Thanksgiving is coming up next week. Whether you’re planning on having family over to your apartment, having a “friendsgiving” or a combination of both, hosting a feast in a small apartment can be tough. With some good planning and creativity, you can pull off a great, festive event in a small apartment. Below are some tips to help you do so.
When space is limited, planning is important. Determine how many people you can seat in your apartment, then invite people accordingly. Make a list of everything that needs to be done and when it should be completed as well. It will help with your stress levels as you get ready. Lastly, clean and decorate as much as you can a few days or a week before. That way you can focus on preparing the food and last minute details the day of.
In a small apartment, preparing and cooking a variety of side dishes can be tricky. Consider making your Thanksgiving meal BYOSD (Bring Your Own Side Dish). Doing so will save you a lot of time and energy. Friends with dietary restrictions will likely appreciate the BYOSD approach as well, as they can make sure their side dish is okay for their diet.
If you’re set on making the entire meal yourself, prep and cook as many of the side dishes the day before. Most side dishes can be refrigerated overnight and simply reheated before the meal. Prepping and cooking the sides beforehand will allow you to focus on the Turkey the day of the dinner.
A large dining table probably isn’t possible in a small Chicago apartment. Use the seating you have, then borrow smaller tables from friends and neighbors. Since your seating will be unique, consider assigning seats. Doing so will make seating less confusing and more comfortable for guests. A petite friend will be able to sit in a smaller space much more easily than a 6’3” friend.
This one can be tough. Other friends and family tend to show up in town last minute around the holidays. While you may want to invite everyone, you’re dealing with a small space. If there are a number of people who you can’t fit at your dinner, offer to meet them for a drink later in the evening.
Too many decorations can result in a cluttered space. Keep your holiday decorations to a minimum. Your apartment will look bigger and guests will be able to move around more easily. Also, try to avoid setting up a large Christmas tree until after your Thanksgiving dinner. Doing so will provide you with valuable extra space.
