Guide To Entertaining in a Small Space
If you've ever felt like you can’t invite more than one singular person to your home, due to lack of space, this one’s for you! The average amount of square footage per adult in the U.S. is right about 600. You are not alone and I can promise you there is a community surrounding this topic of entertaining in a small space. So, welcome to the best guide where I’ll tell you all my success and failure stories, to hopefully lead you to confidence in your small space hosting abilities.
Move that Furniture!
For this one, I’m going to need you to channel your inner teenage self who would rearrange their room at 2 AM just because you could and thought it might be just the slightest bit life-changing. Well, your small space function may just BE life-changing.
Step one is to see the vision! Look around and find ways you can push furniture against walls or into other rooms. The biggest obstacles are usually the couch and the kitchen table. Get creative, but also don’t overcomplicate it. You won’t be able to make your space double in size, but you have the ability to make it a lot more comfortable.
Depending on what you’re entertaining or who you are hosting, you can get creative with your space. For example, you could move the kitchen table chairs into the living space and then use the table strictly for food and drink items for your guests to grab.
Also, don’t be afraid of tapping into other rooms throughout your small space. There is a reason your mom made you clean your room from top to bottom when she was hosting a dinner party! Sometimes your guests might want a more low-key moment at the function anyway, so open the bedroom door and make it look like a gathering place. Some added chairs and even some games laid out could do the trick!
Keep It Simple
There is nothing I love more than shoving my mess under my bed or in a closet, so you should, too! Less clutter or even just fewer items visible in a small space can make a world of difference.
My first stop would be the counters! YUCK COUNTER CLUTTER! Get rid of that fruit bowl, toaster, air fryer, coffee pot… literally everything needs to be gone.
Next move onto the living room– decor in particular. Do you really need your guests to see that little hand-carved cow figurine you got on your one trip to Switzerland? The answer is no, they don’t. So clear the coffee tables, clear the mantle, clear the TV stand. I promise that when you clear just a few things out, your space (and probably your mind, too) will feel so much clarity.
Finally, your bedroom and bathroom. Again, these are probablyn’t your favorite spaces to deal with hosting, but be mindful of what you leave out, especially the personal stuff! All those toiletries can be put away, and so can those dirty clothes.
Food & Drink Choices
Now don’t be surprised when I say this… charcuterie board. But what I mean is easy refreshments. Unless you are planning a dinner party (which I know you’re planning an edgy, aesthetic event), then keep the food and drink choices limited and light! We want to think small paper plates, small cups, small spreads, etc.
Some great food options do, in fact, consist of charcuterie boards, but you can also do flatbread pizzas, a mini sandwich bar, or a dip flight (or any flight your heart desires, for that matter). We want to think more snack vibes for this for a few reasons: easy prep, easy consumption, and easy clean up. Please don’t stress yourself out over the food; it’s just not worth it.
For drinks, we will not be making anything elaborate. Remember, we are entertaining in a small space, and drinks take up space – in the fridge, on the counter, etc. Get some easy-to-grab cans! That way, we don’t have to deal with liters of beverages and all the cups that will take up space. Because also – who doesn’t want a crisp Diet Coke in the can? And one final thing… ice! I know your little fridge either doesn’t make ice or won’t have enough. So just get yourself a nice block of ice to have on hand to put drinks in a tub of ice, or if you don’t listen to my advice, use it to put in cups with the beverages.
The Vibe is the Event, Not the Space
This is your PSA not to be embarrassed by your small space! Not all apartments are created equal, which is why you are going to make it a vibe, so the space will be irrelevant. There are many things we can do here to create the small space party aesthetic, but I’ll just give you my favorites!
Lighting!! Utilize every lamp in your house, please. Soft lighting will seriously make a huge difference and create that ambiance and coziness we are looking for. You can also get some cheap fairy lights or even Christmas lights to add more soft lighting if your lamps aren’t doing the most.
Next is music. I’m pretty sure I’ve never had a bad time at an event where the music was good. So, take that little bit of extra time to make the event playlist. You could even take the next step to making it a shared playlist, or stalking your guest’s playlist to make sure to hit everyone’s vibe.
Finally, there are a few more little additions that will enhance the overall vibe and experience. Getting small trays that can be versatile will level up the scale of the event, while also making some of the functionality pieces of the apartment easier. With that, we don’t want trash to ruin the vibes, okay. Let’s make sure we have an easy trash system, while I may suggest a trash can in each room. This will prevent people from leaving trash out and from CLUTTERING the space. No, thank you. This small space entertainment vibe is chic, classy, and CLEAN.
Big Memories, Small Spaces
At the end of the night, people will remember the memories they make, not the space they took up! Hosting in a small space will be nowhere near perfection, but it is about connection and presence. So, just do all the little things like clearing off the counter, the charcuterie board, and moving that table! Make sure your place still feels like you, now just more comfortable to share with others. Together, let’s stop overcomplicating entertaining in a small space!
