Party decorations may be fun, but they can also make the space feel a little overwhelming. You can set the mood and convey the theme of your party perfectly without tons of hanging

streamers, countless balloons, and decorations on every flat surface. 

Invest in a couple cute banners or garlands to hang around, use your tables, tv-stands, and doorways to hold decorations. Choose dining

wear that fits the theme. You can even use your desserts as decor until time comes to eat them. 

Keep things sweet, but simple. Your guests already know why they are

at your party. You don't need to remind them with every piece of decor you choose to display. 

They way your furniture is normally set up may look and function great for your day to day life but be a serious hinderance to the space during a party. 

If

you noticed that your layout makes it difficult for people to move around easily, sit near each other, or generally enjoy themselves, it may be time to move things around. 

Couches,

chairs, and coffee tables can always be moved back into their original places. Making sure that your guests are comfortable and not squeezed together in a tight space is super

important. 

By nature, being a good host means that you're probably going to be doing a bit of ripping and running for the sake of your party. This doesn't mean that

you have to wait on people hand and foot, but it is generally a pretty demanding task. 

You need to take the time to relax and enjoy your gathering as much

as possible, which makes getting just about everything done beforehand super important. Decor, food, plans for entertainment. Everything should already be prepared when your guests arrive. 

Constantly running back and forth

through the kitchen, dining room, and living room trying to ensure that everything is perfect is tiring and even downright annoying for your guests. 

Not only does this save people from

sitting around your house bored and hungry, but it also clears up space in the kitchen and allows you some free time once everything starts. 

Odds are, if you live in a small apartment, your seating choices are pretty limited. Due to size and necessity, in addition to your couch, living room chairs, you probably

only have a few seating options. 

If you have more guests than seats, it's time to get creative. Utilize blanks and throw pillows around the coffee table so that people can

sit comfortably on the floor. Don't get annoyed when people need to sit on the couch to eat. And prepare for the arms of your big, comfy chairs and couches

to face a little bit of wear during the night. 

Unless your party is super formal, you don't need to serve everyone. Set up a table a space in the corner of the room, or use your dining room table

or kitchen counter, to house your food. Have everyone line up and serve themselves buffet style. 

You can house everything from appetizers to desserts on this table. Your guests won't have

to constantly ask you where things are and no one will have trouble finding what they want.

This keeps the food from being cluttered all around the house and kitchen and

keeps you from having to do tons of work at the same time! 

Tip: It may also be beneficial to have a designated garbage area as well. If your guests are using

your personal dinnerware, instruct them to place the items in the sink. If they are using disposable ones, remind them to toss them out in a garbage bag once they

finish eating. 

The lighting you incorporate has a huge effect on how large your space looks. Dark, dull places can seem more cluttered and closed-in and make people antsy. 

If you are hosting

a party in the daytime, be sure to open your blinds and curtains and allow tons of natural sunlight into the apartment. If your party is during the evening, turn

your lights on. Make sure your space is bright and inviting for all of your guests.