 |
|
A great way to make space for a party is to arrange your furniture in corners.
|
When it comes to entertaining, it isn't how much space you have that matters, but what you do with what's already available. There are plenty of steps you can take in a small house or apartment that will make room for your guests. Host Heidi Bohay is joined by event planner Jason Mausser, who believes that even the most cramped quarters can be transformed into Party Central. Mausser claims that throwing a party in a small area is actually easier and less expensive than entertaining in a large space: because you are simply rearranging the things that you already have, you're create a different look that is unique to your home while providing a space that is more interactive for everybody. Conversely, with larger areas it is necessary to fill in the extra space so your guests feel more comfortable. Since most people's living rooms are set up for private use, Mausser says, the most important rule for hosting a party in a small area is to open up the furniture so that all guests can be involved in easy conversation. Bohay advises hosts to avoid pushing everything against the wall when arranging furniture in the living room. Leaving a single coffee table stranded in the middle of a circle of furniture can give the room the appearance of a hotel lobby. Instead, arrange pieces so that guests can comfortably chat with one another (this is usually how the furniture ends up after a party anyway). Another way to open up small homes for entertaining is to change the bedroom into a party room. Mausser says the key to this transformation is to alter the room's appearance as much as possible. Push the bed against the wall, cover the furniture and add some mood lighting to invite your guests into this normally off-limits room. These small decorative touches disguise the bedroom and provide extra seating for your guests. Mausser offers these additional creative ideas to help utilize existing elements for small-space entertaining: - You don't need a formal buffet table on which to display your food. Instead of worrying about where to place a long table in small quarters, transform your TV into a serving table by covering it with a tablecloth or other large piece of material.
- In order to create additional seating areas, use large pillows from the sofa on the floor, or cover a few throw pillows with a blanket.
GUESTS :
Jason Mausser
Event Planner
Events in Motion
7660 Beverly Blvd.
Suite 410
Los Angeles, CA 90063
Phone: 310-578-7189
| 
)
