[While we love this dining room set up featured at the DIFFA event, most of us in small spaces don't have a dining room to entertain our guests.]
One of the rooms that most smaller apartments and some homes don't come with is a formal dining room. A space simply dedicated to, well, dining. Don't fret, there are many other places in your home to entertain your guests that can allow you to have a great dinner party. Whether it's a
larger affair or an intimate gathering, check out some of our ideas after the jump.
With good music, friends and yummy food, your party will be a success regardless of where it is. That being said, here are a few places to try in place of a dining table.
1) Use your coffee table as the center of your party. Get some floor cushions, additional chairs and sit around the coffee table to enjoy your dinner party. This informal way to entertain friends is popular and casual.
2) Have your party right in the kitchen! If you have an eat-in kitchen and space, why not have your dinner party in there? Use a few folding tables and chairs and treat your guests to your cooking skills while they are enjoying the dinner. Of course, this would have you working during your own party but it can be fun and enjoyable.
3) Right outside your home could be a nice place to entertain your guests (warmer seasons permitting). If you don't have a lot of space inside but have access to the front of your building or a backyard space, take your party outside.
Check out more entertaining ideas from Apartment Therapy:
I was recently at a party in a co-worker's loft where we pulled up stools around their massive kitchen island and used it as a dining table...
...meanwhile, I'm thinking of dragging a small round dining table into the den and using that as a Dining Room for a future party: Seating folks on the Loveseat and Wing Chair and bringing in a couple of other small armchairs for additional seating.
view bepsf's profile
we have a decent sized table for dining, but not space in the kichen for people to sit on all sides. so we swapped it with the coffee table for one evening:
http://thefoodconnoissorges.blogspot.com/2008/11/mexican-mondays.html
view ohmaggie's profile
I use my coffee table, I set it up like a dining table my dining table is my desk in the front room. I use stacked cushions and ottomans as seating along with the sofa.
My best dinner party was in my back patio with a folding table and every chair i own.. Moroccan theme and I bought saris in little India in Berkeley for about 5.00 each and draped then on the table with lots of hurricanes and twinkling lights it was a hit and very beautiful for on the cheap but really great food was served.
view LoriSF's profile
Oh, sure. I'll just use my EAT-IN kitchen. You know, in case the billiard room and the conservatory are being repainted.
view Lisa Hunter (Montreal)'s profile
Lisa Hunter - our small space for two people is only 600 sq ft and we do have an eat-in kitchen that we have used for a fun cooking party - entertaining 8 friends. it was cozy but a lot of fun!
Check out our house tour to see the space that we have since turned into an office area. (We don't have a billards room though!)
http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/la/house-tours/la-house-tour-rebecca-and-joes-color-sampler--055990.
view RebeccaATLA's profile
Try this link...
http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/la/house-tours/la-house-tour-rebecca-and-joes-color-sampler--055990
view RebeccaATLA's profile