Entertaining: Those of you with small houses

We are having about 25 people over on Sunday for DS 2nd bday and are already stressed out. We don't have a dining room......just a large kitchen and small living room.

We are planning to do a buffet and mostly have "standing room only".

We are going to encourage the kids to play in DS play room.

Does anyone else with a small house get stressed out when you have guests over?

We can't afford to have a party out somewhere this year, like we did last year.

Re: Entertaining: Those of you with small houses

We have a small house. when we entertain we mostly set up all the food in the kitchen buffet style and have everyone eating in the living room or kitchen if they can. The kids play in the third bedroom. But its tough, thats why when we have a lot of people over it needs to be in the summer when we can be outside on the deck.

Re: Entertaining: Those of you with small houses

Summer is easy because we have a big deck and large backyard.

I think I am stressing too because my sister and her boyfriend are coming tonight and my parents tommorrow night. I have come to find out that I just don't like people staying over either.......no matter who they are.

Re: Entertaining: Those of you with small houses

The most Ive ever had in our condo was 18 i believe... For last yr's superbowl party.... Some people stayed in the LR the whole time watching the game, us ladies were mostly around the DR table/kitchen.. And some boys occassionally went to the "man cave" to play beer pong ... So like you, we tried to spread out the crowd to make it more enjoyable... If we had a basement, we'd have the perfect size place

ETA: I had ALOT to drink at that party which took my mind off of me thinking people were feeling cramped

Message edited 12/31/2010 10:42:43 AM.

Re: Entertaining: Those of you with small houses

Posted by mzsocialworker1



Summer is easy because we have a big deck and large backyard.

I think I am stressing too because my sister and her boyfriend are coming tonight and my parents tommorrow night. I have come to find out that I just don't like people staying over either.......no matter who they are.

Re: Entertaining: Those of you with small houses

I get stressed out at the thought of entertaining too. Our living room and dining area is basically together and can seat at least 15 people.

But I find that people usually don't mind standing because smaller groups will start to break off to places like the kitchen for chatting and stuff. I think you'll be fine with 25, especially if you're including kids in that count.

Re: Entertaining: Those of you with small houses

Us too. I'm betting our house is smaller than yours since there's no way we can fit 25 in it and we don't have a formal dining room.

When we have more than 2 over, we setup chairs in the places that we want or think people will congregate. That way you're kind of setting up where you want them, or they could just drag a chair if they want to sit somewhere else.

Buffet is a great idea for that many people too. Good luck with it!

Re: Entertaining: Those of you with small houses

Oh yes. Three years ago I gave DH a surprise party in our house for his birthday in January. About 40 people were invited It was cramped but it all worked out. I think you will be fine with 25. People find places to be. Good luck!

Message edited 12/31/2010 2:30:55 PM.

Re: Entertaining: Those of you with small houses

Never - I love to entertain - I have a fairly small cape with a breezeway that helps-
We recently finished the basement, but haven't had a real party since ........

If I'm having friends over I don't stress at all - I throw a Christmas party every year and there are minimum 80 people in my house ...........

When there are older people and lot of kids - different stroy. I usually don't do anything when there are more than 6 or so kids - and the 'older' people are too 'old' to really just hang out and party - KWIM??

Re: Entertaining: Those of you with small houses

we have a small house and yes, i've been worried when we had parties. we don't have a DR either and the eat in area of our kitchen is small. But we also have a breakfast bar which helps. People just sorta spread out - some hung out in the kitchen, some in the living room (seats 6-7) and some in the den. These things always have a way of working themselves out!

Re: Entertaining: Those of you with small houses

Re: Entertaining: Those of you with small houses

I just did a 20 person sit-down christmas dinner.
i have a 12 seater dining table that we stretched out, and put my old kitchen table that i saved in the garage at the end, in a T.

i live in a levitt ranch, with an extension off the back of the living room, and it worked. it wasn't perfect. my other lindenhurst house was the perfect entertaining house. this is really a much smaller home.

don't stress, everyone will be in your kitchen, put your food outside of it so people can stand and chat and be in your way IN the kitchen.