If you read our previous post you’re probably in need of some tips for how to host a dinner party in a small apartment. Today we’re sharing some of our best tips so you can throw a hassle-free, stress-free dinner party this holiday season.
*This post may contain affiliate links
This site was made possible by Bluehost who makes building websites as easy as can be. If you’re interested in starting your own site you can sign up today for just $2.95!
Tips For Throwing A Small Apartment Dinner Party:
Keep An Intimate Friendly Gathering
Don’t Be Strict With Time
Keep The Menu Simple
Mood Lighting Is Key
Make Entertainment Accessible
Love Em and Leave Em
Entertaining In Your Home
There’s no better time than the holiday season to throw an intimate small apartment dinner party and if you’re considering hosting this year then keep reading! Considering the year and a half we’ve all been having, dinner parties may still be somewhat taboo. But life must go on and therefore we do have to remember that it can as long as we take the necessary steps. Give your guests ample time and information about your expectations for those arriving in your personal space if need be. Now that we got that out of the way on to the fun part!
Small Space Challenge
Living in a small apartment does not have to stop you from entertaining at home, it just means you have to be clever about your space. First things first, declutter your apartment. We talk about organizing and maximizing room space a lot and it really is key. If you’re on the hunt for an apartment dining table that works for your space then check out The Best Dining Tables for Small Spaces.
If space is really confined and you live in an especially tiny apartment then it’s perfectly ok to throw a dinner party without a dining table. You might have to get creative with seating and use stools, ottomons, maybe even some floor cushions. Having a typical sit-down dinner isn’t always expected in smaller spaces anywhere, but as long as there is any easy flow throughout the room I wouldn’t sweat it too much.
Where dinner parties are concerned, what we ultimately want is to create a lovely experience for yourself and your guests. There’s nothing worse than going to a crappy dinner party right? So giving yourself the time to create a well thought out dinner party is key when entertaining in your apartment or living space. Remember we also want this to be a hassle-free experience so don’t overcomplicate or overwhelm yourself. And while that’s easier said then done, having a list of things to check off when planning on entertaining at home will simplify things.
GUEST LIST
Keep It An Intimate Friendly Gathering
It might be wise to keep your guest list very intimate if you live in a compact apartment. Take whatever precautions you feel like you need to have a comfortable dinner party for you and your guests. We’d be remiss if we didn’t suggest having everyone plan to get their COVID testing done before the night of the dinner. Safety first.
That aside, having an intimate dinner party is not only logical for your space, but it can also ensure that your guests mesh well. This part might take careful planning and you may want to consider the personality types in attendance. You never want to create an atmosphere of awkwardness for your guests so make sure they gel!
SCHEDULE
Don’t Be Strict With Time
As an individual who does actually like to plan, but hates to stick to other peoples schedule trust me creating rigid schedules can sometimes be unappealing for guests. Don’t be a stickler for time. Having a window of time in which your gathering will be will give your guests some room to come a little bit later. This will also make your guests flow in your space just a bit better.
We want the overall mood of the gathering to be relaxed and enjoyable. If you create a window of time in which your guests can attend your gathering you’ll never have too many people in your space at once. By creating a buffer of time you allow for easy mingling of guests and also there’s less pressure on your guests. However, it’ll also give your guests an idea as to when you’ll be wrapping up the party. Which brings me to the next point.
MENU
Keep The Menu Simple
Creating a menu of snacks and food ahead of time is key. Because you’ll have people coming in at different times we definitely want a spread that is accessible for them. This way when someone does attend later they can easily grab a plate help themselves and join in!
If you plan on having an actual sit down dinner party then be sure to allocate a window of time in which the dinner will be served. Also pre dinner nibbles like a canape spread is a good idea and will reduce the amount of food you actually have to cook, so keep that in mind. Lastly, make sure there is plenty of food to accommodate the number of guests you’re actually inviting.
AMBIANCE
Mood Lighting Is Key
Small space lighting and setting the right mood for the gathering/dinner party is key. Ambiance and mood lighting is important and will instantly set the tone of the party. No one wants to arrive to stark bright blinding white lights. Firstly it’s not the most flattering light and it’ll definitely make your guests feel on the spot if they were to arrive later.
Candles are a great way to give your space a cozier atmosphere so adding some tealight or tapered candles to your dining table is a great idea. Definitely be sure to add some gorgeous scented candles too, we’ll go ahead and insert our amber glass jar candles here. For more apartment lighting tips check out How To Use Light In Small Spaces.
ENTERTANMENT
Make Entertainment Accessible
Apartment entertaining is everything. Entertaining at home should also be relaxed and casual. When it comes to entertainment for a dinner party, I like the idea of giving guests the choice of background music and making that easily accessible. If you’ve got an iPad and Bluetooth capability definitely sync that up and maybe place it somewhere accessible for guests like on a wall or on your kitchen countertop. If you and you’re guests are into games then there are plenty of options for that, but We’re Not Really Strangers Card Game is a great one.
END OF PARTY
Love Em and Leave Em
Leave your guests feeling all the warm and cozy feels this holiday season by wrapping up the end of the night with dessert and a coffee or a hot chocolate. There’s nothing better then leaving a dinner party with warmth and good wishes for everyone.
Dinner Party of Your Dreams
We hope today’s post will help you throw your very own dream dinner party this holiday season. Just remember no matter how small your space, it can always be functional and chic. As long as you can visualize your space then you can practice some intentional mindfulness and elevate your experience in it. For more small apartment hacks check out
For more posts like this one check out THE BEST DINING TABLES FOR SMALL APARTMENTS
