Room to party

It wouldn’t be summertime in Chicago without a barbeque or a beach day. It would also not be summer in Chicago without inclement weather. Sometimes you’ve got to move the party indoors. If you live in a smaller apartment like I do, hosting in your home may seem daunting, but it doesn’t have to be! Below are some of my top tips for hosting in a smaller space.

Too many cooks

No matter the size of your home, guests will gravitate towards the kitchen. You will not have room to maneuver around them, and that’s okay! Put your guests to work as co-hosts. Ask them to help refill drinks and snacks. Give each person a food they’re in charge of and embrace the kitchen as a shared space. If the kitchen-dwellers want to help, they will. If they don’t, they will likely move towards another space, freeing up more room in the kitchen. It’s a great opportunity to share the joys and responsibilities of hosting in a fun environment.

Coasting through life

Every surface is a table if you put a coaster on it. I’m only sort of joking. When hosting in a small space, every available surface will be used, whether you want it to or not. To prevent accidental water or food damage, stock up on coasters and put them everywhere. Bookshelves? Coasters. Desk? Coasters. Windowsill? Coasters. Great-Grandma’s cedar chest? Coasters-and maybe also a plastic cover. This will give you and your guests the freedom to gather comfortably without concern for spills. If you don’t have many coasters at home, and don’t want to buy them, I recommend visiting a local bar. They often get promotional coasters from vendors, not all of which get used. Ask if they have a small stack to spare.

Jukebox style playlists

Some folks are very proud of their perfectly curated party playlists. I am not one of those people. For someone who grew up in a musical household, my knowledge of modern music (read post-1950) is hilariously bad. Guests are welcome to peruse my CDs and record albums, but my preferred way to set the tone of the party is to create an empty Spotify playlist specific to the party I’m hosting. Then I invite my guests to add music they want to listen to-jukebox style-to that list. It becomes an event-long game that inspires people to revisit music they may not have listened to in years. It is an immediate source of personal jokes and is a sort of party favor that folks can take with them when they leave. Plus, it allows your guests to shape the mood of the party.

Overstimulation station

Something I often do when I’m hosting at my apartment is designate a space to serve as the “overstimulation station”. House parties can be joyously chaotic. When hosted in the limited space of a one-bedroom apartment, the noise and lack of elbow room can be overstimulating for guests. I like to designate a corner of my apartment as a calm space for folks to decompress. I equip this overstimulation station with a small folding table stacked with markers, coloring books, fidget toys, and a power bank with universal phone chargers. This way, guests can take a moment to relax and regroup without having to leave the party!

Regardless of the size of your space, I hope these recommendations have inspired you and make the prospect of hosting exciting.

Jenna Cohen is a marketing and communications professional living in Chicago.