You don’t have to be at home to chat with friends and family online. You can use Google Hangouts to stay connected from anywhere as long as you have access to an internet connection. But sometimes, your favorite hangout spot isn’t ideal. Maybe it has poor lighting or too many distractions.
If there are certain hangouts you always seem to end up in, then it might be time to set up your own hangout space. Here are some ideas for creating a comfortable hangout space that lets you do almost anything (depending on the number of people you invite).
1. Get A Good Couch
The obvious choice is to get a couch, chair, or anything else that will give you more room to spread out. Don’t worry about finding something big; grab any old thing that works.
Once you’ve got your preferred place to sit, put some pillows on top so you don’t need to rest your head on a hard surface; next, turn off all the lights except a tiny table lamp; this little action will help keep things nice and dark, which is helpful if you’re having a video call or are trying to watch TV while chatting.
When you’re ready to start chatting, turn on the light above where everyone will be sitting. You can also turn on the lights on your computer screen to help everyone see each other better. If you’re using a tablet device, you can easily switch between tablet and laptop modes by clicking the “mode” button on the top left corner.
2. Take Advantage of Free Space Around You (For Example, Behind Furniture)
There’s nothing like being able to stretch out and relax while talking with someone. If you have a couch, chair, or bed, try to find an area behind the furniture where you can put a few extra items to add some color and interest. You can even hang a mirror on the wall to reflect different parts of the room onto yourself and others.
3. Make Sure There’s Enough Room To Sit Down And Chat
Even if you already have a good hangout spot, be sure there’s enough room around you to chat comfortably. You may ask a friend to come over and sit next to you. Then you can talk for hours without feeling cramped.
4. Use Blank Walls For Some Fun
While you’re at it, why not decorate the walls with some fun images? You could get a projector and show movies or cartoons. You could also use photos from your phone or camera and print them out on paper to hang up.
Don’t forget to take advantage of the ceiling too. Hang a few balloons or streamers to liven up the mood.
5. Add Color With Decorative Items
You can also incorporate decorative items into your hangout. Try hanging framed artwork or pictures of your favorite sports team or celebrities.
Or, you could buy a bunch of funky hats and wear them during your hangout instead of your regular ones. These little decors will let people know you and hopefully spark new interesting conversations or games.
6. Keep It Simple By Using Just One Chair Or Table
One of the best ways to make a hangout feel cozy is to keep things simple. Instead of adding more pillows to your sitting party, choose a single piece of furniture to serve as your center of attention. For example, you could use a simple wooden coffee table with a comfortable cushion.
Instead of bringing everyone to a new location, invite everyone to join you right where you are. Of course, you’ll want to make sure everyone feels welcome to do this. Otherwise, you may find that your hangout becomes less fun due to awkwardness.
7. Consider Adding In-Flight Entertainment
Some airlines now offer free entertainment for passengers on long flights. You can watch movies and shows and play games on your seatback screens.
Of course, this only makes sense if you’re still on a plane. Otherwise, you’ll probably want to bring your favorite entertainment devices, such as a Samsung projector, a laptop, or a tablet.
8. Turn On The Lights so that Everyone Can See Each Other Better
Another way to improve your hangout experience is by ensuring everyone can see each other. You can do this by taking a couple of minutes before starting your hangout to check the brightness levels on your monitor and adjust them if needed.
Then, once everything is working properly, turn the lights on in your hangout area.
9. Be Willing To Experiment
Sometimes the most straightforward solutions aren’t the easiest to implement. When setting up a hangout, think of all the possible ways it could go wrong. Then, be willing to experiment until you find the solution that works best.
For example, if you want to give everyone a chance to see each other clearly, you might want to try turning on the lights from across the room rather than directly overhead. You might also consider adding a little color or decoration to your hangout space.
10. Go Into Virtual Reality!
Virtual reality (VR) is quickly becoming a popular way to interact with others. You can try out VR apps if you want something cool to do during your hangout. These allow you to virtually walk around environments, which is a lot of fun when you can feel like you’re there.
If you’d prefer to spend more time chatting with your friends, you can watch videos together inside virtual worlds like Second Life.
This list wasn’t exhaustive, but hopefully, these tips will help you create your own hangout space. What kinds of hangouts would you like to host? Share your thoughts below!
10 Ideas on How to Set Your Own Comfortable Hangout Video
[videopress U8pRoet4]After working or studying so hard, you deserve some time to unwind. You do not need to splurge out on a trip to a holiday resort, though. Instead, you can try to invite your friends to come over and do something fun.
Since your friends will come to hang out, you must prepare. You do not want to bore them, do you? Thus, we have summed up these 10 ideas on how to set your own comfortable hangout. As always, Simphome presents you with the list.
10. Invest in a Comfortable Seat and Chic Coffee Table
You might be thinking about embellishing your living room when endeavoring to impress your friends. Before purchasing new wallpaper and some accessories, you need to ensure the ultimate comfort by investing in a plush, unfussy sofa.
This sofa lacks details. However, it ensures that any user will get the ultimate comfort. Besides, a comfortable ambiance is all that you need if you want to maintain conversations.
If you think a plush, linen sofa is a bit boring, you can add textured long chairs. This way, you can enrich the look of your living room by incorporating textural elements.
Then, bring in a round coffee table to give a laid-back vibe. Finally, lay a handwoven rug to kick it up a notch.
9. Add some Fun Features
Another place to hang out at home is the backyard. It does not matter if it is not large. You can still discover coziness despite the limited space if you can arrange it well.
As a good rule of thumb, you must invest in cozy seating to create a comfortable hangout in your backyard. Consider adding a fun feature, such as a porch swing or hanging chair.
A porch swing or a hanging chair will add comfort and fun instantly. Besides, it can make a great additional seat. Most importantly, everyone would love to sit and lounge on it while shooting the breeze.
8. Incorporate a Pool Table into the room
You have set comfortable seating for your friends and family. Do you think creating a fun place to hang out is enough? No!
Your friends come over to hang out to do something fun. The situation will soon become mundane if you only rely on idle chatter. Therefore, you need to provide a fun activity that you can do to blow off steam, like playing pool.
Investing in a pool table is worth the money because it is fun to do while hanging out. Thus, it is a perfect addition to your dedicated hangout room.
7. Hangout Space Ideas for Teens
The basement can also be a perfect hangout space if you arrange the furniture and entertainment well. Besides, your teens will feel delighted because they finally have a dedicated room to chat without worrying about Mom and Dad eavesdropping on them.
After finishing the basement, you need to create comfortable seating. It has to be cozy and sturdy furniture because teens and kids tend to sprawl. It will be better if you can convert it into beds in case some friends want to sleep over.
These seats, for example, are perfect for a dedicated hangout room in the basement. They will hold their shape because of the polyurethane foam. More importantly, you can arrange them in several ways, making them highly versatile.
Besides comfortable seating, you must also incorporate entertainment, such as Xbox, TV, and stereo equipment, into this hangout space. You will also require a piece of furniture to hold them well and fit the vibe of the seats.
6. Let Them Grab Some Snacks
For this reason, you must provide sufficient snacks and beverages. You might think about healthy munch, like steamed broccoli or fresh fruit. The truth is kids and teens only want to enjoy their time and have fun. Therefore, chips, popcorn, and soda will do.
The same happens when you invite your adult friends to hang out with you. But you can impress them this time by investing in a mini bar in your living room. Then, stock it with many foods and beverages so they can grab them fast when needed.
5. Create a new Ambiance
Another thing that can ensure comfort in a hangout space is the lighting.
The lighting you use in the hangout space does more than just illuminate the room. It creates an ambiance. Therefore, you need to be thoughtful when selecting the best lamps.
You may want to install the lighting that allows you to see everyone clearly, but it must not be as bright as an interrogation room. For this reason, you need to consider placing the lamps fastidiously. You can also use a medium-wattage or dimmable overhead light to do the trick.
In addition to the proper lighting, consider playing the right music to create the ambiance. The top-notch way to do it is to learn your guests’ favorite music. Make sure you play it at a modest volume to create background noise for an enjoyable conversation.
4. Add a new Spot for Lounging
Another fun thing you can add to your backyard is a hammock.
A hammock allows any user to lounge on or even take a nap like a swing chair. It is a perfect spot to relax while lounging with a book and enjoying the cool breeze.
If your backyard is low-maintenance, with no trees to set the hammock, you can still invest in a chaise lounge, which is perfect for sunbathing.
3. Let’s Sit around the Fire Pit
Relaxing in the backyard at night is a nice thing to do. You can do a lot of fun activities, such as singing, playing the guitar, telling scary stories, or stargazing while sitting around the fire pit.
Unfortunately, finding the best seat to accommodate everyone around the fire pit is difficult. Thus, you need to make this bench.
To make this bench, you will need pressure-treated lumber; 1×6 for the seating, 4×4 for the legs, and 2×6 for the framing. You will need five 6-inch exterior lag bolts to attach backrest braces.
2. Build an Outdoor Getaway
Suppose you have a spacious backyard, congratulations! You can create an outdoor getaway in it where everyone, especially your kids, can blow off some steam.
This backyard, for example, has many things that kids and teens need to have fun. You can find a skate ramp that enables your kids to soar into the sky. Next to it is a tree house that allows them to explore their imagination. (Here’s on How to Build a Skateboard Quarter Pipe Ramp)
Lastly, Number 1. Create a portable Movie Lounge
Creating a movie lounge at home is also perfect, especially if you and your family are movie addicts.
The main attraction of this kind of hangout space is the media wall. You need a large projector screen to get the best view. Also, consider painting the wall black to dim the area around the screen, providing the cinematic ambiance.
Although a cinematic lounge can be anywhere in your house, it would be better to place it in your basement or a room with access to the backyard.
In conclusion;
So, those are ten ideas on how to set your own comfortable hangout that has proven that relaxing does not require spending much money on a plane ticket and hotel. Without those, you can still enjoy your free time with your friends even if you only have a rental home.
References:
10. Pinterest.co.uk
9. Houzz.com
8. Extraspace.com
7. Momof6.com
6. Ashleyhomestore.ca
5. Mydecorative.com
4. Bhg.com
3. Abeautifulmess.com
2. Housebeautiful.com
1. Decorilla.com