There’s no season like the holiday season to get together with your friends, family, neighbors, or coworkers for a good old fashioned festive gathering. Food, drinks, gifts, games, crafts, you name it – however you like to spend quality time with your favourite people, ‘tis certainly the time to do it!
Sometimes, it can be tricky to host an event in an apartment because you want to be conscious of everything from noise to space. Not to mention, we missed doing so last year due to the pandemic restrictions so everyone’s a little rusty on where to start. If you’re ready to get back into the swing of things and have all your buddies over for some festive fun, read on for our top tips and tricks for ensuring your holiday party goes off without a hitch.
1. Clarify the Parking Situation in Advance
This may sound silly at first, but city living often means the parking situation is sub-optimal. Be sure to advise your guests on where they can park well before the evening of your party arrives. You want to avoid that frantic phone call from your guests saying they can’t find parking, had to park super far away, or even worse – that they got one of the dreaded post party parking tickets! Guests can uber, street park, use visitor parking, public transit, etc; as long as they know in advance, you shouldn’t run into any hiccups!
2. Organization is KEY
Sure, this is more of a life rule than a one-time party rule, but hear us out! If guests are coming in with trays of food or bundles of gifts, you don’t want them tripping over 100 pairs of haphazardly removed shoes! Plan these things before your get-together so that everything has its place, and your place isn’t a total disaster before All I Want for Christmas is You even comes up on the playlist!
Here are some simple tips;
- Store your own coats in your room for the evening so that guests have room to hang theirs
- Same goes for shoes and bags
- Show everyone where garbage and recycling bins are when they arrive to reduce clutter
- Consider a no-gift party or ask for charitable donations
3. Make the Space Work for You
This one goes along with #2 pretty well. When preparing and setting up for your party, don’t be shy to move things around or reorganize your apartment. Everything can be returned to its rightful spot tomorrow morning, but for now consider hiding away anything unnecessary (think workout gear, your textbooks, your large plants, work laptop, etc.).
Perhaps also try adjusting the layout of your furniture; you want to maximize space, seating, and room to set down drinks or food plates. Cleaning and tidying are also your best friends for this trick, making a space feel immediately bigger and leaving more room for activities.
4. Potlucks are Your Best Friend
Maybe not your best friend, but definitely up there with most loyal! Potlucks almost never fail for holiday parties – AND they split up the dishes amongst everyone, so you and your apartment-sized sink aren’t struggling for hours the next day. Not to mention, it can be stressful to cook for a large group!
Unless cooking for a crowd is your thing (MAJOR respect if it is – we’re instant mac n’ cheese people through and through) then advise your guests to make their signature dish and bring it along with them. You can even share a spreadsheet with them so everyone can jot down what they’re planning on making. This way, you won’t end up with 4 different versions of Grandma’s tuna casserole and not a single dessert in sight. Make the list, check it twice, and prepare to eat ‘till your hearts content – it is the holidays after all!
These are just a few of the ways you can enjoy hosting a holiday party in a smaller space, but the list is endless. Whatever you do, just try not to get stressed. As long as you prepare in advance and communicate with your guests, then you can sit back and enjoy the party – seriously, you deserve it!
Wishing you and yours a joyful holiday season! Happy holidays, from the CLV and Interrent REIT team.
