How Remo D’Souza transforms his home into an entertainment zone

Over the last two years, the one thing we learned was that home truly was every place: office, gym, sanctuary. What it wasn’t was a place of entertainment. Now, as we slowly come out of the pandemic and its isolating consequences, and open our doors to friends, this home offers up some great tips to decorate your space as the go-to home for get-togethers.

Add a Bar Cart

This is one of the most useful pieces of furniture to invest in if you enjoy hosting parties. A bar cart takes up little space, so if you have a compact home, it is a better option than a bar counter. More importantly, it allows for a casual vibe where guests can prepare their drinks and you don’t have to be stuck behind a counter.
 

Get Innovative with your Seating Options

Half the battle is won when you go with an open-plan living area. The lack of walls ensures you have more floor space for furniture. But do ensure that the furniture pieces you choose aren’t heavy. That could end up eating up all that free floor space you covet, which allows guests to move about comfortably. Instead, bring in lighter, moveable furniture pieces, apart from the occasional accent chairs that make the right statement. You can pick out a three-seater sofa instead of a two-seater one that’s visually light with slim legs and doesn’t overwhelm the space.
 

Opt for Multifunctional Furniture 

If you feel your relatively compact living room won’t be able to accommodate too much furniture, then pick out pieces that are multifunctional—nesting stools that can be pulled out of coffee tables as seating, a couple of ottomans that can work as seating. Try and create smaller group seating arrangements too—around the dining table, a corner of the sofa and a couple of chairs, even thrown in some large-sized pillows and bolsters on the floor if it’s a casual gathering. The options are numerous.

Make Use of your Balcony

If you have a balcony, regardless of its size, make the most of it. Add in some comfortable seating there—a cane chair, wooden bench or even a swing for one—and some upholstered stools if you have the room. This creates yet another group seating. And if you have plants decorating it, then there’s nothing like some vibrant greens to add a refreshing vibe. You can even string some fairy lights across your balcony railing to enhance the mood.
 

Keep your Décor Minimal, But Interesting

If you are in the habit of entertaining friends at home, it is a good idea to make sure your living space is not too cluttered. In that sense, a minimal aesthetic is the go-to route to take. Too much clutter will just end up getting in the way. But do make sure you have interesting pieces placed around the room—bold artworks, statues and figures (if you have the room) that can be conversation starters, souvenirs from trips, even a statement chair or coffee table to enhance the space. Make use of any vintage pieces you might have to lend interest to the space. If quirky is your thing, then don’t hesitate to let it come through in your décor choices.
 

Get your Game on

The D’Souzas’ at-home pool table is great if you have space and enjoy the game. But if you don’t have the room, board games that can be stowed away in cabinets also work well. If you have some room and interest, a foosball table will ensure there’s never a dull moment. A dartboard in one corner of a room is also a good idea but make sure the backdrop is resilient enough to bare marks from stray darts.