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Stocksy WINTER 2017 BCA A .COM 27 Five smart holiday entertaining tips for small spaces BY JANET GYENES The More the Merrier Hip style, elevated cuisine, expertly crafted cocktails: it's the trifecta for a cool-meets- sophisticated holiday party. Create that vibe in even the tiniest of condos with this primer on entertaining like a rock star in a small space. 1. Clear surfaces and shift furniture. Several days before your soirée, remove items like photos, plants and pillows that might get damaged or be in the way. Clear kitchen counters of non-essentials like small appliances. If you're not serving a sit-down dinner, encourage mingling (and later, dancing) by nudging your dining table against a wall. Move chairs into pairs to create mini conversation zones. 2. Turn up the ambience. Reflective glass, metal and mirrored accessories, like mini disco-ball ornaments, amp up the glam factor and don't clash with existing decor. Add strings of LED fairy lights to cast a glow and reflect in those accents. 3. Set up stations. Keep crowds from congregating in the kitchen by placing food and beverages throughout your space (pre-prep food to minimize the clutter on display for guests). Don't want to break out plates and utensils? Go with one-bite snacks or skewered items for easy grazing. 4. Elevate everyday snacks. Drizzle earthy truffle oil over popcorn served in festive paper cups, top devilled quail eggs with a smidgen of sustainable caviar and pile marble platters with charcuterie and cheeses, accompanied by crackers, artisanal breads and bowls of citrusy olives and spiced nuts. 5. Keep beverages flowing. Making drinks to order takes time, so premix a signature cocktail like a classic Negroni (equal parts gin, Campari and sweet vermouth) that's easy to scale up and pour from a pitcher. Or: stock up on self-serve drinks, like mini-bottles of wine, soda water and bottled craft beer. ■ Forgo fussy flowers, centrepieces and candles, which can be fire hazards with guests milling about in a small space. Instead, try fragrant cedar swags or seeded eucalyptus branches tucked along the edges of mantels, place settings and artwork. TIP! Offer assorted non-alcoholic beverages for guests who are driving, and be proactive about arranging safe rides for those who have been drinking.