Small-Space Entertaining
The holiday season is almost here! To help with your hosting duties, I’m sharing some ideas on how to maximize the useable space in a petite home.
Cooking While Entertaining
![A small kitchen space benefits from a butcher-block surface island, with a pull-out work surface, and plenty of open and closed storage nearby.](https://kimballstarr.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Kimball-Starr-Interior-Design_Small-Space-Entertaining_Kitchen-1-580x800.jpg)
In the photo above, the custom island appears in the foreground, clad in butcher-block for the perfect chopping surface. A pullout work surface provides additional drinks space for guests, while you cook and entertain.
![A closeup on the kitchen reveals deep drawers under the island. Behind, a mix of open and closed shelving keep kitchen tools close at hand. Place pretty, infrequently-used items on the top surface.](https://kimballstarr.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Kimball-Starr-Interior-Design_Small-Space-Entertaining_Kitchen-Storage-580x871.jpg)
Deep drawers are great for multi-use storage. A mix of open and closed shelving is ideal for displaying your china, and keeping kitchen items close at hand. Place infrequently-used pieces that are also beautiful at the top of your cabinetry, for a good way to utilize the top surface.
![A corner banquette maximizes the space for seating guests in a small dining area. The custom coffee table is great for pre-dinner cocktails. Raise it up for dinner.](https://kimballstarr.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Kimball-Starr-Interior-Design_Custom-Design_Curved-Banquette-580x386.jpg)
In the dining area, a corner banquette lets you pack a lot of people in a small space. An adjustable-height coffee table is perfect for pre-dinner cocktails. Raise the table when you’re ready for dinner.
Entertaining in a Petite Living Room
The living room is the primary living space where we relax, spend downtime after a hard day’s work, and have fun with friends and family. If you have tight space restrictions, reducing clutter through clever storage will maximize your living and entertaining area, as in the sliding shoji screens below.
![Up a small set of stairs with a wooden-topped metal railing into the living area, you see a set of sliding wooden shoji screens, with a TV visible in the open side. Open shelves to the left hold family photos. On the far left, you just see the end of a light-colored sofa.](https://kimballstarr.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Kimball-Starr-Interior-Design_Small-Space-Entertaining_Living-Area-580x685.jpg)
Here, the glass partition between rooms functions as the balustrade for the stairwell. Instead of installing a sheet-rocked wall, the glass partition takes up less depth, provides safety, and allows the eye to travel freely.
![Looking further into the living room, a heavy wooden coffee table sits upon a blue, tan and brown patterned rug, in front of an L-shaped light-colored corner sofa with blue and brown throw pillows. Wall-mounted speakers save space and provide great sound for the party. Double glass doors surrounded by the same warm wood tones let in lots of natural light.](https://kimballstarr.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Kimball-Starr-Interior-Design_Small-Space-Entertaining_Living-Room-1-580x386.jpg)
An L-shaped sectional sofa fits perfectly from wall to wall, to maximize comfortable seating. Keep the upholstery color similar to the wall color, so the room is visually open. The heavy coffee table does triple duty here — functioning as a table, providing storage underneath for remote controls and game consoles, and also serving as additional seating when more guests arrive.
If you need ideas for a space to entertain, interior designer Kimball Starr provides design for all sizes of homes throughout the San Francisco, San Jose, and Marin areas. Contact her today for a consultation!