Do you have the vexing problem of having too many friends?
It doesn’t sound bad on the surface but once you decide to have a party and look at your cramped rooms, fear strikes.
A stampede! My living room will be trashed! My cats will never recover!
Chill, help is here. If this Brooklyn apartment can fit forty people without any outdoor space, then you can, too.
You’d be surprised how much more space—physical and psychological—you can free up by adjusting furniture, sound, and lighting. (Photos: Elizabeth Hayes)
Here are five easy ways to expand your space and control traffic flow.
Remove the rugs
Area rugs are high on my list of decorative finishes but when an evening where 80 human feet will be shuffling (and maybe dancing) you want to clear the decks. Below you can see this small living room floor is almost entirely covered by an area rug.
Ordinarily rugs provide a cozy environment and tend to make a room feel intimate. For a large party, you want liberation.
Rug removal in process. This doesn’t actually add physical space but it conveys a more airy environment that party guests will appreciate.
Pulling it out makes the room reconnect with the staircase area and seem larger. Wall-to-wall carpeting or tile will achieve the same effect.
Rearrange the furniture
View from the loft shows two generous gathering areas divided by the couch.
Rearranging and reducing furniture is a significant way to fit more people comfortably in your home. In the public area of their apartment, Elizabeth and Sukrith moved the dining room table so that it was flat against the wall instead of centered. They also shoved the large glass coffee table underneath the windows in the living room to free up standing space.
Designate gathering areas
Don’t wait for your guests to create their own spaces or they’ll be doing a scrum in the kitchen. Instead, make your own areas using chairs, cushions, tables, and even decorations.
Two chairs near the refreshment table offer a nice view from the sliding glass doors. Opposite, two additional chairs are backed against the couch, with plenty of space around for standing guests.
To steer people away from the working area of the kitchen, arrange seating that is nearby but not in the way. People gravitate naturally toward the kitchen but they’ll take the seating if it’s offered.
If you show people where you would like them to gather, then they’ll usually respond to that guidance.
Run the TV (on silent) with a popular show
It works in sports bars, so why not offer some ambient entertainment for your party guests?
Here’s something I probably never would have thought of. Even the best of parties have lulls where entertainment might be a welcome distraction. The couple set their large TV on episodes of “Sex and the City,” one of Gen Z’s most popular series. But it can be anything you think your crowd will enjoy.
Best practice is to keep the sound off and the captions on for a diversion that is fun but not disruptive to the party vibe.
Swap out bright bulbs for color
Another not-so-obvious but great party trick is to change up the lighting. There’s a reason clubs and bars use strategic lighting: dim colored lights eliminate glare, heighten the feeling of mystery, and actually make guests feel more confident and attractive.
A pink/red glow can bring a feeling of warm energy while a blue or purple glow lends calm with a hint of drama.
While colored lighting doesn’t directly add square footage to your party, it helps you set the mood and tone of the party. It encourages people to gather and talk, buffering the settled groups from the masses of people coming through your front door.
Low or colored lighting brings a measurable psychological lift to a party.
You can purchase smart LED bulbs or strips that change from traditional to colored lighting with the help of an app or using Alexa. Elizabeth used Phillips Hue Lights but there are lots of options out there.
Don’t let a compact space put a damper on your urge to entertain. There is always room for more friends.