Hosting a holiday soirée in a small space can quickly turn a party planning extravaganza into a stressful project that makes you want to pull the plug altogether. But hosting a party isn’t synonymous with having matching chairs for every guest, or having table settings reminiscent of a winter wonderland.

Most of the night, everyone will be out of their seats mingling or opening presents anyway. And as long as there’s enough good food to go around, guests won’t mind sitting on a folding chair or sofa cushion for a couple of hours. Your family and friends won’t be focusing on matching furniture, they’ll be enjoying the good company and conversation. Ease your worries even further with the seating suggestions below that can be used at a moment’s notice.

Get creative
A great way to free up space is to have the kids in the family use the more obscure seating options. The younger generation will rejoice at the opportunity to plop on a couch cushion or bounce on your gym exercise ball throughout dinner. You can also try utilizing the largest room in your home, even if it’s not your kitchen or dining area. If the living room is where the space is, then move the party there. You can move furniture around to free up vital space while also making everyone happy.

Know that any chair works
Folding chairs may not be the most aesthetically pleasing to the eye, but they get the job done. More importantly, because of how compact they are, you can fit more at the table than regular chairs. Most people own a set of folding chairs, so don’t be afraid to ask your guests to bring their own. Additionally, make use of the ottoman or bench in your bedroom, or camping chairs in the garage. As long as they’re clean and dusted off, guests won’t mind using these other seating strategies. This keeps the environment casual, and anyway, no one wants to go to an uptight dinner party.

Split up into groups
Even though the ideal arrangement is sitting together with everyone at the same table, if the situation calls for it, suggest for people to sit in other available areas. People will understand that your kitchen table isn’t big enough for everyone, and they’ll be happy to make do with whatever else works (as long as they aren’t sitting completely by themselves).

Put out more decorations
Don’t skimp on the decorations just because you live in a studio apartment in the city, or own a smaller home than your second cousin coming from out of town. Adding more decorations to the mix makes your home more inviting, giving people less of a reason to point out any possible seating issues. With the mix of chairs and the eclectic holiday decor, guests will be admiring the festive spirit rather than nitpicking.

Having a smaller space doesn’t have to be the cause of all your stress this holiday season. With a little creativity and planning, your guests are sure to have a good time no matter the seating arrangements.