When you live in an apartment, you may feel like many entertainment options are not open to you as they would be in a spacious single-family home. But in fact, you can do a lot of entertaining by working with your apartment rather than against it. Not sure how to do this? Here are a few tips no matter what type of entertaining you want to do.
1. Make Use of Common Spaces
The first, and best, place to look for extra entertaining space is within the shared areas of your apartment complex. Most complexes provide free indoor and outdoor facilities that residents can reserve or use to complement their own home space. This may include outdoor barbecues or grills, outdoor tables and lawns, indoor media rooms, and furnished decks. Take advantage of these features included in your rent.
2. Consider the Type of Gathering
Some gatherings are more suited to a limited environment than others. If you like to host larger groups, find ways to do so that take up less space or don't require as much from a smaller kitchen.
A large dinner party, for instance, requires a lot of room to prepare and serve a full meal and provide enough room for everyone to sit down and enjoy it for hours. If you have limited space, consider hosting a cocktail-style dinner where everyone can mingle while munching on bite-sized morsels. Or, throw a progressive dinner where people move between homes for different courses.
3. Use More of the Home
Typically, entertaining is done in the public areas of the home - living room, dining room, and kitchen. But if your public spaces are not ample, make clever use of what other space you do have.
If you can rent an apartment with an extra room, for instance, this space could be an overflow entertainment area or a place where guests can do different - perhaps louder - activities. Spread out the elements of the party into unexpected places, like placing appetizers on cleared bookshelves or using a large cover over stove burners to increase kitchen space. And always incorporate your balcony or patio.
4. Use Mobile Furniture
Furniture that can be moved around makes it easy to entertain groups of all sizes. A rolling bar is a great example. A handy bar cart is stored out of the way and can be used both for alcohol service as well as appetizers, dessert, or part of your main meal. Other furniture options can help as well - things like flexible sectional sofas, ottomans, tables that extend and retract, and chairs or tables the fold when not in use.
5. Incorporate Neighborhood Options
What is the area around your apartment like? If you choose a highly walkable area, you have many options for entertaining beyond your four walls. Look for local options that complement your style of entertaining - what you would do if you were in your own home.
So if you like afternoon grilling parties, you might take note of a local park with facilities you can rent. Like to host dinner parties? Start at a local eatery and head home to cap off the night with dessert and drinks at your place. The choices are up to you and highly customizable.
If you get creative, your apartment can serve as the home base for many fun gatherings. The trick is to maximize what you have, craft entertainment that fits your home and make use of what's around the area. Learn more about apartment amenities, sizes, and configurations perfect for whatever you like to do with friends by visiting Crossroads Westside Apartments today.