Happy December 1st! We are officially in the Christmas Holiday spirit now. But are you worried about hosting the perfect holiday party. Well here’s a couple thought to enlighten you and make you the best host! Read more below…

You might assume by lacking a formal entertaining space, you can’t host holiday festivities at home this December. On the contrary, small spaces tend to be cozier, more inviting atmospheres for small gatherings. And if you’re looking to cook for friends and family, creating a spread worthy of a feast doesn’t require a massive dining table.

If you live in a studio or a small apartment, follow these tips for hosting a seamless holiday get together – from start to finish.

Create distinctive, warm invitations

Paper cards are great for scrapbooking memories, but electronic invitations are the streamlined alternative, better for both the environment and the budget. The website Paperless Post offers hundreds of cards, including various user designable formats, at low costs – sometimes even complimentary. When planning your cards, or simply selecting one of the beautiful pre-designed options, consider your audience. Minimalist designs incite emotions without overwhelming, which is why the less-is-more strategy has become increasingly popular amongst consumers. A humble, festive banner with thin text is simplistic yet aesthetically pleasing. Don’t forget basic information on the back or inside of the card, including the time, date, location, dress code and menu items (in case of allergies) for the soiree. If things are going to be pretty tight space-wise, you might want to remind your guests to bring folding chairs or pillows for added comfort.

Buy wine in bulk

Large liquor outlets are great for stocking up on booze. Buying alcohol in bulk is cost-effective for large parties, and a great money-saver around the holidays. Any wine or booze leftover from Thanksgiving can be used throughout the month of December, or for January 1st parties to ring in the New Year right. If you don’t have enough wine glasses to go around, ask a few close friends to bring their sets to supplement. Just don’t forget to return them before their next soiree.

Prepare dishes ahead of time

If you’re hosting a dinner party, encourage guests to bring and share their holiday favorites in a potluck-like fashion. Collaborative meals allows each individual, not just the host, their own conversation piece to make starting new friendships easier, especially if not everyone in the room knows one another beforehand. Just make sure no one plans for cooking onsite when your already struggling to fit a full-size Christmas roast in your studio-sized kitchen oven. And don’t feel obligated to set strict meal times at 7pm, either. Try a fun holiday brunch, complete with fresh squeezed mimosas, sweet cakes and an omelette bar. Think sweet and savory to appeal to a wide variety of palettes.

Create an organic centerpiece

Don’t bother with long-stemmed red roses around the holidays, unless your entertaining your significant other for an anniversary. Opt for winter-inspired center pieces, like clear, glass jars filled with cranberries and pinecones. Assuming your table is smaller in size, you can get away with using cute decor without looking like you skimped on holiday trimmings. Use sprigs as place markers in front of each plate. Don’t forget the candles and twinkling lights, either! To keep the cuisine shining, stick to unscented versions and use any flames to create atmosphere over fragrance.

Most importantly, be present and don’t stress over the details. Use your hosting position to bring everyone together, create memories over delicious, savory food and laugh over the inevitable bumps throughout the night.