How to Host Dinner Parties in Small Spaces

It is finally November, which means it is CHRISTMAS!

Just kidding. I’m one of those people that like to jump the gun when it comes to holidays. If I’m being honest, I’ve been blasting Christmas carols since October.

In all seriousness, Thanksgiving is in less than 22 days away, which means it’s time to start making Thanksgiving plans with family and friends. As an apartment resident, it could get a little tricky to host a dinner party in a small space, but it’s not impossible. It just means it’s time to get creative with your space—think of it like playing a game of Tetris!

Here are a few tips on how to host a dinner party in a small space:

Clean up your space.

• Clutter can take up a lot more room than you realize, so by taking a little time to tidy up and throw out unnecessary clutter, you’ll free up more space for more people. Even re-organizing the small things will help open up some room. You can store some things in your other rooms for the evening in order to make space for more people.

Turn your living room into the dining room.

• Do you have a particularly large crowd coming for dinner? Set up a dining table with chairs in the living room, you’ll double your space (at minimum).

Get creative with furniture and seating

• You can also buy a cheap foldout table and add it to the end of your existing table. Buy a table cloth or two to disguise the fact that there’s two different tables under there! Also, utilize your resources by turning what you can into chairs: giant pillows, couches, stools, fold out chairs, and so on. If you’re throwing a potluck type party, perhaps add “fold-up chairs” to the list so your guests can bring some extra seats. If you’re not too keen on everyone sitting on a chair, you can transform your coffee table into the dinner table and have everyone sit on the floor together for a very bohemian Thanksgiving.

Utilize your other rooms.

• If your guests have coats and purses, use another bedroom as a coat check so they’re not strewn around the living room where people sit and mingle. If you have a patio or balcony, perhaps set up an appetizer or drinks table so you have more room for the main course. While untraditional, you can also set up a buffet and keep the food in the kitchen so there is more room on the dining table for people to sit and eat at.

Rent out the clubhouse.

• If your party is larger than 10-15+ people, you might want to consider renting out the clubhouse in your apartment community. Simply contact your property manager to find out the rules for renting the clubhouse and you’ll be able to host a ton more people for the evening.

Thanksgiving is meant to be a warm, festive holiday where we give thanks for not only what we are blessed with, but for those who make our lives meaningful. Personally, I love holding parties in small spaces because it makes it feel cozy and intimate, which is exactly the kind of vibe Thanksgiving should give off.

Have any more tips? Let us know by commenting below!