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Kitchens today are often open-plan living areas with the dining table and sofa area alongside the kitchen units, so it is only natural that the kitchen has become the main area within your home to entertain guests. As kitchens are no longer hidden away behind closed doors, you\u2019re sure to want to make your kitchen a stylish and unique space for hosting.

Here are some tips for making your kitchen the perfect entertaining hot spot:

Opt for open plan

An open plan kitchen provides the ideal space for entertaining at home - you can still talk to your guests as you cook dinner or prepare drinks, without having to keep rushing back and forth for another bottle of wine or to prepare dessert.

The ultimate living, cooking and dining space, if you don\u2019t already have an open plan kitchen and the structure of your home allows, why not knock down a wall to open up your kitchen space? If you can\u2019t knock down a wall completely, knock down the wall halfway and create a breakfast bar with the remaining half. This makes the ideal entertaining space to host drinks or a casual dinner.

If your kitchen is large enough, two islands will let you host in style, with one island for preparing food and the other for bar stools and drinks. This keeps the traffic flowing outside the preparation area without isolating you from your guests. Make sure there is enough space for your guests to mingle in between.

Floor to ceiling glass leading directly into your outside space is ideal for parties as you can instantly create an inside and outside space for your guests.

You will also need an area to hide away clutter to transform your everyday kitchen space to an entertainment area. The old-fashioned pantry is now a key kitchen design trend - it \u00a0has come back into style, but with updated looks, contemporary finishes and sharp lines.

Choose standout seating

Whether you opt for a striking dining table with matching chairs for your dining space or you prefer to keep it casual with bar stools, your choice of seating is must for entertaining in style.

Comfort within your kitchen is also a priority when you\u2019re hosting guests. If you have the space, a plush sofa in your open plan kitchen is a must \u00a0- sink into it with a glass of wine for a good chat with your guests at the end of the night. If you have a kitchen table with benches, add soft scatter cushions for entertaining.

Make sure you have enough seating for everyone, so your guests can sit down when they choose and also get together for a catch up if they prefer.

If space is at a premium, folding stools, chairs or multi-purpose pouffe stools are the ideal seating choice.

Add statement lighting

Kitchen designers are moving away from spotlights and adding statement lighting to kitchens to add a level of stylish sophistication. Low hanging pendant lights are popular over kitchen islands and bar areas and chandeliers are an eye-catching addition for a more glamorous look when you\u2019re entertaining in the evening.

The lighting in your kitchen needs to be adaptable as well as attractive. By day you need practical, bright, shadow-free light for cooking and working, with the lights need to change in the evening for a more intimate, relaxed atmosphere. Planning the positioning of your lighting is also key.

Voice controlled lighting via your Alexa and lighting which you can change the colour to suit the mood are also fun additions to your kitchen. Wi-Fi enabled light bulbs and strips can be controlled via your smartphone and you can also link up your lighting to a dimmer so that you can guide your guests out of the kitchen when it\u2019s time for post-dinner drinks in the garden.

Creative lighting touches include back-lighting a glass splashback which changes colour, or using LED tape under work surfaces \u00a0for a continuous lighting effect. You can also include floor lighting under your units which looks particularly striking under a central island on legs as it will appear to \u2018float\u2019 when evening comes.

Reduce the noise

The difficulty with open plan kitchens with hard floors and marble work surfaces is that your guests might find it hard to talk above echoes in a larger space. Appliances can also prove to be noisy in an open plan space, so it is wise to choose quieter appliances such as dishwashers and washing machines which are designed to reduce sound.

Choose on-trend appliances

Many people like to show off a new appliance and there are certainly some on the market with the \u2018wow\u2019 factor. Some appliances simply look good and offer a strong design statement - for example Smeg fridges always exude retro style that never dates.

Alternatively, impress your guests with technology - the \u2018Smart Kitchen\u2019 trend is set to continue to grow with The Internet of Things and artificial intelligence connecting appliances to the web.

Ultimately, home entertaining is all about creating the image that everything is effortless, when actually you are putting in an immense amount of effort behind the scenes! New kitchen technology is designed to make your life easier as host. \u00a0

A waste disposal unit in your sink will allow you to dispose of food waste quickly and easily in front of your guests. There\u2019ll be no need to put them off their dinner by scraping the waste scraps into a food caddy or your kitchen bin.

A smart oven will alert your phone when your dinner is cooked to perfection so that you don\u2019t have to interrupt your conversations to keep checking if its ready. A smart cleaner is the ultimate way to tidy up after a dinner party - it simply moves around the floor cleaning up spills.

Look for luxury surfaces

A new kitchen work surface will instantly add some glamour to your kitchen, ideal for entertaining. There are so many luxurious looking finishes available. You can choose from coloured or glittery surfaces, to sophisticated black and white or traditional marble.

There are also gemstone surfaces on the market for a different look. You can create a statement with a kitchen island where the sides are made from gemstone, or opt for a kitchen bar to serve drinks.

Choose sociable additions

There are so many additions you can incorporate into your kitchen to impress when you\u2019re entertaining.

A wine cooler will show off your collection and keep your bottles chilled to perfection. Full scale models make an impressive statement as they are designed to be seen and admired. Just remember to keep it topped up!

The Siemens IQ700 coffee centre with Home Connect will also impress guests and make your life easier as host. Simply pass your phone to your guests after your meal so they can add their favourite coffee to the Home Connect Coffee Playlist and the appliance will prepare it.

A flat-screen television is essential for entertaining - you can stream your favourite playlist or centre your party around a sporting event.

Artwork also creates a talking point in your kitchen - whether it is a large scale painting or print, or a trendy neon sign. Alternatively choose Niio, a hub for digital art and videos that you can display on screens around the kitchen to wow your guests.

If you love to entertain, designing your kitchen as a sociable space is a must, allowing you to be part of the action with your guests and creating party memories that your guests won\u2019t forget. A well-planned kitchen designed for entertaining will help you to become the perfect host.

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How to design the perfect kitchen for entertaining