5 Tips for Hosting In a Small Space

I firmly believe you don't need a large space to host your friends and family.

Our house is 876 square feet, so we've learned how to get creative with our space when we welcome friends and family into our home.

With the holidays around the corner, here are my best tips for hosting in a small space.

Create a Drop Zone

To avoid confusion and an awkward moment, make it clear where guests can drop their shoes and coats when they enter your home.

For shoes:

Use a rug to define your entry way, even if it's just a door that leads directly into the rest of your home. If you already have a shoe rack by your door, clear space for your guest’s shoes. If you don't have a rack, putting a pair of your own shoes on the rug can help guests see where to drop their shoes.

For coats:

There are two options. If you have the space, adding a coat rack by the door is the simplest way to tell guests where to leave their outerwear. If not, designate a bedroom for guests to drop their coats in. Whether or not you take their coat for them, make sure they know where the drop zone is so they can grab anything if they need it (been there, done that when my coat is taken and I don't know which room to go to when I need some chapstick, lol)

Maximize Seating

No matter what, make sure there is a seat for everyone.

At the table:

We have a table with leaves to expand and we use some extra chairs that we keep downstairs. Folding chairs are also great if you're limited on space. Or, use multi-purpose chairs, like an office chair or armchair that usually lives in another part of your home. It doesn't need to be pretty or cohesive, it just needs to make guests feel included and comfortable around the table!

In the warmer months, we tend to host outside where we have more space. We use our outdoor table and chairs and add a folding table and chairs if needed!

In the living room:

When we have friends over, we often start at the dining table then migrate over to the living room. Our couch only seats 3-4 people, but sitting in a row isn't great for conversation! So, I have many flex seating options that I can move around when guests come over. People can sit on the entry bench, the ottoman, and floor cushions (fancy way of saying Charlie's dog beds).

Drop the Temperature

Lots of bodies in a small house can seriously raise the temperature, especially if you're cooking. Lower the thermostat a couple of degrees and maybe even crack window if the house is getting too warm.

Declutter

Clear your kitchen counters and other surfaces of unnecessary things (you might use them daily, but you don't need them when guests are over!). In the kitchen, this leaves space for prepping and serving food. Elsewhere, this means clearing spaces to allow for drinks and/or snacks to be placed. We sometimes choose to clear off our chest in our dining room for serving food to keep the table clear. We simply put the clutter away in a room or closet.

To maximize standing and sitting space, you may want to move unnecessary furniture (TV stand, coffee table, etc.) out of the main rooms, or at least out of the way. Can you add seating there instead? Do it!

But be aware — make sure people still have a place to set their drinks!

Bring on the Snacks

In larger groups, if you only put one snack plate down, people will flock to that one plate. Put multiple snack plates around the house so people can spread out and still enjoy a snack.

On my snack plates, I like to include some type of fruit, something salty, and something sweet. Very simple to throw together and everyone likely has something they'll like!

Bonus Tip: Use Music

Create a welcoming ambience with a playlist to fit the mood. Think about it… coffee shops that have great playlists make you feel comfortable and want to stay longer. Here's a playlist I love to play in the background over the Alexa speakers when guests are over.