design moment” that reflects your personality.
Because of its size, the powder room is one of the most budget-efficient places to splurge and feel GOOD about it. It’s your chance to have some extra fun!!
At Least One Guest Suite
A beautiful guest room is great…but a private, hotel-like retreat is MEMORABLE in all the best ways. In a guest suite set-up, you include a dedicated bathroom, quality linens, intuitive lighting, and outlets where guests actually need them. If you host overnight guests even a few times a year and find yourself apologizing for the setup, prioritize this upgrade now.
This is typically a larger investment but doesn’t always require new construction. It often starts with rethinking how a spare room functions.
THE exceptional DESIGN FEATURES FOR ENTERTAINING
Now that you’ve seen the “must-haves,” here are the design features that elevate your entertaining to the level that wows even the most seasoned visitors.
With each one of these design features, you’ll also see how involved (or not) the upgrade is…
So get honest with yourself about which of these are feasible, and you’ll be ready for a real transformation!!
Seamless Indoor-Outdoor Flow
Guests naturally drift toward the outdoors on nice days, especially here in North Texas!! Indoor-outdoor features like oversized sliding doors or collapsible glass walls will connect your interior entertaining spaces to patios, pools, even firepit lounges, creating that coveted resort-like feel…
Adding this feature can be a major investment, especially if structural changes are needed. But even swapping out a dated door for full-glass French doors can change the entire experience for guests in your home.
If you love backyard parties or you’re constantly setting up overflow seating for events indoors, then it’s time to rethink that threshold between indoors and out.
Just look at this national award-winning indoor-outdoor area and pool cabana we built as inspiration…
Dual Dishwashers (or a Hidden Scullery Kitchen)
Cleanup can break the spell of a great gathering, and what a shame if it’s the last memory guest leave with!! But with a second dishwasher or a concealed scullery, your main kitchen stays pristine while the mess is out of sight.
This kitchen remodel we did in Southlake has a dual-dishwasher setup you’ll LOVE.
This upgrade is best tackled during a full kitchen remodel, but even retrofitting a hidden cleanup zone is possible in larger kitchen layouts…
Layered Seating Zones
Your guests aren’t all the same, so your seating shouldn’t be, either!!
To include layered seating in event set-up, be sure to include bar-height options, lounge seating, and conversational groupings wherever you want people to congregate.
Seating strategy is often a matter of arrangement and selection instead of construction, meaning you can work with a professional interior designer (like me) to layer comfort, traffic flow, and social rhythm.
A Beverage Center That’s Always “On”
A self-serve beverage station empowers guests to help themselves, giving you freedom to host without bartending. This can range from a tucked-away coffee bar to a full wet bar. Smart storage and layout are key.
The best part? Unless you’re craving a full built-in bar set-up, this is a pretty easy upgrade to do on a shorter timeline and without disrupting daily life at all!!
If you’re constantly fielding drink requests or refilling wine, a beverage center belongs on your shortlist…
Strategic Sound Zoning for Private Conversations
Maybe you get the seating right for an event…but is the sound zoning going to properly buffer each neighboring conversation from the next?
To create sound zones, you use furnishings, textures, and layouts to buffer sound naturally. This doesn’t require structural changes…often, it’s a question of strategic planning and product selection. This is another one you can do directly with our interior design team!!
Here’s Your First Step
Now it’s time for you to reveal YOUR hosting priorities with one simple exercise.
Get a pen and paper and jump in!!
This is all about getting clear on how you use your home to entertain. Five steps are all you need to pinpoint which upgrades matter most for YOU…
- Start by writing down every event or gathering you plan to host in the next six months. Include casual get-togethers, out-of-town guests, holidays, and big celebrations.
- Then, next to each, jot down how your home will realistically be used. Where will people gather? Will they stay overnight? What rooms will get the most traffic?
- Now list the BIGGEST friction points from past events. Was cleanup chaotic? Were guests cramped? Did the lighting feel “off?”
- Next, match one potential design improvement from this list above to each friction point. Be HONEST about what change would have made the biggest difference…
- Finally, look at the overlap. If the same feature appears more than once, you just uncovered your top design priority!!
The answer might surprise you…but that’s the magic. What feels like a wish-list item might actually be the secret to seamless hosting for you and more incredible memories for your guests.
Inquire with our team today to see how you can get started!
About the author:
Robin Burrill, RID, NCIDQ, ASID, IDS, CAPS, is an award-winning professional kitchen, bath, and interior designer. Robin and her husband, Robert Mathews, have owned Signature Home Services, Inc. for over three decades, establishing a superior in-house team with a widespread reputation for delivering meticulous design to their many repeat clients.
In 2022, the national publication, Kitchen and Bath Design News magazine, named Robin to their Top Innovator list in recognition of her achievements in the field of kitchen and bath design. In 2024, she was named one of the Fall 2024 Market Pros and “tastemakers” by ANDMORE at High Point Market. Also in 2024, Fixr identified her as one of the Top Professional Interior Designers for their nationwide audience. At the start of 2025, she then acted as one of Dallas Market’s “Style Eyes” at Lightovation and Total Home & Gift Market.
Over her extensive career, Robin has been quoted in Architectural Digest and Forbes multiple times; her design work has been featured in top national trade publications; and she has been interviewed for Designers Today magazine’s “Profiles in Design” video series, among others. Widely respected for the depth of her knowledge, Robin is a sought after speaker and judge for many design industry events.
In 2023, Robin designed a bench for Charleston Forge, making her foray into product design. Robin currently serves as a volunteer on the board of the Dallas/Ft. Worth chapter of the Interior Design Society.
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