In Britain, we love to socialise. In recent years, though, we’ve steered away from heading away from our homes. Reports in 2001 found that over 50% of the UK’s adult population would prefer friends come over to their house to socialise rather than head to a pub or restaurant. In 2017, this figure had massively risen to three quarters of the adult population.
So, why exactly do we like to entertain at home?
Convenience
We’ve all said it: ‘Let’s catch up’. In reality, though, it doesn’t happen. Organising a get-together can often be hard work and fall at the wayside. That’s where home parties come in handy. Unlike many bars, kids are allowed! This means less hassle in needing to find a babysitter if you have little ones as you can just bring them in tow. Great, eh? By organising house gatherings, you can also take it in turns who plays host. That way you continue your social circle without needing to spend too much.
Personal praise
Competition is rife amongst Brits. Gaining the plaudits from our peers can be a real ego booster, no matter how much we deny it. Hosting a good party or gathering can hold you in high esteem within your family our social circle. After all, we all remember who used to hold the best house parties at school, don’t we?
So, how do we go about ensuring our homes are the perfect spot for socialising?
Add a barbecue space
Take a trip to any supermarket when the sun is shining and you’ll find there’s a limited selection of sausages and burgers and empty beers, wines and spirits shelves. Those summer months and lighter late nights give us the perfect opportunity to bask in the fresh air and wine and dine outside. With so many barbecues to choose from, it’s simple — and fun — to pull out the barbecue and cook a feast on the coals (or gas).
Create a seating area
As popular as they may be, beer gardens aren’t everyone’s cup of tea and we prefer staying at home. While we love our lawns, we need a seated area to offer to our guests, especially if food is on the menu. Often, we choose to deck out an area of our garden and composite decking boards is a perfect, low-maintenance option. This allows you to have a designated area for guests to congregate, eat and drink and best of all, it doesn’t take much to clean up afterwards!
Get a hot tub
For several years now, the hot tub craze has been huge in the UK. Despite the dramatic change in weather over the winter, hot tubs can actually be suitable for all-year-round entertaining. In Newcastle, sales were 600% higher in the first four months of 2018 than the whole of the previous year. With prices vastly varying depending on the model and size, the idea of relaxing in the comfort of your personal garden spa is clearly one that appeals.
Create a home bar
A garden bar is another aspect that is becoming increasingly more sought after in the UK. While these can be professionally built huts, some are using their imagination and recycling materials to create a one-off garden bar out of caravans and summerhouses. Imagine being your own landlord and not needing to deal with kicking out time? If you don’t have enough outdoor space, you can buy cheap optics for your kitchen so that, when you offer those spirits, you do so in a quirky manner instead of just heading for the ‘booze cupboard’. After all, we all like to show off our gadgets, don’t we? An impressive alcohol selection will look all the better in a well-presented manner.
Purchase a dining table
With poor weather often threatening to spoil the party, guests must head inside to continue the fun. Some people prefer to eat their dinner in front of the television, and that’s fine. However, a nice dining table can come in extremely handy if you are entertaining guests. Whether it’s for a ‘Come Dine with Me’-effect, sit-down meal, or just to place your buffet snacks and drinks on while people chat away, a table could be a great purchase. Make sure you place it in a space that still allows you to freely navigate around it and doesn’t clutter your room.
So, that’s a quick rundown of how to make sure you make the most of the space you have available and wow your guests with your amazing hosting skills.
