How to throw a party in a small house
Whether it’s a birthday, a house warming or an anniversary, having a party is the best way to bring your friends and family together to celebrate. But if your home is on the smaller side, you might be left wondering whether you’ve really got enough space to host a party.
The good news is that even the smallest of homes is ideal for throwing a party – you just need to know how best to use your space. To give you a helping hand, we’ve put together our top tips for hosting a party in a small house.
1. Declutter the party area
When you’re working with a small space, it’s important to maximise that space as much as possible. The best way to do this is to declutter. That means moving anything that you don’t need into another room, such as upstairs or into the garage.
So, if you’ve got a sideboard that isn’t needed, or a vintage lamp that you’d hate to get broken, move it out of the way. Not only will this help to create more space, but you’ll also save the heartache of your prized possessions getting damaged.
2. Keep it tidy
One of the downsides of hosting a party is tidying up afterwards. Let’s face it, clearing up after a party is a job that no one enjoys but it’s a necessity. You can reduce some of that hard work whilst increasing the usable space in your home by tidying up rubbish throughout the night.
If you’ve got any willing volunteers, this is the perfect task to rope them in on. Ask friends and family to regularly scan the house for any rubbish and tidy it away, minimising the tidying up you’ll need to do post-party, as well as maximising the space in your home.
3. Consider party seating
It’s unlikely that you’ll have a table that seats 15 in your one bedroom apartment, but that doesn’t mean you need to leave your guests without a seat.
Take a look around your home for any furniture that could be used as seating. Whether it’s a footstool, an ottoman or a pouffe, the chances are you have many different items that could be used as a seat for your guests.
4. Turn down the temperature
When you put lots of people into the same room, it’s only natural that the temperature will start to rise. However, this can quickly become uncomfortable, especially when you’re working with a small space.
To keep everyone comfortable, keep the temperature low. You can do this by turning down the thermostat before the event or opening the windows. This is also a great way to keep your space ventilated – a priority in today’s germ-conscious world!
5. Think about party food
It’s easy to get carried away with ideas when you’re planning a party. This often means thinking of unique ways to feed your guests, ensuring that no one is left hungry. However, it’s important to bear in mind that takeaways such as pizza take up a lot of space, which isn’t particularly helpful when you’re hosting a party in a small home.
Try to plan your party outside of mealtimes, such as mid afternoon or in the evening. This way, you can avoid serving full meals and stick to nibbles or a graze platter. For example, you could create a fabulous graze board taaking inspiration from Inspired Grazing, and position some nibbles around your home for your guests to snack on throughout the party. This will ensure that no one goes hungry, without eating up your valuable party space.
6. Designate private spaces
There’s nothing worse than finding people in areas of your home that you’d rather keep private. If there are rooms that you’d prefer to keep people out of, be sure to shut the doors. This will usually deter most people, but you can also put signs on the doors if you want to be sure that they remain empty.
You can also keep people out of your fridge by positioning a drinks cooler in the main party area. This will help to ensure that guests don’t help themselves to a cheeky snack or a drink that isn’t intended for the party.
7. Plan space for coats
The last thing you want when you’re hosting a party in a small space is to have coats and bags laying around. If coats are left on the sofa, they could be taking seating away from guests, leaving people standing around with nowhere to sit.
A coat rack or clothes rail is a great way to keep the coats confined to a single place, preventing them from being left on your sofa, bed or even the floor. You can strategically place this in your porch, hallway or even a bedroom, keeping the clutter away from your guests.
8. Take it outside
If you’ve been blessed with outdoor space, now is the time to put it to good use. Whether it’s a garden or a balcony, utilising your outdoor space will make your home feel more spacious and give your guests more space to spread out.
You don’t need to let the weather put you off either. If the elements are against you, hiring a gazebo is a great way to protect your guests from the rain and make the most of your outdoor space.
Host the perfect party, no matter how small your home
It’s perfectly possible to host a party in a small house, and we hope that these tips will help you in putting together the perfect gathering for your celebration. By clearing out the clutter and keeping the room tidy, you’ll be able to maximise your space and entertain your guests, no matter how compact your home.