Holiday Entertaining in a Tight Apartment
Just because you’re in a small apartment doesn’t make you can’t host a spectacular holiday party. The key is making the most of the space and surfaces you do have and keeping drinks and foods simple, yet elegant. The themes are infinitely adaptable — have fun with it!
Guest Count
6–20
The Theme
Champagne & Holiday Cheer
The Space
Clear bulky furniture into the bedroom and keep bookshelves and side tables pushed to the sides of the main living room to make the most of limited space. Keep out a few chairs, but don’t worry about having seating for every person in attendance. Also keep in mind that every flat surface can play double duty as a serving area for snacks, glasses, or drinks. Set up a bar area on a shorter bookshelf, and be sure to put snacks in multiple places throughout your apartment to avoid everyone clustering around the one table with all the food.
The Food
The last thing you want is to plan a complicated menu of snacks that will keep you busy in the kitchen throughout your entire party. Choose one hors d’oeuvres to make, a couple to buy, and one to assemble before the party gets going. Whatever you choose to make, keep it bite-sized; it’s awkward as a guest to try to balance a drink, a plate of food, and utensils while standing up and socializing. An sample menu could include the following:
If you’re worried people will still be hungry, consider also including a cheese or charcuterie display with accoutrements. Choose a selection of small treats (e.g., cookies, macarons, fudge, gourmet chocolates) from your favorite bakery to bring out later on in the night.
The Drink
Pick one sparkling wine, be it Champagne, Cava, Prosecco, or some other sparkling, and stock up! Figure at least half a bottle per person, and more if your friends will Uber or carpool home. Pick out a nice ice bucket or fill the kitchen sink with ice to hold all your bottles of bubbly (and toss in some bottled water, too). If guests also bring beverages, be sure to have some bar space created in advance to hold all the extra drinks and mixers. Set up a separate area to hold wine glasses or flutes.
The Decor
Dim the lights in your apartment, light a few votive candles, and perhaps string some classic white lights around a bar area. Don’t go overboard here; simplicity is elegant. Consider also hanging a few colorful ornaments around the apartment to add a splash of color and festivity.
The most important thing to remember
Parties should be fun — for the guests and the host! If you plan ahead and stay organized, you’ll be able to enjoy the evening and the company. Don’t stress about little details or hiccups that none of your guests will remember anyway.
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