Elbowroom

When Nicole Spiridakis moved into a studio apartment in Adams Morgan four years ago, she knew she was swapping space for access to one of the District’s hippest neighborhoods.

What Ms. Spiridakis wasn’t willing to trade away was her penchant for parties.

“The first weekend [I moved in] I had a dinner party. We all sat on the floor. It was really fun,” the 27-year-old says.

The District resident is like many in the region who refuse to let their modest space prevent them from being festive.

It takes plenty of creativity and some understanding friends, but people who live in studios and small apartments can throw parties just like those living in larger homes.

For Ms. Spiridakis, it’s all about using “every little space.”

“I don’t have a lot of furniture. I have a lot of open space, and I keep clutter to a minimum,” says Ms. Spiridakis, who threw a surprise party with 20 guests for her boyfriend last month upon his return from Europe.

“Everyone seemed to go with it pretty well,” she says.

If studio dwellers can’t make their space bigger, the least they can do is create the illusion of size, says Jen King, spokeswoman for Atlanta-based Home Depot.

“If you paint the walls a lighter color, it makes the room look bigger,” Ms. King says. “A darker color looks more cozy.”

Homeowners also can tinker with their lighting to give guests the feeling the space isn’t as cramped as it might appear.

“Be selective about how you light the room. Combine layers of lighting instead of one light source like a ceiling fan or chandelier,” Ms. King says.

Adding accent lighting helps make a room appear larger — a few table lamps can do the trick, she says.

It doesn’t have to cost a fortune to throw a party, just a little proactive thinking.

Michael Roberson, owner of her self-titled interior design firm in Arlington and a member of the American Society of Interior Designers, says District denizens can set the right party mood with little space and even less money.

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