If you think you need a big house to host a major holiday meal, youre mistaken.
Youcanhost a Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, or Christmas meal, even in asmall houseor apartment.
You just need to get creative.
This post originally appeared onImprovement Center.
Rearrange the furniture to maximize floor space.
Pack it all into the corner of a bedroom if you have to.
Bring small side tables out of bedrooms to make a resting place for drinks and plates.
Serving Alternatives in Small Homes
Not everyone has room to serve 20 at their dining table.
There are plenty of alternatives to the Norman Rockwell depiction of a holiday meal.
Dispense with the table completely if you should probably.
Plan to serve buffet style, and release any anxiety you have about your upholstery.
Got a gang of kids coming?
Pull out an extra tablecloth and let them picnic on the floor!
While youre at it, seriously consider disposable plates, napkins and flatware.
A heaping mound of dirty dishes in asmall kitchensink is overwhelming.
If the food and company are memorable, few are likely to focus on the plates and cutlery.
Keep Meal-Prep Simple
Chopping, mixing, and all the other cooking what-not takes up a lot of space.
When it comes to beverages, forget about offering every option.
Create a small station with a signature drink where guests can serve themselves.
Get Outside Your Small House
Find opportunities to get outdoors.
Take an after dinner walk through the neighborhood to check out the holiday lights.
Live in an apartment building with no yard?
Plan a scavenger hunt, and get your neighbors involved.
Then, invite them back for a piece of pie, and get to know them better.
Connecting with your community can make life more fulfilling all year long, not just during the holidays.
Most guests want to contribute, and its more fun to work as a team.
Ask some guests to arrive early to help with parts of meal preparation and table-setting.
Ask other guests to bring an appetizer or dessert to eliminate some of your cooking chores.
Enlist a teenager or grandparent to help entertain little kids.
In entertaining and in life, when everybody pitches in, it brings us closer together.
Its the time you spend together that makes the memoriesnot the table controls and other trappings.
Now, find your favorite recipes, and ask your Mom to bring Grandmas famous casserole.
Happy Holidays to one and all!
Photo byChelsea Francisvia Unsplash.
