Apartment Parties: Yay or Nay?
At some point in almost every social butterfly’s life, we’re going to want to invite people into our home for food, drink, and fun. When that home is an apartment, however, lots of questions come up. Am I allowed to have a group of people in my apartment? Will people want to actually come and hang out in my little space? Do I even <em>have</em> enough space for a party? How loud can the music be? Is this really a good idea? With a little creativity and a lot of consideration for your neighbors, you can probably pull off a lovely apartment party – so read on for some tips to make it marvelous!
– First, don’t go overboard and invite anyone & everyone. Keep the guest list small and keep your small space in mind!
– Next, check in with your management office. Let them know what you’re planning and find out if it’s actually ok. You don’t really want to risk that phone call from them the next day, do you? You know the one: “Good morning, Miss Party Pants. I’m calling because I received several complaints from your neighbors about an apparent ruckus in your apartment last night…”
– Speaking of your neighbors, you should also check in with them, too – all of them. The ones across the hall, to your left, to your right, above, and/or below you. And don’t spring it on them the day of your gathering; give them a couple of days’ notice! Tell them you’re having guests and ask them to come directly to you if they’re being bothered. Wouldn’t you rather see neighbor Mary in her nightgown at your door than Officer Killjoy? Yep, you would.
– Don’t forget about your neighbors after you’ve told them about the party. Keep the music at a reasonable volume and gently remind guests not to scream like banshees.
– Use your space wisely! Keep the food and beverages in an area where there’s enough room for people to move about easily and make sure there’s plenty of seating so people don’t feel on top of each other.
– Don’t skimp on the food options! Having more food than you need and getting stuck with leftovers is better than your guests needing to stop for fast food on the way home.
– More bodies in your apartment means it’s going to get a little warm in there…but if you open the windows, you could freeze everyone out. Be aware of how hot or cold it is and watch for shivering or melting party guests.
– Have some music playing in the background, just in case you run into the dreaded awkward silence (which you won’t, because your friends are awesome – right?). Just in case.
– Did we mention that you should be conscious of your neighbors?
Sounds like a lot of work, but it’s all absolutely worth it and can make for a wonderful night in!