6 Tips to Throw a Big Party in a Small House

Is your house a tight squeeze even for you and your family? You want to throw a big party with all your friends, but can it be done? Yes! Here are six tips to make the most of your space:

Have a designated coat and storage room.
Small closets? Not enough space in the coat rack? No problem! Designate a room, such as an unused bedroom, where everyone can store coats, bags, or anything else.

Free up floor space.
You don’t want your friends to spend the night edging around coffee tables or squeezing between armchairs. Keep your guests comfortable by giving them plenty of space to walk around. Move furniture into an unused room, the attic, or the garage.

Think about seating.
Does your home have enough seating options for everyone coming? If you’re a little short, you may need to rent chairs and tables. These can be used both indoors and outdoors if you’re planning a party in the backyard.

Don’t let your kitchen turn into a traffic jam.
Guests love to congregate in your kitchen, maybe lured in by the smell of delicious home cooking. However, in small kitchens this can be dangerous. If you’re working in a tight space, make the kitchen off-limits. Recruit one or two guests to help you bring food to the living or dining room when it’s ready.

Figure out the menu.
If you’re planning to serve a full dinner, keep it simple. Serve food buffet-style. This lets guests make their own plates, freeing up the host. It also helps with ‘traffic jams’ since not everyone will eat at the same time. Is your party standing room only? Serve hors d’oeuvres or canapés. Make sure you pick easy-to-eat finger foods.

Take the party outdoors.
If your home isn’t big enough, you can always make use of the yard. Rent a tent with flooring. This will keep even bad weather out. If you set it up right outside the backdoor, you’ve magically added to the floor space.