If you enjoy having friends and family come for a visit, hosting game nights or social gatherings with friends, and just entertaining at home, it’s nice for the social spaces in your home to help create a comfortable, relaxing atmosphere. If your house is the place to gather, but lack of space or poor layouts are causing you headaches and stress, it may be time to consider some remodeling projects. Here are some remodeling ideas for entertaining at home to help make your future social gatherings less stressful and a lot more fun:

1. Upgrade Your Kitchen

If you enjoy cooking and entertaining at home, your kitchen is likely a hub of activity. If it’s outdated, lacks space, or has a poor layout, it’s likely causing you more stress every time you host a gathering. This is one of the big signs it’s time to remodel your kitchen.

If you love entertaining and you have the space, you can also remodel your kitchen to expand your kitchen layout to include more social gathering areas. A split-level kitchen island with bar seating can provide extra prep space in addition to more counter space and seating for drinks, food, and people to hang out.

2. Create an Open Layout

You can also open up your kitchen layout to include a dining area. An open-concept kitchen provides more space for people to move around and gather. If it works with the structure of your home, you may even be able to knock down an interior wall or two to create a great room that includes your dining area and living room in the open layout. This is one of the popular home renovation trends that can help you get the functional, social, and comfortable space you need inside your home.

3. Finish the Basement

If your basement is currently unfinished, you’re missing out on some valuable space for socializing. Keeping an unfinished basement could be a mistake, especially if it’s hurting your home value and if you need more space for guests.

If your basement is unfinished, or even if it’s finished but not working well for you, renovating it can make a big difference in your home value and your enjoyment of your home. Plus, you’ll get all the benefits of finished basements, including having more space for entertaining at home and usable, livable space for your own use.

There are also plenty of options for renovating or finishing your basement. Depending on your needs, you can design it specifically for gathering by including comfortable seating, a gaming area, a home bar, and more. You could even turn it into a home movie theater.

Check out the video below to see the Zephyr Thomas team remodeling this basement!

4. Add Another Bedroom

If entertaining at home for you also means having people stay overnight or stay for a few days with you, it may make sense to include a basement bedroom and bathroom. This can create additional living space in your home while also adding a little bit of separation and privacy for guests.

This is one of the basement remodeling trends that can seriously upgrade your home while you’re in it and increase the value of your home if you ever want to sell. If you’re not planning to remodel your basement, or you already have other uses for it, and you need more space for overnight guests, think about where else you can add a bedroom.

A room addition can add more living space to your home. If you don’t have any space on your lot to build out, or you have plans for a different type of home addition, you might be able to build up with a second-story room addition or attic conversion to get the space you need.

5. Enhance Your Front Porch

Outdoor living spaces are gathering areas and are perfect for entertaining at home when the weather is nice. A large front porch, a backyard deck, or a patio are classic outdoor living spaces. Improving these areas or adding them are remodeling ideas for entertaining at home that can make a big difference.

If you have an expansive front porch, take some time to look over it and see how you can make it more comfortable. Adding or replacing seating is a good start. Comfortable seating, seating areas built for conversation, and updated decor are easy ways to make your front porch more inviting.

If you need to replace the railings, new railings improve safety and can enhance the look of your porch. At the same time, if your front porch is outdated, damaged, showing too much wear and tear, or just isn’t working for your home, remodeling it can seriously upgrade your home’s exterior, while adding the functional outdoor living space you want.

If you don’t have much of a front porch and want a larger one to be able to make a gathering space, consider renovating the front of your home. If you have the space for it on your lot, you can work with a home improvement contractor to build a new front porch that suits your needs and boost your curb appeal and home value, too.

Check out the video below to see the Zephyr Thomas team creating a front porch with a roof extension for this homeowner!

6. Add a Deck

As with a front porch, switching out the railings on a deck can improve its appearance, while also increasing safety. If you need to replace your deck, it’s a good opportunity to remodel it as well. You can update the materials, deck plan, and more to create the outdoor living space you want.

Multi-level decks allow you to expand and maximize your outdoor space. Elevated decks give you space under the deck to use for storage or other things. If you’ll be opting for a second-story deck, the space underneath it can easily become a covered patio or can be enclosed to create a sunroom. These are all under deck ideas to maximize outdoor space that can seriously boost your home value as well.

In the time-lapse video below, the Zephyr Thomas team builds a deck addition for this homeowner!

7. Upgrade a Patio

Patios are classic and highly customizable outdoor living spaces that can be perfect for entertaining at home. Adding a patio to your home or upgrading a patio provides a beautiful and functional outdoor space for gatherings. This is why adding a patio or remodeling and upgrading your current patio are remodeling ideas for entertaining at home.

The right patio furniture and other features can help you create a comfortable outdoor space. Retractable awnings can let you enjoy the sun out on a patio or have some shade and weather protection when you need it. You can also include space for a grill, outdoor kitchen, and even a table and chairs for outdoor dining. These are all things to consider for a new patio.

Take a look at the video below to see the Zephyr Thomas team replace a patio door and customize a patio for this homeowner!

8. Consider an Outdoor Kitchen

If you love cooking and having people over to share meals, an outdoor kitchen could be one of the perfect remodeling ideas for entertaining at home. Outdoor kitchens are a consistent outdoor living trend. If you already have a deck or patio, you can upgrade what you have in these areas to get the outdoor kitchen functionality you want.

If you’re planning to replace your deck or patio or add one, this is the perfect time to also consider features for an outdoor kitchen. If you’re planning on an outdoor kitchen and dining/social area, then you’ll likely want to opt for a larger deck plan or patio to accommodate the space you need.

You can also consider upgrades like built-in appliances, seating, or storage, extra prep space you might want, and more. Additionally, think about weather protection and shade. Pergolas and patio covers can give you coverage while still allowing airflow. Partial covers, retractable awnings, and shade sails can be good options to help beat the heat on your patio or deck and make guests more comfortable when they are outside.

9. Update Your Outdoor Lighting

Spending time outside when the weather’s nice can be perfect for entertaining at home. As light fades in the evening, it’s important to have the right types of outdoor lighting. This is a home security tip that also helps keep people safe as they navigate your backyard and outdoor living spaces. Outdoor lighting also has a big effect on the ambiance and atmosphere in those spaces.

Fire pits or outdoor fireplaces can be popular and provide some light, but you don’t want to rely on these alone as your light sources. A mix of recessed lighting, post lights, landscape lighting, and more can help you light and illuminate your backyard and outdoor spaces. Adding lighting to the stairs is one of the ideas for deck stairs you can use to better illuminate your deck or other areas that have steps or tripping hazards.

Remodel Your Home For Entertaining With Zephyr Thomas

These are just a few remodeling ideas for entertaining at home to consider for your home. The right remodeling project for you will depend on your home and needs. If you have several projects on your list, starting with the ones that fix the things that bother you the most can help you prioritize home remodeling projects, especially if it doesn’t make sense to do everything all at once.

Partnering with an experienced, reputable contractor can also help. They can get a sense for your wants and needs and help you mix and match the projects on your list with a timeline to best meet your goals. This is one of the many benefits of and reasons to use a whole home improvement contractor. If you’re ready to get started on your next remodeling project, contact Zephyr Thomas at 717-399-4708 to schedule a free estimate!