Big Fun in Small Spaces..

Here's a little secret: Very few people feel like they have enough closet space and even fewer think they have the square footage to entertain properly. Don't worry; you don't need a palace to throw a great party. You just need to plan carefully and use the space you have efficiently. Every room and every piece of furniture is fair game for a creative, alternative use.Decide how many people you can safely accommodate, then craft your guest list. Let the number of guests determine the type of party you give. For a full house, think cocktails and hors d'oeuvres, dessert and champagne, or even sliced wraps and microbrews. A slightly smaller crowd can be treated to a brunch or supper buffet. If you simply cannot have a Christmas party without inviting everyone you know, opt for an open house. Stagger start times on your invitations and plan for about four hours of good times with a rotating cast of friends.Create open space in the center of each room. Move your dining table against a wall, push your bed into a corner and remove any obstacles you can. Drape holiday-print tablecloths and runners over the tops of bookcases, chests and occasional tables. These flat surfaces will give guests places to rest glasses and plates while socializing. Smooth a quilt or tailored coverlet over your bed and prop big throw pillows where the bed meets the wall. The bed will become another seating area when friends get tired of mingling. In a pinch, the throw pillows can evolve into floor cushions.Create food and drink stations around the house so you don't wind up with a traffic jam in the kitchen or dining room. Place the bar or tubs of drinks at the farthest corner of the house or on the patio or balcony. That move alone will instantly draw guests away from the front door. Place platters of finger foods throughout the house. Mini-quiches, taquitos, bruschetta, chips and dip or chilled shrimp placed on small tables or draped TV trays will keep guests circulating. Save the dining table for main entrees and side dishes. You'll want a separate area — perhaps in the kitchen or on a hall table — for desserts and coffee.At a really good party, dirty plates and glasses can quickly overtake every surface and make things feel cluttered. Avoid the problem by investing in beautiful, holiday-print disposable plates, glasses and flatware. Make regular sweeps through the house to clear used dishes, and place baskets lined with thick plastic bags in a few strategic spots.Nothing makes a house or apartment feel small faster than stuffy air. Before the party, set the thermostat a few degrees cooler than normal. If you have ceiling fans, turn them on at slow speed. Consider lighting your fireplace with a pretty, low-heat tea light candelabra instead of hot-burning logs. Put a small crack in the bathroom window. Once all your guests have arrived, their movement and body heat will quickly raise the temperature in the house.

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