Throwing a successful party in an apartment can be a real challenge. You are tight on space and you have the expectations of all of your party-goers to think about. No matter what kind of party you are throwing, here are a few tips you might want to keep in mind.

First off, plan as far ahead as you can. If you love Christmas, the Super Bowl or the 4^th of July, begin planning your party about two months ahead. This will give you a chance to plan a menu, gather together a guest list and plan out entertainment options. A party that is throw together at the last minute is doomed to failure.

Try to invite a good mix of neighbors, work friends and others so that you have an eclectic mix of people. If you invite just one group, you tend to have everyone talking about the same thing (your apartment building, work, high school, etc) and that can stagnate the party. After all, what good is a party where you don’t get to meet anyone new?

Make sure you have a good blend of salty and sweet snacks. Going for a menu with all chips, pretzels and burgers is nice, but be sure you have candy, chocolate or cookies there, as well. You also need to be sure you have a variety of things to drink, including plenty of non-alcoholic beverages for everyone. You might also want to include some sugar free drinks, such as diet pop, as well.

Finally, you probably want to have an end time to your party so that you don’t rack up noise complaints. It is always better to end your party on your terms than to have the cops come knocking. It can be a huge buzz kill to end your party just as things are getting interesting, but unless you have special permission from your building manager, it is better to be safe than sorry.