Best kitchen designs and features for entertaining

When entertaining, the one nightmare of the night is always wine glass rings that get left on your furniture. If you're hoping to have guests over a lot, investing in easy to wipe kitchen countertops can be invaluable to your clean-up process – so opt for granite, or laminate work surfaces.

You want your kitchen to look its best when having guests over, so sleek and well-placed appliances are a must. If cooking is part of your entertaining process, then a high-quality oven will benefit you to no end; allowing you to get your food out on time and have it cooked to perfection.

Any appliances that you will leave out on the countertops should be well placed and coordinate with your kitchen decor. When designing your kitchen for entertaining, take a look at where the plug outlets are and make sure you set up your appliances to ensure nothing will be in the way of you and your guests having a good time.

Getting creative with your seating arrangements can be a real help when entertaining, as letting tired feet rest will mean no complaints and more drinks!

A great way to incorporate seating into your kitchen is with an island. It'll create further storage, act as a barrier behind which you can prepare food and also double as a stylish seated bar! Look at designer ranges which offer some great island seating options; perfect for entertaining.

Ensuring you have adequate kitchen storage space is extremely important for hosting guests. You will need ample table space, so you can't afford to have your kitchen cluttered with extra bowls and plates that are waiting to be used. By making sure you've got enough cupboard space for all your crockery and food, you can keep your tables clear and your guests happy. You should also consider the tableware, cutlery and crockery that you use and ensure you have enough for all your guests; miss-matched knives, forks and plates never look good.

U-shaped and L-shaped kitchens are amongst the best kitchen layouts for entertaining, as they create lots of floor space for both the host and guests. An open plan kitchen allows for more guests to relax and enjoy– especially if you incorporate a kitchen diner into the mix.Don't let your kitchen get in the way of your dinner parties. With these few simple changes, you could be ready to host guests at the drop of a hat, all year round! It's all about ease when entertaining, so you need to make sure you and your guests are relaxed. So, whatever your choice of kitchen design, make sure it is easy and accessible to get around and you'll be good to go! For more ideas on how to create a kitchen for entertaining, try our free, online kitchen planner.