Essential elements for entertaining a crowd in a small space

Follow the below tips and invest in some space-saving products to throw the perfect party for a large crowd in your tiny space.

The first step in your preparations is to open up your space. Push furniture to the outside of the room to give it an open, airy feeling. Create extra seating by removing throw pillows and stacking them into a cosy corner with a few blankets. Have guests put coats and bags in the bedroom so they don't add excess bulk to the entryway. With a small space, it's imperative to decrease clutter everywhere you can.

The key to making sure there isn't a bottleneck in the party is to keep things spread out. Put your bar on one side of the room, with plenty of space around it for mingling (because people always mingle by the bar), and place snack-type foods in every corner of the room. The less you keep in one spot, the more flow you are promoting.

If you lack surfaces to set things up on, consider using a space that is already occupied in a new and different way. Have a washer in your kitchen? Throw a cute tablecloth over it and use it as the dessert station. Shelves full of books? Empty one shelf for the evening and use it as a station for glassware, plates, silverware and napkins.

Having an actual bar in your small space sounds like it would be bulky, but it doesn't have to be. There are some great DIY wall-mounted solutions that showcase your cocktail collection without taking up precious floor or surface space. One option that is virtually free is a pallet bar, made from an old shipping pallet. Another is a cabinet with a door that conceals the bar when it's not in use and provides a great working surface when you need it most.

Cabinet space in apartments and small homes is usually at a premium. Consider investing in bar ware that stacks. Something that works for both wine and cocktails is a great choice, and using something with a heavy base means less chance of spills in tight quarters.