How To Host A Dinner Party In A Small Space
If you live in a smaller sized home but are thinking about hosting a dinner party, don’t let the space you have available put you off. You can still host an enjoyable dinner without a big, lavish dining room.
With some preparation and practical thinking, even smaller rooms can become a great space for having friends and family round for dinner. For some inspiration, take a look at our tips below.
Plan ahead
Planning ahead will make it much easier to pull off a successful dinner party, no matter how much space you have. By thinking ahead and getting organised, you will minimise stress and chaos as your dinner party gets closer. No doubt, there will be some inevitable glitches along the way, but by giving yourself plenty of time ahead of your event, you will be able to tackle anything that arises along the way.
Create a list of guests who you would like to attend your dinner and organise for invites to be sent out. Getting invitations sent out in advance will help further down the line with your meal and table setting preparation.
Assess the dining furniture that you have available for seating the guests that you would like to attend. Would it be useful to get some more seating for before or after dinner? The key to a good dinner party is providing comfort, as guests will feel at ease and settled for the evening. Dining sets and extendable tables are a great option for hosting, as they provide extra space for additional guests.
Dinner preparations
Think about what food you would like to serve to your guests. One-pot dishes are a great option for dining in small spaces. If you have little space for multiple serving dishes, a one-pot dish makes serving a lot easier. It also means less washing up as you will use less pots and pans!
With a huge selection of one-pot dish options, you could also consider what produce is in season when you will be hosting your dinner party.
If your entertaining space is limited, try to prepare as much of your meal as possible in advance. This way on the night of your dinner, you will only have final touches and serving tasks to do. By preparing as much as possible, you will have more time to entertain your guests, with less clutter which will make your space look smaller.
Table setting and decor
If you struggle for space, then going for minimal table decor may look better in the space you have available. Not laying the table may not be as traditional for a dinner party, but it would certainly look less cluttered and open up your space.
Stack your plates in a rustic and laid back style, with a lovely pot of cutlery and napkins at one end of the table, leaving the rest of the table with a spacious feel. If you would like some table decoration, opt for smaller items which can easily be moved to work around your seating arrangements. Alternatively, use shelves or ceiling space to hang decorations if you’re feeling creative.
You may wish to make a seating plan for your guests. Sometimes a seating plan helps guests to get to know each other better, as you can plan for quieter guests to sit next to more outgoing guests to keep conversation flowing.
A seating plan also allows you to strategically place your guests, to make moving around the room easier. Some people may need to get up more regularly than others, so place those nearer to the door.
Place names
Another way to save space on your table decor is by putting name tags on glasses instead of on the table. This is another way to not only save space, but also save on washing up, as it encourages people to stick to using their one glass for the evening.
You can get creative with this and tie it into your theme for the evening by using certain colours, shapes or other on-theme ideas.
Control your crowd
Free up your kitchen space by placing a drinks area or use a dedicated coffee table for guests to help themselves to refreshments. By doing so, you’ll be able to move freely around the kitchen when cooking and it ensures that the kitchen doesn’t become busy or crowded when you are trying to get things done.
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