By Indiana Lee

You love playing the host.

You love showering your loved ones with good food, good drink, good music, and good fun. You love keeping busy, refilling drinks, and cleaning dirty plates. You love avoiding the rest of the world and having friends and family come to visit your home.

There’s just one problem.

You aren’t sure your home is big enough to let you host…

There are definitely some spaces that are obviously designed for entertaining — homes with great rooms that open onto expansive patios with beautiful views. However, just because your place doesn’t have the most square footage doesn’t mean you can’t gather your loved ones for an enjoyable time.

If you are struggling to figure out how you are going to fit more than one or two guests into your small space, here are a few tips for maximizing your home’s entertaining potential.

Declutter Seriously

It’s high time you read that Marie Kondo book that’s been sitting on your bookshelf — so that you can finally get rid of it. All the excess stuff in your home is taking up the space your guests need to feel comfortable. If you have decluttered before, you should perform the task again, this time being extra brutal about chucking out stuff that doesn’t serve an obvious purpose.

If you really do struggle to declutter, you might find more success with some of the following tricks:

Declutter one item every day.

Declutter for five minutes at a time.

Declutter using a checklist.

Declutter with a friend.

Declutter after taking “before” pictures.

Stretch Your Furniture

Even if you hope to host every weekend for the rest of your life, you don’t need to fill your space with all the seating you could possibly need. In fact, too much furniture can make spaces feel awkward, even if your intentions are in the right place.

Instead of investing in a bulky sectional or a dining table that seats 12, you should opt for furniture that you can expand to meet your needs — like:

Dining tables that have slide-out or fold-out leaves.

Stacking coffee and end tables.

Shelves that fold out into tables or seating.

Furniture that can fold up flat for storage.

Make Décor Functional

You don’t have enough space to decorate with sculptural furniture or knick-knacks; every item in your home needs to have a purpose. Fortunately, there are ways to be both functional and stylish. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

Choose sofas and ottomans with hidden storage for hosting essentials.

Take advantage of vertical spaces for decorative storage solutions.

Use decorative catch-all’s or organizers to keep clutter contained.

Add color and pattern with rugs and mats.

Hang floating shelves and funky hooks for vertical storage.

There are plenty of gorgeous designer-level decor that serves a function. Before choosing any decoration, you should consider how it might improve your space both aesthetically and functionally.

For example, many people use racks for storing wine, showcasing the bottles’ attractive labels while maximizing storage efficiency.

Keep Your Space Comfortable

People tend to become less comfortable as they become squeezed into tight spaces. You need to counteract feelings of discomfort by ensuring that your space is as cozy and relaxing as possible. You might install a ceiling fan to keep your space cooler and improve airflow as bodies crowd in.

You can also invest in soft, inviting fabrics, like plush rugs and throws, to cover hard surfaces for walking and sitting.

Ambient lighting can also have a major impact on how a space feels. Here are some valuable lighting tips and tricks for entertaining in small spaces:

Don’t use harsh overhead lighting, which casts unattractive shadows on faces and décor.

Use lights at standing eye-level or lower.

Use warm-toned light bulbs or smart lights that allow you to control the light temperature.

Use light as a decorative accent. The light behind furniture or cast-upon wall art can highlight attractive areas of your home while distracting from cluttered or crowded spots.

Prep and Plan Beforehand

The last thing your gathering needs is for you to rush around trying to clean, cook, and cater to everyone’s needs. Too much movement makes a small space feel even smaller, and no one will relish getting bumped into repeatedly, even by the host.

You should try to get all your preparations for the party done well in advance, which means you should consider choosing food, drink, and other elements that won’t mind sitting out for a bit.

Keep Guest Lists Tight

Even with all these tips and tricks, you should be realistic about how many people you can fit in your small space. For dinner parties, you might measure how many people to invite based on your plates rather than your seating; a cluttered and cramped table is certainly not stylish.

If your table doesn’t fit as many as you want to invite, you might switch to hors d’oeuvres, finger foods, or other nibbles that don’t require a formal sit-down.

As for other types of parties, you might try to curate your invitees, creating balance amongst your guests with people of different personality types who will enjoy one another’s company. Then, even smaller gatherings will feel brimming with life and excitement.

Loosen up Your Schedule

If you want to organize a big party in a small space, you might consider hosting an open house. By widening the window of the gathering, you can encourage people to come and go as they please, meaning your home doesn’t get rushed by an overabundance of guests all at once.

You might even consider staggering attendance by inviting different groups of guests at different times, if some of your earlier groups will tire and leave before the later groups arrive.

Be Creative

Allow yourself to be creative when hosting in your small home. If you don’t have enough dining table seating for a dinner party, you can throw down big floor pillows and eat on the ground, bohemian-style.

You don’t have to restrict your guests to “public” areas of your home; for extra space, you might invite them into private areas, like bedrooms.

Often, smaller homes have access to gardens, rooftops, or other shared outdoor spaces. If you are interested in hosting a larger gathering, you might plan an event that makes good use of the outdoors, like a barbecue party during the warmer months.

However, even when hosting an outside event, you should pay attention to styling, which can distract from any poor views and keep the atmosphere light and fun.

Don’t let your small space prevent you from being the amazing host you know you can be. Its quality over quantity, and a small space lets you focus on creating an unforgettable experience for your friends and family. With a few small changes to your home, you can get back to hosting the gatherings you love.

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I write about small space design and decorating, sustainable furniture options, positive self care and a variety of do-it-yourself home décor.

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“Michael Helwig was top-notch, very professional and responsive to my needs. He allowed me time to explore ideas and try out a variety of combinations until we found the perfect fit. Michael provided detailed information and offered beautiful ideas to make my dream living room become a reality. The furniture he sourced has totally transformed my living room space. Everyone that has seen my new living room has one word, WOW! A special thank you to Michael for a wonderful experience.”

— Karen B.

“Michael was very knowledgeable and guided us, with great patience and good humor, through the process of designing our dining room and helping us find the perfect sleeper sofa. He offered really helpful advice when we asked questions - which was often - but at no time did we ever feel pushed. He helped me when I felt like I couldn’t make one more decision. When my new furniture finally arrived I realized everything down to the pillows was perfect. I couldn’t be happier!”

— Sarah H.

Indiana Lee is a passionate writer and avid puzzle enthusiast hailing from the serene landscapes of the Pacific Northwest. With a deep appreciation for aesthetics and a strong preference for designs that seamlessly blend comfort and functionality, she brings a unique perspective to the world of interior decor. Connect with her on LinkedIn.

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