The holiday season is the time of year many of us will entertain guests. And, because of this past years housing industry, many people have downsized their home and will have a smaller home to entertain in. If you're in that category, you are probably wondering how you will be able to pull off such a task. Entertaining in small spaces can be challenging, but it can be done. And everyone will have a pleasant time. So we have some ideas we'd like to share.
Begin by clearing as much space as possible in the room or rooms you will be using. Remove all the clutter from your living room, dining room and kitchen areas. In the kitchen, put away all your appliances to make more space. You can always put clutter and appliances in your bedroom, until the party is over.
Think about how you can use the space in your home more efficiently. Push your furniture towards walls to increase your floor space. You can expand your seating by adding large throw pillows on the floor and extra dining chairs to the living room. Use barstools in the kitchen for those guests who like to hang around that area. Adding card tables in your living room can increase seating for dinner. And don't get stressed out about who will be sitting where. Not everyone will need to sit with someone they know to have a good time. You can place small groups in the living room, dining room and kitchen area.
A good tip to help prevent overcrowding, when you serve dinner, is to place trays of food in the corners of your rooms. This way your guests will not be crowding in one area. When the food is spread out, the guests will also spread out.
To keep the mess down, use foods that are less messy. Foods like sauces are very messy and can turn into a big problem in a small space.
If the weather is permitting, do yourself a favor and take the party outside. You can use your deck or other outdoor areas.
Here's to a very Merry Christmas and to entertaining in small spaces.
More tips and advice for homeowners
Lake of the Ozarks Real Estate
Great suggestions, thanks for posting. I suppose you could take that advice if you have a large space as well.