I'll be the first to admit it: I love spending hours scrolling through beautiful party images on Instagram and Pinterest that I'll never be able to pull off. But after spending way too much time fantasizing over picture-perfect brunch snaps one day, I decided to try and host one myself. The only difference between my brunch and those I was looking at in my feed? Mine would be in my tiny apartment and on a budget.
Feeling a little intimated — because, well, we all know how perfect everything on social media can look — I went into this with an open mind. And after a few hours of shopping, I realised that my own ideas for brunch were actually much better than ones I was trying to emulate. I let my imagination run wild, and the result was a tropical-themed spread that impressed all my friends (and myself!). So, if you want a little brunch inspiration [1] for your next get-together, keep reading for five tips on how to pull it off in a small space. Just remember: put your own touches on everything, enjoy your time with your guests, and take plenty of pictures. Cheers!
Seating
It doesn't matter how much or how little seating you have in your home; what matters is how you space things out. I personally think the cozier, the better, which worked perfectly in my small apartment. We munched on appetizers around the kitchen island before moving to the table that housed a floral oasis! And while the table was full, we still had plenty of room to move around and relax.
To brighten up the space and make it feel more open, I mixed and matched my tableware. For example, this combination from Williams Sonoma [3] and Anthropologie [4] would work fabulous together, especially if you paired it with a basic gold charger plate [5] underneath. Don't be afraid to use bold colours!
Champagne
Whether you'll be enjoying a little bubbly or not during brunch, sipping your drink of choice out of champagne flutes [6] gives it a fun and sophisticated feel. Once again, depending on the vibe of your brunch, I think it's always fun to mix and match flute [7] patterns to match your colour scheme.
To save on space, make a small drink station in your kitchen where you can get your guests their beverages of choice. This will help eliminate any unwanted bottles or containers taking up space on the brunch table.
Party Favours
Although it's not your traditional party favour, planting succulents for your guests and making that the place seating can be such a fun and unique touch. Not only do you get to customise your gifts to your guest, it then pre-assigns seating and will help everyone avoid scrambling around a small space for a seat. Plus, you guests get to take that plant home and remember that fun day for a while.
Something that was important to me during this brunch was to make it feel tropical and full of flowers and fruits, but what do I do with all of this when the brunch was over? Another great gift to your guests is to send each of them home with a few beautiful flowers and fruits you bought for the brunch!
Tablescape
I recommend getting a round table in a small space so that everyone can see each other and easily chat. Round tables also fit nicely in smaller spaces and allow for more room to get up and move around when needed.
When it comes to the tablescape, I started with setting the tableware exactly how I wanted, and since my brunch focussed on finger foods, there was no need for silverware (a huge space-saver!). Once the plates were set where I wanted them, I placed the flowers all over the table (tip: just try not to make it looked too staged). I then placed fruit in the middle of the table around the champagne for everyone to pick at and eat, some of which I cut and some I left whole.
Flowers
Flowers do wonders for brightening up a small space. They can light up a room and help guests feel like their outside in the fresh Spring air. Pick out whatever you think will complement your tableware and home. Let your brunch be your brunch, so rock your style with confidence. Who doesn't love a home full of fresh flowers?