Apartment renters tend to consider various factors when shopping for a new place to live in. Those factors go well beyond just the basics of how much the rent will cost and where the apartment is situated.
Instead, socially-active renters, for example, might want a place that has plenty of space for social gatherings like dinners and parties. For people like them, a small apartment might seem like it’s going to hinder their social lives, despite the rent being much cheaper than an apartment with plenty of floor space.
Well, that couldn’t be further from the truth! Small apartments are more than capable of hosting parties of all kinds; whether you’re the type to host sophisticated dinner parties or if you’re looking to get wild for the night.
In this article, we’re going to look at the many ways that you can host a memorable party in your small apartment. Combine these tips with a few personal touches of your own, and you’ll have a party that people will be talking about long after it’s over!
Maximize Your Space
No matter what kind of party you’re throwing, you’ll need to maximize the space that you have in your apartment. While there’s nothing wrong with keeping people somewhat packed together, you don’t want there to be so little space that people fall over and hurt themselves. Here’s how you can make the most of the space you already have.
Push Furniture Aside
First and foremost, you’ll want to push any furniture you have in the apartment up against the wall. A couch against a wall, for example, would give people plenty of space to sit while also clearing enough room for people to walk by comfortably.
That open space can also serve as a makeshift dance floor, assuming that’s what your playlists call for.
Plus, let’s be honest; guests love sitting on couches to do some people-watching with other party guests.
Put Pillows On The Floor
Suppose your party is more of a chilled-out affair. With furniture pushed aside, you could also lay cushions and pillows on the floor as a form of seating. Doing it that way means you’ll have plenty more places for people to settle down without everyone piling onto your couch or chairs.
High Tables and Standing
Remember: plenty of people don’t mind standing while enjoying a party. You could do away with chairs and other furniture that might get in the way, and rely on any high tables or countertops instead.
By placing your food and drinks strategically on these high surfaces, you’ll encourage people to gather around them and socialize, keeping the energy levels at your party nice and high!
Climate Control and Ventilation
Your small apartment is going to welcome many more people than usual. So, you’ll need to keep that in mind when it comes to climate control and ventilation.
Firstly, whatever temperature you typically set on your thermostat, you’ll need to add a bit extra. If you have it a little colder during the warm months, you’ll need to make it even colder for the party. Simply put, more bodies in your apartment means more body heat, so you’ll want to keep the condo cool before people start to sweat.
That’s true for warmer temperatures during colder months, too. More people means more heat is needed.
Cold or warm, always keep the air flowing. Small apartments get stuffy very quickly when there are more people indoors, so open a window, turn fans on, and make use of any ventilation fans you may have in the kitchen or bathroom.
Food and Drink
Hosting a party in your small apartment will require some sacrifices on your part, especially when it comes to food and drink. Don’t worry, though! Here are some ingenious strategies you can use to keep things interesting.
Keep Food Small or Fast
Food can be quite a challenge when hosting a party in a small apartment. For one, you can’t cook too much because the smell and heat might make things uncomfortable for your guests. And, unless you’re hosting a dinner party with just a handful of people, there won’t be enough spots for guests to sit and enjoy an elaborate meal.
Instead, what you could do is go small or go fast. Here’s what that means.
Suppose you’re doing a more subdued type of party. You could feed people small bites like cheese platters, hors d'oeuvres, or charcuterie boards. Too fancy? Well, you could do the same with chips, nuts, and other food items you’d often find at a bar.
Besides that, you could also go ‘fast’ as in ‘fast food’. No matter what kind of guests you have, people from all walks of life (and during all occasions) would love nothing more than to let loose and bite into a burger and fries. Plus, you wouldn’t have to prepare anything, and you can have it delivered to the apartment!
Bonus Tip: Spread It Around
At a party, people go wherever the food, drink, or fun is. You can passively control the crowd by placing the food at various places all around the apartment. That will also give people a chance to break into smaller groups and get to know one another!
Smaller Drink Selection
Sure, you’d like to keep your party well-supplied with all sorts of drinks from liquor bottles to beers and non-alcoholic stuff as well. That’s all well and good, but your small apartment may not have enough space for all of that.
Instead, what you’ll want to do is keep your selection small while ensuring they cater to most of your guests. For example, having just one popular type of beer, and maybe a couple of the kinds of cocktails may be more than enough to keep everyone happy.
When it comes to hosting a party in a small apartment, less is more, and that includes your drink menu!
Entertainment
Okay, here’s where things get tricky. Keeping your guests entertained is crucial, but you’ll want to do it without annoying the neighbors too much. Remember: being in a smaller apartment means that your neighbors can hear you much better than they would in a larger place.
Minimize Noise
First things first, stick to entertainment options that produce less noise. Tabletop games are making a comeback these days, so an excellent way to keep guests entertained is with good old fashioned card- or board-games. Video games are also great, though they are limited in how many people can participate at one time.
Dancing to music is also acceptable, though you’ll have to be mindful of the neighbor who lives downstairs. Music is tolerable to most neighbors, but a downstairs neighbor forced to listen to endless foot-stomping from above will create problems for you and your party.
Bonus Tip: Pay attention to your music playlists. Some music will make people dance and stomp their feet more intensely, while others cause less of a ruckus. A simple example? Dance music (intense dancing, lots of noise) vs R;B (people dance at a slower tempo).
Dealing With Neighbors
Here’s an unavoidable and sometimes uncomfortable truth: any small apartment party’s success depends on your neighbors. One way to prevent complaints is to let them know in advance and include them in the fun!
Communicate with them and tell them when your party will begin and when they can expect it to end. Then, extend a courtesy invitation to them.
Being a good neighbor pays off in many ways, especially when you want to host a memorable party in your small apartment!
