You may not be able to throw a raving house party in your new apartment, but that doesn't mean you can't gather with a few friends for a night of good food and fun. If you've been thinking about hosting a small get-together in your apartment, consider some of these fun ideas that are perfect for small groups and won’t bother your neighbors 

Learn Something New Together 

One great way to bond with your friends is to learn something new together. Hire a chef to come into your apartment and teach the group how to roll sushi, make a gorgeous charcuterie board or cook traditional food from your favorite country. Do you have a friend that's really good at scrapbooking, making cocktails, budgeting, or running a business? Pay them for their time and have them come over and teach your friends what they know. These get-togethers can be casual and low-key and are a great way to blend education and entertainment.  

Clothing Swap  

Another great way to bring your friends together for a good cause is by hosting a clothing swap. A few weeks before the event, invite your friends to clean out their closets and set aside things that they don't wear anymore. Everyone can bring their unwanted clothes to the swap to give away, and browse items that other people have brought. This is a great way to update your closet without spending a lot of money, and you can browse and try on clothes in the comfort of your own home without having to go out.  

All of the clothes that are left over can be donated to a local shelter.  

Potluck Dinner 

It can be difficult to plan a large dinner in a small apartment, but if everybody brings something, you can quickly create a multi-course dinner with very little work. Send out an invite a few weeks before the event To give everyone enough time to shop, plan, and prepare whatever dish they're going to bring. Keep a running tab of what food is being made so you don't end up with 5 lasagnas, and keep food allergies and dietary needs in mind as you put together the menu. Your potluck could have a theme, like breakfast or Mexican, or vegan, or you could just encourage your friends to bring their favorite dish and have a more diverse menu.  

Book Club 

If you and your friends are avid readers, a book club is a great way to get people together regularly to discuss what they are reading. Typically book clubs consist of 528 people, making it a great event for those living in an apartment. You can have wine, cheese, appetizers, or snacks available, Or you can take it a little further and make dinner for your friends instead. Usually, book clubs consist of quiet conversations, which makes it perfect for an apartment hangout  

Movie Night  

Is there a movie that you and your friends have been dying to see? Maybe you all share a love for black-and-white horror films, romantic comedies, or nature documentaries. Watching a movie together in your apartment is another easy way to get your friends together. Make sure your technology is working, you have plenty of room for everyone to sit, and you have enough popcorn, drinks, and candy for everybody.  

Murder Mystery Party 

A murder mystery party takes a little bit more planning and creativity, but it can be a great way for your friends to spend the evening together, channeling their inner detectives. You can buy prepackaged murder mystery boxes online and have all of the prompts and details delivered right to your door. If you want a little more control over how the party plays out, you can put together the murder mystery yourself. To do this you’ll need to:  

• Choose a theme 

• Choose/assign your characters carefully  

• Decorate your apartment to match the theme  

• Create a detailed invitation so your guests know exactly what to expect  

• Create name tags 

• Understand the rules and how to explain them to guests 

• Create the prompts/scenarios  

Taco Night  

Another easy, food-related-themed event to host at your apartment is taco night. Ask friends to bring one comment taco ingredient, and then put it all together when it's time to eat. If you want to step it up a notch, decorate the apartment with Mexican colors and themes to add to the theme. Taco night can be easy on the budget and usually makes for easy setup and cleanup.  

Bottom Line 

Hosting parties in your apartment is a great way to connect with old friends and make some new ones. Many apartment communities have rules about how many guests you can have and rules about quiet time, but these get-togethers are perfect for apartments because they only require a few people and don't require loud music or rambunctious activities.  

If you’re looking for an apartment that is perfect for entertaining, take a virtual tour of NMS West Hills today!