With the world slowly opening up again and people starting to have social events, more and more people are considering ways to improve their entertainment skills. Of course, one of the main factors when it comes to hosting a successful party or event is to have a good entertainment area. Sure, you could just socialize wherever: in your living room or garden, but it is nice to have a dedicated area where you can entertain your guests. The first step is to find this area by asking yourself: do you usually have indoor or outside events? Where is there enough space for your guests? Once you’ve found the ideal location, follow these simple tips to make it the entertainment area that everyone will be talking about.
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Decorate it
While most people won’t be scrutinizing your interior design skills when you’re having them over, decorations can go a long way when making your entertainment area stand out. After all, decorations play a big role in creating the vibe and atmosphere you want in your entertainment area. Do you want it to be fancy? Cozy? Or maybe very relaxed? Whatever the look you’re going for is, stick to that right through when decorating. It’s also a good idea to personalize the decorations. For example, if you or your partner were in the Marines, you can add Marines signs to give it a personal touch.
Space
Cramped parties are not fun, so you should consider this when choosing a location for your entertainment area, as well as furniture. If the entire room is filled with bulky furniture, your guests won’t be able to move around comfortably. If you don’t have a lot of space, consider placing your furniture in such a way that it’s easy to move out of the way as the evening progresses. You never know – your guests may want to have a makeshift dancefloor.
Have cool lights
Parties tend to go one of two ways in terms of lighting. Either the lights stay on all the time, which can often ruin the vibe, or they stay off, which leaves people trying to get around in the dark. As you can probably tell, neither of these options is ideal. Luckily, there are ways to get around it, if you’re willing to play around with different lighting options. Dim lights are a great way to get the lighting just right; not too bright, and not too dark. You can also play around with strobe lights. The truth is that there are many different lighting options, so you just need to look around until you find something that works for you. You can click here for some unique lighting ideas.
Sound system
If you have a lot of people over, you’re going to want to play music. But you’re going to need to play it loud enough to be heard over everyone’s talking. That’s why it’s a good idea to invest in a proper sound system, especially if you’re someone who entertains a lot. You may also want to consider getting a big screen for your entertainment area. This way, you can have people over to watch sports games, or to sing karaoke.
Snacks
When you’re having guests over, you’re going to want to provide them with snacks. These usually come in the form of appetizers, which you make the day of your event. However, it’s a good idea to always keep some non-perishable snacks in your entertainment area for your guests to enjoy. Some snacks that are sure to please nearly everyone include chips, chocolate, candies, and nuts or dried fruit for the health-conscious. You can also have a mini-fridge with drinks for your guests to enjoy. This way, people won’t have to constantly get up and leave the entertainment area every time they want something to eat or drink.
Games
It may sound a bit old-fashioned, but it’s a good idea to be stocked up on games when your guests come over. This way, if there’s ever a lull in conversation or things start to get a bit too boring for your liking, you can keep your guests entertained and liven things up a bit. The games don’t need to be board games – although they are great for if the power goes out. You can have electronic games, or even download an app on your phone.
Comfortable seating
Even if you’re having a dinner party, you can’t expect your guests to sit at the table in stiff or uncomfortable chairs all evening. That’s why you should make sure that you have comfortable seating, such as soft chairs or couches. It’s also important to make sure you have enough seating for all your guests. If you need cheaper options for larger events, you can buy some beanbag chairs or folding chairs to go alongside your couches. It’s also a good idea to consider who the people you invite most often are – for example, if the majority of your friends are tall, you may want to get furniture for tall people.
Have an outdoor area
If possible, try to have some kind of outdoor area close to your entertainment area, even if the entertainment area itself is indoors. This is nice because it allows your guests to take a break and get some fresh air, without straying too far from the party. It also allows some privacy if someone wants to talk to someone else without the noise of the party.
Have a food preparation area
This isn’t a must, but if you are able to make your food in the entertainment area, it’s sure to be a lot of fun for everyone. Of course, you can’t make a three-course meal in your entertainment area. We’re talking about a more relaxed meal – for example, you could have a barbeque in your entertainment area. Another option is to have a pizza oven installed. If you allow your guests to make their own pizzas, it serves a dual purpose: the food is taken care of, and your guests are entertained and having fun.
What if you want an indoor-outdoor entertainment area?
Some homeowners take it to the next level and decide to create an indoor-outdoor entertainment area. Obviously, the tips above still apply, but some aspects will come into play as well.
Keep the floor flowing
If you want to create an indoor-outdoor entertainment area, you should select flooring for the outdoor space that is the same or complementary to the flooring in the indoor room. This consistency will help the space flow together and make the exterior room have an extension feel.
Consider travertine as paving stone as it’s long-lasting and beautiful for both indoor and outdoor use. Etched concrete is also a good choice for inside and outside the house.
If you don’t have the budget/intention to replace the current flooring inside, you might opt for paving stones to create an adjacent outdoor space.
The variety of colors and styles that you can find for paving stones is generous. You will have a perfect chance to select the paving stone most suited for your home’s décor and architecture, whether it’s colonial, traditional, Mediterranean, modern, or ranch style.
Connect the spaces with movable walls and large doors
If you want to create a visually appealing indoor-outdoor entertainment area, you need to connect both spaces. It’s crucial for how people feel when stepping from inside your house into the yard. Having said that, we should highlight that you should always opt for a big opening.
If your wallet isn’t thin, you can consider replacing the exterior wall with a folding window wall. Bi-fold doors, accordion doors, oversized pocket doors, or lift-and-slide patio doors are also excellent choices. You will obtain a large opening with little to no barriers for a better flow.
The most affordable option is French doors, especially if your budget is tight and the space is somewhat on the small side. Sliding doors are also cheap, even though they won’t create the seamless transition you want from the indoor space to the outdoor one.
Many people will feel that they go into a backyard if you install a sliding glass door. Plus, only half of the door space allows opening, whereas the other half reminds of a large window. You will have a barrier between the two areas.
Should you opt to install large sliding French doors that open from the middle, you obtain the most attractive opening to connect the indoor and outdoor of your home.
Choose the best place for the outdoor kitchen
If your budget is generous, you might consider installing a patio kitchen in your yard; do it especially if you entertain outdoors regularly. On the other hand, if you want to have a fluid indoor-outdoor entertainment area, the best place for the outdoor kitchen is near the indoor kitchen. This way, you will be able to take food and beverages back and forth between the two. It’s a wise placement when you prefer to prep the ingredients inside and cook them outside on the barbecue grill.
When the indoor and outdoor kitchens share a wall, installing a pass-through/bar in the common wall is practical to ease the transport of drinks and food and connect the two spaces.
If it’s rather tricky to put the patio kitchen door for effortless access, you should consider a rolling bar cart. It will be a lot easier for you to carry the food to the grill or give your guests some drinks.
What are the benefits of entertainment areas?
If you’re still sitting on the fence about whether you should create an entertainment area at home or not, keep on reading. The main benefits of having such areas inside/outside your home come next.
It’s great for family get-togethers
When you have a distinct space for parties, it’s easy to spend quality time with your family. You can add an air-conditioner/heater to improve the comfort when spending time outside, regardless of the weather conditions.
Now that you’re determined to renovate the outdoor space, you can install swings and slides. Kids will have a lot more fun and will consume their energy. Plus, you won’t have to worry about their safety all the time.
It has aesthetic value
When you add a gazebo, patio, or deck to your home, you can be sure that your home will be more appealing to guests and neighbors. A properly designed outdoor entertainment will help your house even stand out in the neighborhood.
If you’re blessed with a generous budget and space, you can add a pool and a deck. They will take your parties to a whole new level and even save you money in the long run. You will no longer have to rent a space for social events and parties. Now you can have the birthday party by the pool that your kids have constantly been nagging you about.
It increases your home’s value
Entertainment areas such as basketball court, barn, gazebo, or poolside setup installed in your yard will make clients interested in your property and add value to the selling price. It seems that 72% of the money you spend for better-looking outdoor space is gained back as resale value.
At the end of the day, you want an entertainment area inside/outside your house to have lovely times with your friends and family. You can have fun in the comfort of your home and save money that you would typically lose by renting a location.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s considered a house entertainment area?
Should you have a generous space in your home and a nicely sized budget, you can create an entertainment area at home. Home theater, game rooms, or any space used for amusement or play are defined as entertainment areas.
Any place that is made for fun activities in your home is considered to be an entertainment area. It’s the place where you have a pleasant time with your friends and family.
How much does it cost to turn the backyard into an entertainment area?
Expect to pay anywhere from $15,000 to $50,000 on average for a complete backyard renovation. When the backyard renovation is limited to a modest remodeling, with new sod, bushes, and plants, you will need around $5,000. Should you have the budget, you can easily spend more than $100,000 for backyard renovation. A lounge area, outdoor kitchen, pool, and patio might be on the spending list.
Should you get a stylist to create an entertainment area?
We recommend you hire a stylist when designing the entertainment area. A creative and reliable stylist will know how to work with the space and give you the desired location according to your budget and limitations. Great stylists have fantastic communication with their clients and stay updated on the industry’s latest trends.
Do people still like theater rooms?
Even if many homeowners still opt for home theater, others decide to go with media rooms. It’s pretty standard for homeowners today to renovate a living room/an old game room and install a flat-screen TV, comfortable seating, and a surrounding sound system.
What’s the difference between a theater and a media room?
The media room works as a centralized meeting area to watch shows, sports games, or listen to music. While home theaters have limitations in location, functionality, and outside noise, that doesn’t happen with media rooms. Media rooms have many functions and welcome many activities for social interaction.
