Hosting A Dinner Party For Eight in 750 sqft.
For the first time this year, my husband, Ryan and I hosted an eight-person meal for our family. Now to some, this would not seem like a large feat, in fact, it may feel like your average weekend dinner with family. But for my husband and I, this was our first go in our 1 bedroom, 750 sqft apartment. Usually, when hosting a larger group you have the luxury of multiple rooms to host your guests, but with strategic planning, we managed to have a warm, fun-filled evening without feeling like sardines. If you’re someone who loves hosting, but perhaps your space doesn’t always allow it, here are my key tips to keep in mind when hosting in a small space.
Enough Chairs and Tables
This sounds obvious but having enough furniture is sometimes a bit of a roadblock. Luckily we’ve invested over the years in many different seating options in our home, so getting a little creative with your seating is definitely an option, just keep in mind your guests’ comfort as you look over your options. For example, your parent with a bad back is probably not going to enjoy sitting on a wooden stool for a meal but your young sibling might be fine. You can assign your seating if you like to take the guesswork out of it but it’s likely that your guests can make this judgement call on their own. The key piece here is having enough table space. We were able to put two tables end to end to make one long one but there is also no shame in having separate tables if you need them!
Things Aligning Not Just Matching
I don’t know about you, but as young newlyweds, we’re working with a limited number of plates in our household, however, I wanted to make sure everyone had the same sized dish and invested in a few more. Keep in mind that not everything has to perfectly match, it just has to all be within one colour pallet. Because we had blue and gold in our placemats, I invested in a few more in a neutral tone so the colours would be the star of the show. Sometimes being eclectic and flexible can make something beautiful and be a little kinder on your budget.
All About The Atmosphere
I love finding ways to engage guests in as many sensory ways as possible. From the smell of the food, the taste of charcuterie, and the enjoyment of being around one another, with a soft melody playing in the background. Every lovely event I’ve been to has these elements perfectly balanced, creating a cozy, intimate atmosphere. So light a few candles, put the needle down on that record and make your guests feel welcome.
Making Space With Intentional Zones
Being in such a small space, we had to get a little strategic with our furniture placement so there was a maximum amount of comfort. Not having a dining room, we set up our table lengthwise along the room so people had enough room to get into their seats and turned the couch against the wall so it was facing the entire room. Placing our more mobile seating like stools at the end of the table they were able to be pulled up into the living room area with ease so people could have more seating if they wished. We also put a self-serve bar in the living room so people didn’t need to be in and out of the kitchen where food is being prepared. Luckily I also had my co-host available to entertain and grab things as necessary, so I could focus on the cooking part. Having a team-mate whether it’s a spouse, friend or family member is key to making things work!
Food Is Queen
Let’s be honest, any dinner party no matter the ambiance is all about the food. Taking the time to prepare the day before, and prep anything you can to ensure the process goes smoothly is an asset. It also helps with the actual cooking as you’ll have a little more free counter space to bring all of your elements together. I also like to live a little dangerously and try new recipes with people in the room because then they feel like they can weigh in on how to build upon the dish next time. That being said, maybe just try a new salad, avoiding the main dish so that nothing goes horribly sideways.
Don’t Be Afraid To Borrow
Being new to hosting so many people at once there were a few surprises, like the discovery that we didn’t have enough utensils or a pie lifter. Although you can buy additional silverware for 12, we felt it was better to invest in plates, something we’ll occasionally use, as opposed to forks that will sit in a drawer. So we asked a few of our guests if they had some extra things just in case we didn’t have enough and they were just excited they could help. It’s more about coming together to create something great than arriving somewhere and being catered to, which makes it feel more special.
Be Grateful For Your People
After all the prep and planning, remember what it really boils down to is that your guests are there to see you, and enjoy your company. So do your best to make time to chat with your guests and enjoy the fact that you were able to create a space where memories can be formed, and that is truly the mark of a successful evening.
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