Christmas is the season of socialising, which for many, means weekends spent entertaining guests who managed to shirk off the responsibility. Each gathering will test the flow and functionality of your home – are chairs squeezed in tightly, pushing up against the walls? Can guests easily walk past each other? Do they have to walk through your cluttered laundry to reach the bathroom? If hosting has left you wishing for more space or a different home layout, think about changes you can make or future home designs that support entertaining!

A Hardworking Kitchen

In any Aussie home during Christmas, the kitchen quickly becomes command central. Drinks are poured, meals are prepped, and conversations happen while you’re juggling a million things. When designing a kitchen for entertaining:

• Opt for a generous island that’s perfect for prep, casual dining, and giving guests a place to gather without getting in the way.
• Consider a walk-in pantry or scullery that keeps clutter out of sight and ensures you have space for extra glassware, serving platters, and more.
• Plan traffic flow – multiple access points into the kitchen help avoid bottlenecks when everyone’s trying to get to the fridge, oven, or sink.

Seamless Indoor–Outdoor Living

Australian Christmases are synonymous with the outdoors. That means BBQs, alfresco lunches, and backyard cricket (of course). Your home can support this with:

• Wide sliding or stacker doors that make moving between indoor and outdoor spaces effortless.
• Covered alfresco areas that extend your entertaining space year-round, offering shade from the sun.
• An alfresco located close to the kitchen. Serving food and drinks should be easy, not a trek across the house!

A Functional Layout

Open-plan layouts are popular, but the secret to stress-free entertaining is careful zoning:

• Arrange living, dining, and kitchen areas so guests can move freely without bumping into each other.
• Plan furniture placement while you’re designing your home, not after you move in. You may misjudge the size or shape of certain pieces, meaning they fit awkwardly in your space.

Efficient Storage

Christmas exposes every flaw in your storage. Extra plates, large platters, and decorations can quickly take over your home if there’s nowhere to stash them. Make sure to:

• Include ample storage in or near the kitchen for glassware, cutlery, and serving dishes.
• Plan linen cupboards that can handle spare sheets and towels for overnight guests or decorative linen. 
• Consider where your Christmas tree will live once the season is over. Choose a shelf, cupboard, or dedicated storage spot that keeps it out of the way. After all, it’ll be tucked away for most of the year!

Outdoor Entertaining

We can’t emphasise this enough – outdoor ceiling fans can change the game, particularly on warm evenings with little breeze. When you’re designing your outdoor area, it’s also important to think about things like lighting and power points – do you have speakers or a mini bar that require power? If you entertain a lot during summer, consider installing a built-in BBQ and bar, so you don’t have to go back and forth from the kitchen. Importantly, choose materials that withstand heat, weather, and heavy foot traffic – think durable decking, easy-clean surfaces, and shaded spaces.

Future-Proofing

Your hosting style will evolve over time, especially if you have a growing family. You may be soon hosting birthday celebrations, sleepovers, pool parties, and more, so your home should be easily adaptable. Think about flexible spaces that can change with time, like kids’ playrooms that can transform into a game room or lounge where you can entertain.