Day 10. Space: Even a Cardboard Table Will Work
Wow! I can’t believe we are 1/3 way through my “31 Days of Stress-Free Entertaining Series.” I’ve really enjoyed my time here with all of my wonderful readers and the comments you have left. Thank you for being a part of this month of October with me, and with my other friends and The Nester, who came up with this fabulous idea. I’m learning a lot this month!
So what about space? I’ve heard for 4 years now that people just don’t want to entertain because they live in an apartment, they don’t have a decent table, their living space is too small inside so they only do “outdoor” entertaining, etc.
I do agree that everyone has their own comfort level. But space issues should not stop us from reaching out to others.
– Learn to transform even a cardboard table with a table cloth
– Mix-matched chairs work just fine
– Buy TV trays at a yard sale and sit in the living room
– Buffet-style entertaining is SO easy
If you can get over your “imperfect” space issue, you’re on your way to good times. I promise you this.
I personally believe that “space” is a joy buster in entertaining. You feel defeated from the very beginning when there’s a “spark” of wanting to invite people in, but your space is not “perfect.” (Read about “perfect” here.)
Again, read through my book, The Reluctant Entertainer, and learn ways that you can overcome “joy busters” by decreasing anxiety and combating these fears with what’s really important.
Get out of your mind that the space in your home is inadequate! Even in the smallest spaces, people all over the world are enjoying food and connection with one another.
Do you struggle with imperfect space issues in your home? Or, how have you overcome them?
More 31-Days …
Chatting at the Sky, Nesting Place, Balancing Beauty and Bedlam, My First Kitchen, Life With My 3 Boybarians, Remodeling This Life, The Inspired Room
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Growing up, I’m so glad my mom was always willing to be a hostess. So many friends and family had bigger, more expensive homes than ours, but often they were reluctant to host. Our home, while maybe smaller, was full of love, and mom was always quick to offer our home up for a get-together. Her example has made me an eager hostess too. My parties aren’t always perfect, and our little townhome isn’t exactly spacious, but thank to my mom’s example, those things don’t keep me from inviting over those we love. I’m so grateful for that!
I had your book out yesterday. Woohoo! I need to read about joy busters. :)
When we were first married our Sunday school teacher made the comment that if you’re not hospitable with a little you’ll never be hospitable with a lot. It’s stood as a reminder to me that I don’t have to have 100% unchipped plates, my furniture doesn’t have to match, and my house doesn’t have to be huge to have people over. We had a 900 sq ft home at first and we got like 22 people in there once and it was so fun and no one complained about having to sit on the stairs leading to the upstairs loft.
I AGREE 100% !
My parents never let the size of our home or what we had/didn’t have affect who we had or how many we had into our home! There was always room for “one more”. It hasn’t been until the past few years I have realized the gift of hospitality from the heart that MY PARENTS PRACTICED AND CONTINUE TO PRACTICE TO THIS DAY. Maybe that is why all of our friends congregated at our home and called my parents “dad” and “mom”! :}
I had a tea party this past April in our tiny little cottage. Nine ladies attended, and we had a great time in our tiny space. I brought in the card table and covered it with a lovely floral cloth from my favorite store ever–Goodwill! Also brought in the patio table and covered it with an inexpensive tablecloth from a local discount store. With these and the dining room table, everyone had a comfy seat. It was a little cozy, but no one complained. Thank you for your great posts!
Where do you normally find / buy your tablecloths?
Our first apartment was small and we had a kitchen table that we could use three chairs around. Not going to work to invite people over. However, we regularly had two couples over and we’d move the kitchen table into the living room and pair it with a card table and use the couch, the two kitchen chairs, a rocking chair and one other chair to fit our whole party! It was wonderful!
Sadly, now we have much more space (and kids) so we entertain less often, but hopefully that is changing soon.
Just wanted you to know I’ve been encouraged by your series. I don’t like my house and I haven’t like it in years and year. I may get the courage up to have some folks over. Not yet though. Thanks for a beautiful blog.
Space issues are of no concern in our current place! However, depending on the home, we have needed to be creative with card tables or trays. We also have a child sized card table and chairs we got from Wal Greens some years ago which is perfect to put next to an adult table.
Oh yeah. My house is tiny, and especially when guests have kids, it is way too crowded for my taste! I’m looking forward to decluttering a bit this fall and experimenting with different furniture arrangements that will make this a little better.
I read an article – I think it was in Rachael Ray’s magazine – that suggested unifying mismatched chairs by placing matching pillowcases over the backs and wrapping with ribbon. How smart is that?! (And I’m sorry if you’ve shared this idea before. I’m sure that magazine wasn’t the first place to come up with it!)
I have such a hangup over my kitchen table. I love it, it’s part of my family history b/c it’s the table I grew up eating at, but after all of these years and my kids using glue, glitter, and permanent markers at it while we’ve lived our life together, it has seen better days. I love it, I love the stories it tells, but I am always afraid other people don’t appreciate those kinds of things. I find myself anytime anyone is over, that I talk about it, make excuses for it, explain it. Instead of just letting it go and knowing having people over is about more than how nice the table you are sitting at is.
I needed this today, Sandy. Thank you.
xoxo