The return to normal is coming, we all know it. Someday, possibly in the very near future, we’re going to be spending time with loved ones, inviting people to our homes, having parties, lounging in the backyard with friends and family. We’ll have barbecues. We’ll drink wine, good whiskey or beautiful cocktails while we sit on our lounge chairs, listen to music, laugh at jokes, and soak up light from the sun.

Related: Bring Coastal Dining Home with an Outdoor Kitchen

Someday, we’ll make plans and think nothing of it. We won’t worry about illnesses – our biggest concern will be the guest list and food prep. In other words, it will be a lot more like it was before. And you want to be ready for that day to come.

Recently, you’ve been focusing on home improvements that make your home a comfortable and relaxing place to spend time, but you haven’t been focusing much on guest comfort. That needs to change.

Now is the time to install fixtures, start home improvement projects and buy furnishings that focus on the comfort of the guests you’ll be inviting to your house. You’re going to want a place to put your guests. You’re going to want them to have a comfortable experience in your home. And you’re also going to want to impress them – just a little.

Getting ready to have guests again means improving the parts of the house where guests will spend the most time. The backyard. The pool house. The wine cellar. In this article, we’ll talk about high-value home improvements that can improve your home’s functionality just in time for the end of the pandemic… just in time to see friends again.

Buy Luxury Patio/Pool Furniture

Featuring our 560 Estate Series Sliding Glass Door and 238 Estate Series Picture Window 

Luxury patio and pool furniture makes spending time outside in the sun more rewarding. When you’re purchasing your outdoor patio or pool furniture, gravitate toward cushions that aren’t too light and aren’t too dark, but somewhere in the middle. Light-colored cushions produce glare that can make spending time outdoors uncomfortable, while dark-colored furnishings absorb that hot Florida sun. Ouch!

Patio dining

Buy a patio dining table large enough to accommodate the number of guests you expect to entertain on a regular basis. Make it regal, with sturdy, cushiony chairs that you’ll want to sit in for hours, and a strong table made from durable materials. If your patio dining area is covered, consider a wood table. Synthetic materials are appropriate for uncovered dining locations.

Outdoor lounge area

Gather your friends together at a U-shaped sectional patio sofa, with a coffee table in the middle for holding drinks. Make your outdoor lounge area the focal point of your backyard patio with a large vase of fresh-cut flowers from your garden or a local florist.

Patio umbrella

Patio umbrellas are crucial because they provide shelter from that intense Florida sunlight. Buy a patio umbrella with wheels and an adjustable neck, so you can angle the umbrella to provide whatever shelter you need.

Cabana

For long days spent by the pool, the cabana offers total luxury and comfort. Install at least two cabanas if you entertain regularly, so each party can have its own.

Patio seating

Every patio needs proper seating. Our suggestion? Make your patio seating light-weight enough that it can be easily dragged from one table to another, but not so lightweight that it will blow away during an unexpected storm.

Related: Extend Living Spaces Outdoors—Luxury Poolside Furniture Trends

Build Backyard Guest Quarters

Build a backyard guest house to give your overnight guests somewhere to go at the end of a long day. Make it small enough to be easy to maintain, but keep the space flexible, with several convertible beds, so you can accommodate groups of varying sizes. Some suggestions for installing a backyard guest quarters:

• Know what you want before vetting contractors. Have a discussion with members of your family to ensure that everyone is on the same page.
• Hire a licensed, reputable contractor with good references.
• Sign a contract before getting started on the work.

Related: Cabanas & Pool Houses

Install Stylish Entry and Patio Doors

Featuring our Bifold Door

The entry doors to your home set the tone for those who visit your house. Your front entry door should speak of you and your aesthetic preferences. Install an entry door that is both sturdy and attractive, capable of withstanding the strongest tropical storm but also capable of welcoming your guests from far and wide.

Your patio doors should be the gateway to fun, excitement and relaxation. Most often, patio doors are more glass than any other material. This means it’s more important than ever to ensure that your patio doors are energy efficient and capable of blocking harmful UV and infrared rays that could fade your furniture, raise the temperature in your home and contribute to wear and tear on your HVAC system.

Build a Wine Room

If you’ve got a taste for expensive wine, then you’ll need a space where you can keep that wine in good condition. A wine room is a climate and humidity-controlled environment where you can safely store your most valuable bottles. Most homeowners combine their wine room with a wine lounge for tasting and socializing.

Like the backyard guest quarters, it’s important to hire a licensed contractor to complete the work on your wine room. Get references. Be sure to hire a contractor with experience installing wine rooms in other homes. Look at their portfolio and hire a contractor with a style that matches your tastes.

Install a Custom Bar

Custom millwork can improve the value of your home while also making your house a place where you can enjoy spending time. Install a custom bar – wet or dry, inside or out – to make your house just that much better for entertaining. Some features to consider adding to your custom bar:

• Prep sink for washing glasses.
• Glass-front cabinets to display your best spirits and most beautiful glasses.
• Dynamic cabinet lighting to add functionality and beauty.

Talk to your contractor to get guidance on this issue. Your contractor can help you install a custom bar that will achieve your goals.

Related: A House Built for Entertaining—Using Glass Products in Innovative Ways

Get Started Now

Get started now with your post-pandemic home improvements. It won’t be long before we’re all ready to get together with our friends – and you’re going to want to be ready.