Getting the Apartment Ready to Host for the Holidays
The end of the year is bustling and busy for many: ‘Tis the season for packed social calendars and seemingly endless shopping lists. Various end-of-the-year holidays, festivities and traditions call for gathering together with communities to enjoy one another’s company. Hosting a get-together in your own apartment may feel like a daunting task, but with plenty of preparation, you can be the host of the party of the season. Each apartment has its own unique strengths that can contribute to a successful, memorable gathering. With a solid game plan and an arsenal of to-do lists, your apartment will transform into a holiday showstopper ready to showcase your excellent hosting abilities.
Make the most of the space you have
Hosting a stellar party is all about creating a comfortable and inviting space for guests to enjoy themselves. No matter if your apartment is a studio or 3-bedroom, single- or double-story, every apartment can be arranged in a unique way for festivities! To start planning your holiday gathering, first consider your apartment’s layout to determine which spaces are best suited for guests. Play to your apartment’s existing strengths. An open concept dining and living room is an excellent place to host a large dinner party, suited for long tables with plenty of chairs. A spare room gives hosts the flexibility to create a cozy den for movie and game nights. Access to a private patio creates a whole new dimension to the party atmosphere, allowing guests to wander in and out for a lovely evening cocktail hour. The easiest way to host a memorable party is to make the most of what your home already has to offer!
Ample seating is key for your party to feel comfortable, inviting your guests to stop and stay awhile. Ensure that every person on your guest list may sit whenever they need. Once again, start with what you have. Arrange dining and folding chairs in the spots where seating is needed most. Sofas and armchairs are usually the first spot claimed at any party. When possible, make comfortable seating options the centerpiece of the gathering, even if that means arranging them in a new configuration that makes more sense for your event. During casual hangouts, the floor itself can be the best seat in the house. Stackable floor cushions are comfortable and easily storable seating options for lounging and relaxing. With seating possibilities mapped out, make a note of the approximate number of guests that can comfortably relax. Compare this number with the amount of visitor parking spaces and nearby public parking available to determine your maximum headcount.
Beyond your own unit, apartment communities often offer amenities to residents and their guests for recreational activities. While a pool may not be preferable for winter parties, a spa or jacuzzi may be a fun cozy outing during the chilly months. If your community offers a clubhouse or similar activity room, check with your community manager if the room is available to book for parties. If so, bringing the party to a larger space may allow your guests to mix and mingle more freely. If you choose to make use of communal spaces, be sure to follow all guidelines provided by the leasing office. Only use spaces during the time booked or the indicated “open” hours. Be very mindful of other residents and their guests who may want to share the space. Set your party start and end time as such to abide by noise restrictions and quiet hours that may be in place at your property to remain respectful of the entire community. Every community has unique offerings to liven up a holiday gathering. Use what is at your disposal to plan a merry and bright party.
Decide on a theme
Building on the inspiration for the size and layout of the party, now the fun part of the planning process can begin: determining what type of get-together you would like to host. The winter months host a large array of holidays and traditions each of which call for unique festivities. For some gatherings, a game night of friendly competition and high energy is just the key for seasonal cheer. Successful game nights rely on the provision of plenty of table top space and seating for everyone to participate equally. In this case, centering the party around the dining table or coffee table in a larger, open room can make it easier for everyone to get up and move around as needed. For a lively night of socializing, a cocktail hour can encourage guests to mix and mingle more. Arrange furniture around the edges of the room with appetizers and snacks laid out throughout the setup. Guests will have the freedom to grab food whenever they need and wherever they are so the conversations can keep going. For cozy movie nights, lounging is the way to go. Seating options should all be arranged facing the TV so that everyone can relax comfortably. A stocked snack bar within arms reach on a coffee or end table means that no one needs to miss a moment of the night's feature.
If you’re feeling ambitious as a host, why commit to just one theme? Try creating various party “zones” around the apartment to please every guest’s preferences. In one end of the room, turn on your favorite holiday films to play throughout the night for anyone to sit and relax or step in and out of enjoying the movie. Set up a kid friendly zone where little ones in attendance can hang out and play while parents can take a stress-free break to catch up with friends. Prop up a table with chairs and cushions, away from outlets, electricals, and breakables. Include age safe toys, coloring books, and crafts where kids can keep entertained all night. Avoid small items that could cause a choking hazard. A lounge zone in a space separated from the action can help provide a quiet break for any guests who either need to step away or would prefer to have one-on-one conversations. If you have a spare bedroom or cozy corner of the room, throw open the door with some warm lighting and light music to create a relaxed area, perfect for any guests who need to recharge before rejoining the crowd.
If you are looking to upgrade your entertainment tech, there is no time like the present. Holiday sales mean great deals on high tech systems. A larger TV screen with higher resolution means movie nights can be more epic and immersive than ever. If instead of definition, you’re interested in making movie nights fun and cozy, a projector can make the atmosphere feel like a comfy, campy sleepover. Perhaps you’d like to pick up an extra bluetooth speaker or HomePod to keep the music going throughout the whole house. Add a new console like the Nintendo Switch to your repertoire for some friendly but fierce competition.
Planning and Preparation
With a party plan full in motion, it’s time to start preparing. To keep on schedule and to stay organized, make lists for everything. Start with the guest list: keeping in mind the headcount cap determined by your space, make a list of all guests you would like to invite. To keep everything simple and organized, try using a digital invite service such as Evite. Digital invitations do most of the work for you, keeping your guest list and RSVPs in one place with automatic reminders sent out regularly. This clears up more time to prepare your home for the festivities ahead. Once the guest list is set and invitations are sent, focus on what you need to get and what you need to do. Make one list of supplies needed and to-dos to accomplish.
Considering your menu and preferred party atmosphere, list out everything you will need from groceries and serving tools to decorations and any other needed supplies. Don’t be afraid to ask for help from your guests as well. Having a potluck or receiving contributions of supplies you may not already have can relieve a lot of stress and allow you to enjoy the planning process more. The last list you may want to make is the schedule for the day. For simple, small gatherings, a schedule may not be necessary. However, if you find that you work best with time blocking or deadlines, a schedule may keep you more organized and create a structure for planning. At its most basic, a party planning schedule should include what days each task needs to be accomplished by and time blocking for the day-of, such as when food should be prepped and finished, when guests will arrive, and what times activities will take place.
In order to make the planning process easier and smoother for all future apartment events, having the right hosting supplies on hand and ready to use! To begin with, functional serving dishes such as platters, trays and large bowls make it easy to set out all of your party courses. A large salad bowl is a great addition for side dishes, snack mixes, and desserts! Wood or stone serving boards are beautiful functional pieces that can turn a charcuterie set or flatbread into a stunning culinary center piece sure to impress. Serving utensils like tongs, ladles, and butter knives are essential for utility and ease when serving a large party. And while aesthetic pieces brighten up the party, prioritize functional and easy to store items that can remain out of the way between events. If you host large gatherings often, it could be worthwhile to invest in extra sets of dishware. Local thrift stores are great spots for finding full sets of dishware for cheap pricing. Alternatively, disposable dishware can make party prep and clean up quicker and easier. Around this time of year, Amazon and other retailers offer full disposable service sets for affordable pricing. Take this opportunity to stock up for your upcoming parties. Don’t neglect to replenish your stock of toilet paper, napkins, and paper towels at this time as well.
Party Time!
Finally everything is in place and ready to go. The final step is to clean and prepare the apartment to receive your guests. Dust, sweep, vacuum and tidy. Do a visual sweep of the house to check if there are any unnecessary items that can be stored away to make more space for food and decorations. Choose a designated spot such as a coat rack, storage closet, or bench where guests can leave their bags, coats, and shoes. Next, organize your counters in such a way that every bit is used efficiently. Strategize how you can use your apartment’s furniture to its full potential to ensure an organized and fully prepared party! Arrange your furniture for comfort and functionality, maximizing seating and curating a homey and welcoming environment. Finally you can put up the decorations! These final thoughtful touches are the perfect way to brighten up your home to create excitement for everyone attending! Choose seasonal items that are relevant to the theme and style of the party. Use warm low light or colorful bright lights to set the tone for the party energy. Keep in mind as you decorate that guests should feel welcome and at home! Keeping up personal items that display you and your household’s unique personalities can help guests feel more comfortable rather than too formal.
Once guests have started to arrive - relax and enjoy yourself, knowing that all of the preparation is done and will pay off. While party planning can be stressful and time consuming, preparing for your party can allow you to enjoy the event and create a fun and exciting experience for all of your guests.