Beyond providing a roof over our heads, homes come in all shapes and sizes, and several serve as event venues or filming locations. They come with all the regular rooms you’d expect to find in a house, including living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, dining rooms, bathrooms, foyers/entryways, offices/workspaces, garages/outbuildings, outdoor patios, and decks.
Many property owners rent out these rooms for various purposes, whether for filming or events, like family reunions, backyard weddings, product stagings, and social parties. A spacious living room can serve as a perfect venue for casual parties or cozy get-togethers; here, guests can easily move around to chat.
Most residences are also typically furnished with comfortable couches and chairs and have ample space for guests to mingle. Many also have a dedicated outdoor space for barbecues and games. In several cases, a home space can be converted into a fully equipped studio that’s perfect for photo shoots.
The kitchen is a multi-purpose area and it can accommodate both food preparation and also double as a serving area. In the case of content production, a kitchen is a suitable filming spot for cooking shows. On the other hand, living rooms and bedrooms are great for filming interior scenes in a movie or music video or as backdrops for a lifestyle photoshoot.
A home space is the perfect event venue for an intimate and memorable birthday party. These spaces are flexible enough to make room for festive decorations, catering, and fun activities like karaoke or board games. Guests can lounge around the living room, make use of the backyard or garden area, or watch movies together in the living room. With so many rental options available, it's easy to create an unforgettable experience for everyone.
A dinner party is one of the most classic occasions that can take place at a home. Hosts can either provide all the food themselves or have guests bring side dishes and desserts for a potluck-style experience. For extra entertainment, have live music or schedule activities like trivia games.
Family reunions or holiday gatherings are special occasions that can be held in a home setting. With enough room for everyone, activities like board game tournaments, outdoor sports, team-building exercises, and more can take place in the spacious outdoor area. Many rentable spaces feature amenities like grill stations, fire pits, and swimming pools that guests can use.
A wedding shower lets a couple celebrate their upcoming wedding with their close family and friends. This casual event can be held inside a residential space, which has enough room for activities like bridal bingo, gift-opening games, and more. This is also the perfect space to hire a private chef or a caterer to cook and serve scrumptious meals for your group.
Pay attention to what amenities are available in the home space and how they could contribute to the success of your event. This includes features like a fully-stocked kitchen, electricity access, bathrooms, and other facilities needed for your function to run smoothly. Make sure that there are enough outlets for your equipment, in the case of filming or using the backyard or garden area.
The size and layout of a potential home venue also dictate what kind of function would work best in that particular location. For example, an open concept space with no walls separating rooms, could be great for networking events or mixers where a large group of people needs to move around and interact with one another easily. Alternatively, if there are separate rooms, then this could be better suited for smaller overnight gatherings such as family dinners or birthday parties.
Depending on the type and style of the occasion, certain features like lighting fixtures and color schemes create either an inviting atmosphere or an intimidating one. The overall décor indicates whether the residence would be suitable for a corporate event such as a launch party, business meeting, or cocktail hour versus a more casual get-together like a housewarming party or BBQ.
Last but not least, choose an accessible location. This means checking if there are parking spaces available and public transportation options nearby so that guests can travel without any issues. It is also important to think about accessibility features; if someone has limited mobility due to age or physical disability, then having ramps or elevators installed could make all the difference.
Decorate the space with plants or soft lighting to give off a warm vibe. However, avoid overdecorating and make sure that your decorations don’t cause clutter or obstructions within walking paths.
Food is often the one thing that people look forward to at a party, which is why it's important to serve dishes that guests can enjoy. If it's a formal dinner party, you can hire a caterer who can provide a three-course meal with multiple options for each course. For more casual occasions like game or movie nights, you can easily serve finger foods or light snacks. Chips, popcorn, cheese and crackers, and fruit platters —your options are endless!
Make sure to have plenty of drinks available for your guests throughout the night, including both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages for those who don’t partake in drinking alcohol. Consider having water bottles available or offering coffee and tea after dinner as an extra courtesy to your guests.
To keep everyone entertained, schedule activities that you can do together and have some music playing in the background. Have board games on hand in case conversations start to lag, but also incorporate activities where they can get up and move around. Ask them if they could help out with setting up mini-tournaments amongst each other!
Candles and string lights are your best options in creating an intimate mood within a space. The diffused lighting allows everyone to feel comfortable socializing and not overwhelmed by bright overhead lights. For entertainment, play some music through the speakers or have a wonderful movie night with Netflix.
Though not a traditional event space, residential homes can be transformed into unique spaces or creative venues with a few modifications, such as incorporating stylish decor and essential amenities like sound systems and lighting. Special events such as birthday parties, holiday parties, fundraisers, baby/wedding showers, and wedding receptions are some of the types of functions that work best in this kind of event venue.
Whether you’re in San Diego, Las Vegas, New York, or anywhere in the US (or around the globe), there’s sure to be a perfect space for your next event. Begin your search by checking out websites that allow you to look through various listings in an area. Make sure to read reviews and contact the property host for any additional information you may need.