9 Design Tips to Make Your Small Space Entertaining-Ready
Supersize your next soiree with these clever tricks for lighting, seating and crowd control
tidgboutique
21 December 2016
Toronto Interior Design Group is a trusted one-stop-shop residential interior design concierge boutique-style firm crafting timeless interiors.
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The fact that you have a small space shouldn’t mean you can’t have big get-togethers. To help you make your space function well for entertaining – while still working for your day-to-day life – here are some of my favourite tips for furniture, styling and even secret crowd control. You can have the night of your life no matter what your home’s square footage.
1. Colour choices. As with any small space, a compact entertaining area can be made to feel bigger by using lots of light colour – especially bright white –on the walls. However, an entertaining space sometimes is better off feeling cosy and lively, rather than airy and minimalist.
Don’t be scared to embrace dark or dramatic hues on the walls, either as the primary colour or as an accent, to help set a more intimate mood. You can also contrast dark or vivid hues with light, pale hues. These often will recede to create an interplay of depths that can make a room feel bigger and more energetic.
Look to the colour scheme of your favourite restaurant for ideas, and keep in mind that any hue will look different in evening light than it does in stark daylight. Lay out paint chips and observe how the colour reads at different times of the day.
See the best ways to test paint colours
Look to the colour scheme of your favourite restaurant for ideas, and keep in mind that any hue will look different in evening light than it does in stark daylight. Lay out paint chips and observe how the colour reads at different times of the day.
See the best ways to test paint colours
2. Lighting. Speaking of lighting, it’s especially important in an entertaining space to have a good lighting scheme that can be controlled to set the right mood. Even in a small space, a single light fixture in the middle of the ceiling can’t be expected to do all the work.
Multi-light sconces, such as the smart plug-in fixtures shown here, can help add lighting at a face-flattering angle to make your space and your guests look their best. Use dimmable fixtures, or simply include several smaller lamps so you can build up brightness or a soft glow as desired.
Multi-light sconces, such as the smart plug-in fixtures shown here, can help add lighting at a face-flattering angle to make your space and your guests look their best. Use dimmable fixtures, or simply include several smaller lamps so you can build up brightness or a soft glow as desired.
3. Accents. Besides lighting, mirrors and lighter-hued accents can help a small space feel pleasing rather than claustrophobic. Items like white picture frames or artwork give the eye some visual breaks, while mirrors extend the sight line.
Mirrors also give people an opportunity to surreptitiously catch a glimpse of another party guest – or simply check for spinach in their teeth.
Mirrors also give people an opportunity to surreptitiously catch a glimpse of another party guest – or simply check for spinach in their teeth.
4. Seating. When entertaining, you’ll want to be able to seat a large number of people. Another day, you might want a comfortable place to decompress alone (or even sneak a quick nap). Start your furniture plan with a large sofa, and you’ll be ready for both of these scenarios. When it comes time to pack in guests, you can sit good friends shoulder to shoulder on a long sectional, and the rest of the week you can lounge in comfort.
An armless sofa frees up precious inches to squeeze in an extra person or two at the ends if you want maximum seating. You can then add in toss pillows to act as an armrest or backrest as needed.
Alternately, a modern sofa with wide arms like this one will give people a place to casually perch while they chat, or an extra spot to set down a drink or snack. Just make sure to provide a serving tray with edges to catch spills. (A dark upholstery that hides stains doesn’t hurt either.)
Of course, a large sofa can fit only so many guests – and some people will probably prefer their own seat. To maximise seating, I like to balance a large sofa with 16- to- 20-inch (40- to 50-centimetres) midcentury modern side chairs. They add a little classic flair without taking up too much space.
You can keep a few in your main entertaining room, or pull some from another room, such as the dining room or even a patio, as needed.
Find out more about midcentury modern chairs
Alternately, a modern sofa with wide arms like this one will give people a place to casually perch while they chat, or an extra spot to set down a drink or snack. Just make sure to provide a serving tray with edges to catch spills. (A dark upholstery that hides stains doesn’t hurt either.)
Of course, a large sofa can fit only so many guests – and some people will probably prefer their own seat. To maximise seating, I like to balance a large sofa with 16- to- 20-inch (40- to 50-centimetres) midcentury modern side chairs. They add a little classic flair without taking up too much space.
You can keep a few in your main entertaining room, or pull some from another room, such as the dining room or even a patio, as needed.
Find out more about midcentury modern chairs
5. Versatile tables. Besides needing a place to sit, your guests will also need space in which to move around, stretch their legs or maybe even dance a little. Avoiding bulky tables and furnishings that block circulation will help make even a small space feel much more open.
Instead of a chunky coffee table, try a leggy option that won’t get in the way of an outstretched foot. Even better, use several small tables that can be moved out of the way or rearranged as desired.
Instead of a chunky coffee table, try a leggy option that won’t get in the way of an outstretched foot. Even better, use several small tables that can be moved out of the way or rearranged as desired.
In general, having an eclectic mix of seating allows you to tackle different entertaining scenarios, so feel free to break out of the typical matchy-matchy box of the “one sofa, two chairs” living room set. Throwing in a few small stools gives you extra seats or tables as needed, and a high side table can be used as compact dining surface or mini bar. Multifunctional pieces like these give you options, and they can be tucked off to the side when not needed.
6. Dining areas. Although spaces vary, an oval or circular table is usually a good fit for small spaces that may need to accommodate a flexible number of guests. The rounded edges allow you to seat guests without having to bump anyone into a corner. Round tables also make it easier to host an odd number of guests without it looking “off.”
As in the living room, using one long bench or banquet mixed with standard dining chairs gives you room to slip in a few extra guests (especially small children) while giving others the option of a solo seat.
As in the living room, using one long bench or banquet mixed with standard dining chairs gives you room to slip in a few extra guests (especially small children) while giving others the option of a solo seat.
Wall sconces also are a great solution to add a little lighting over a small dining table or another key area. Choose one on a swing arm and you can push it up against the wall if you move the table to free up standing room.
If you don’t have room for a dedicated dining table, a convertible coffee table is a handy solution. They typically fold out into a larger surface, with height-adjustable legs to convert from coffee table to dining table in just a few clicks.
7. Serving stations. Whether your party is 10 people or 100, you can always use a little crowd control. Creating natural reasons for people to circulate through a space, rather than bunching up in one area, makes for better traffic flow and more mingling.
One of the best ways to subtly get people moving is to place a drink station (or a food station, in a buffet scenario) away from obvious gathering spots, like the kitchen island or the main seating. Setting up a little bar like this one in a corner out of the way of traffic will keep guests circulating instead of stopping in hallways or doorways.
One of the best ways to subtly get people moving is to place a drink station (or a food station, in a buffet scenario) away from obvious gathering spots, like the kitchen island or the main seating. Setting up a little bar like this one in a corner out of the way of traffic will keep guests circulating instead of stopping in hallways or doorways.
8. Acoustics. Besides controlling light, you’ll also want to be able to control bad acoustics at a party. All that chatting can add up to an unpleasant din if you don’t take steps to cut down on noise.
Adding fabrics will greatly cut down on echoes in a small space, so try to add drapery, rugs, upholstery or canvas art to break up the hard surfaces and keep the noise down to a dull roar.
Adding fabrics will greatly cut down on echoes in a small space, so try to add drapery, rugs, upholstery or canvas art to break up the hard surfaces and keep the noise down to a dull roar.
9. Putting guests at ease. Ultimately, one of the most important decorating decisions in a room of any size is to consider the comfort of your guests as you choose which pieces to include. If guests feel as though they must move and act in an overly careful manner to avoid spoiling your pristine surfaces, they will never be able to relax. Choosing fabrics that are easy to care for, and arranging accents in a more casual way, will help put your guests at ease while creating a sophisticated statement and leaving lots of room for your personality shine through.
So, if you plan on having guests over often, maybe it’s best to reconsider that white sofa, delicate rug or antique vase, and embrace a more casual style — or let the party take place at someone else’s home.
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So, if you plan on having guests over often, maybe it’s best to reconsider that white sofa, delicate rug or antique vase, and embrace a more casual style — or let the party take place at someone else’s home.
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Oh dear oh dear. Thanks for the article but I have one room which is kitchen lounge dining. The kitchen table is the dining table. Soooo small for entertaining. The kitchen counter is 1200 meters . Would have to serve from there SMALL
But I do have a half room and have decided I will use my study - the half room for drinks to circulate guests a bit.
I love over the room with the black wall.
OMG, this article reminds me of the first large party I had in my house after I moved in. I work for a large company and our team moto was that whoever had just moved into a new home had to host the company holiday party....Mid Winter Blues......
I lucked out in that another woman and I both bought out first homes a couple of months apart so we shared the task. Dinner at her house and drinks and dessert at my house. (we lived within a few miles of each other)
She had a three season porch in the upper Midwest. Seating meant eating in that three season porch and the dining room. A couple of room heaters solved that problem.
I had a number of construction projects going on, including new flooring and carpeting throughout the house. This meant no issues for me if people spilled things. But it also meant no seating. No flooring or carpet had been put down, but carpet had arrived. My living room and family room consisted of large rolls of carpet against one wall. Floors in the family room and ultimately the 2nd bedroom and aviary room had no flooring.
It worked out great. I set up a bar in both the 2nd bedroom and the aviary room. People sad on the huge rolls of carpet. Dessert was served in the living room and dining room. I lit a fire in the fireplace.
It's amazing what a little alcohol and a place to sit down will do for folks. The fact that we had a progressive holiday party starting in a cozy place and ending in a very casual place was spoken of for years afterwards. The other woman and I were so worried beforehand and it turned out great. The reality of a good party is the people you spend it with, the accommodations are quickly forgotten. HAVE THE PARTY!