An Entertainers Delight: how to maximise space for entertaining

March 2016

With the increasing trend to entertain at home, there is no longer one room in the house dedicated to gathering friends and family. With more guests, comes the need for more space and the reason why open living is becoming more and more popular.

Whether your house is big or small, the professional designers at The Good Guys have put together ideas for making the most of your space, turning your home the ultimate entertaining pad.

Layout and space

Knowing how you want to use your kitchen makes all the difference when creating the perfect layout for your personal needs – especially if, like many these days, you plan to entertain in the kitchen.

• Open-plan living is all the rage lately. Even in the tightest of areas, an open-plan living can bring your house to life, updating it from the mess of small defined spaces to an integrated home. Combining all your spaces to one big living area, welcomes people in and draws them to the kitchen – the entertaining ‘hub’ of the home.

• Outdoor entertaining is an Australian way of life, integrating the indoor and outdoor provides the perfect balance to maximise space. There are few spaces more beautiful than a seamlessly connected indoor/outdoor area. It creates the illusion of space, while being particularly practical for the entertaining lover.

• The island bench is a stunning focal point in your kitchen, becoming a space not only for functional but also aesthetic features. It is an area that can be used as a place for the kids to do homework, to prepare food or as a gathering place for your guests.

Keeping it compact

If space is something you’re short on, the kitchen designers at The Good Guys have some tips to keeping it compact and maximising your entertaining space.

• Sometimes, we need to create the illusion of space. Mirrored splashbacks are an ingenious way of doing more with less. They will visually expand your space and also bring life, light and add style to your kitchen.

• Having a clutter-free area creates the impression of space, therefore suitable storage is a must. Having a spot for everything will make your kitchen or living space feel vast, and be the perfect place to entertain your guests. Integrated appliances and tall shelving in your kitchen will bring focus to the vertical, which will increase the sense of openness.

Portable additions

There are additions to your entertainer’s paradise that are a must but can often take up too much space. With these compact, portable options you can keep your entertaining space stylish but still feeling like there’s room to move.

• Tall floor-standing speakers are popular due to their compact size and affordable price. They offer an even soundscape and provide an exciting and realistic movie experience, however, you don’t have to compromise on taking up large amounts of space. Sound systems with 5.1 channels are typically plenty for the average audience but increasing them to 7.1 or 9.1 channels can enhance your experience further.

• If space is a limitation in your outdoor area, you may want to opt for a smaller BBQ unit that can be tucked away, leaving more space for guests to enjoy themselves. The Good Guys offer a range of freestanding BBQ’s that can be stored away when not being used or smaller integrated BBQ’s that won’t take up too much of your bench space. Also, for those who love adventure or even a last minute weekend away, compact size grills are perfect; allowing you to pack it up and take it with you.

For more information on The Good Guys products, please visit www.thegoodguys.com.au

-ENDS-

For further information, high-res imagery, product information or expert commentary, please contact:

Jacqui Johnson | Ph: (03) 8643 1623 |

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