If you have a small house or limited space in your dining room, you might wonder if it's even possible to host a dinner party. The answer is yes; it's completely possible to host a dinner party, even in a small space. We have some tips to help you make the most of your space and show your guests a great time.
If you’re used to eating on the sofa in front of the TV and the dining table is stored away, you’ll need to make some adjustments. Take your biggest and most welcoming room and remove as much furniture as possible. Alternatively, you could push the furniture to the very edges of the room. However, this might not look great. If you can move items into other rooms or put them in storage, this is a great way to make more space. You can then place the dining table in the middle of the room and make it the focal point. If you don’t have a dining table see if you can borrow one for the evening from a friend or rent one. To make the room feel as big as possible, remove any unnecessary furniture that’s taking up floor space. This will help the room feel more like a dining space for your dinner party.
If you live in a small apartment on your own, you might not have enough plates and cutlery for all of your dinner guests. Plan in advance and borrow or buy new items to make sure you have enough to serve everyone. Remember you will also need additional cutlery and items in the kitchen as part of your preparation.
If you’re in a small space, for example, a studio apartment, it might be challenging to make a three-course dinner for five people all at once. It's unlikely that you’ll have the side space for all of the preparation and the ability to cook several dishes at the same time. To make things easier, choose meals you can prepare in advance and heat up or add the final touches on the day. This way, you can spend more time with your guests and less time stressing in the kitchen. This is especially key if your kitchen is on show, guests will be able to see what you’re doing, which will add more pressure. Preparing things in advance will reduce the pressure of being watched while you cook.
Extending oak dining tables are perfect if you have space for a dining table but want the ability to extend it for dinner parties. If you simply don’t have a single table or can’t borrow one, try to look for different surfaces around your home you can use as makeshift dining tables. You could place two tables together and cover them with a tablecloth or use a desk covered with a tablecloth as a dining table. If you’re seating small children, you could sit them at their very own table to free up space at the adult table for more guests.
A good way to free up more space is to leave some guests off the invite list. If you’ve got any friends or family that would turn their noses up or feel uncomfortable sitting close to other guests, don't invite them to your dinner party. Only invite guests you know will be happy to squeeze in and appreciate the time and effort you’ve put into making them a delicious meal. You don’t need to make excuses; simply tell them you only have a small table and limited space if they ask why they’re not invited.
Hosting a dinner party for your friends and family is a great way to catch up and enjoy spending time together. Your small space shouldn't stop you from doing this. If, after dinner, things are feeling a bit cramped, you could take your guests out to a local pub or bar where you can continue to enjoy each other's company and have a few drinks with a bit more space.