Be the host with the most in your living room
These days, more than 50% of us are entertaining at home at least once a month, and nearly always in the living room rather than the dining room. That’s partly a reflection of a more relaxed approach to hosting and partly because our homes feature more multi-purpose layouts, such as open-plan kitchens and sitting room-cum-dining spaces, often combined with more diminutive proportions.
Zoning living spaces properly is one of the keys to relaxed, easy entertaining. ‘The secret is to ensure that each space retains its own character, whilst the overall design feels connected and coherent,’ says Sofology’s Head of Buying, Gisela Lancaster. ‘Removing walls is no longer the only option when it comes to re-working our living spaces. Internal Crittall doors and look-throughs into other spaces are a clever way to create cosy areas.’
The upside of moving hosting to the sitting room over a formal dining room is the relaxed atmosphere it produces. Clever arrangements of bench seating, sofas, additional occasional chairs and side tables allow plenty of opportunity for comfortable perching and placing of cocktails and sharing platters.
‘Entertaining should be stress-free, fun and creative,’ says hosting expert and content creator, Matilda Bea. ‘I always try to add a personal touch with monogrammed napkins that guests can take home; generous vases of herbs or foliage dotted around and colourful glassware.’ Drinks trolleys or built-in bars in sitting room alcoves are also game changers – providing both practical storage and a fun talking point.
If your living room also accommodates a dining table, try creating a sense of flow by using tableware that chimes with the colours of your scheme, such as a sofa fabric or a piece of artwork. ‘Robust shapes, rich colour and mixed patterns woven throughout kitchens, dining areas and sitting rooms are currently trending,’ says Gisela. ‘Comfortable upholstery and carefully selected accessories and prints will add charm and a sense of narrative.’
As a nation, we’re slowly dialling down on the traditional ‘dinner party’ and opting for a more democratic gathering of friends. And with 51% of us eating in the living room daily, it looks like the sofa is part of that social change.
