10 Ways To Make The Most Of Limited Counter Space When Hosting A Holiday Buffet

When it comes to feeding a crowd, nothing works better than a buffet. In spacious homes with massive kitchen islands and dining rooms filled with sideboards and gathering tables, setting up a buffet is a relatively easy task. But if you live in a smaller home or apartment, kitchen countertops may be the only place where you can serve several people at the same time. With this limited space, setting up your buffet can be a serious challenge. Fortunately, you can maximize your surface area by thinking vertical, using unique organizers, ditching the decorations, and extending your countertops with some smart products that work even when you're not throwing a party.

Good meals start with a great plan. If you need to set up a buffet in a small space, clear the clutter first. Store your coffee maker, toaster, juicer, knife holder, and any other items you won't be using during your gathering inside cabinets or in another space. Then, in preparation for setting up the buffet, get your countertops sparkling clean with a natural cleaning solution. Next, think about how people will flow through your space. Do you have a galley kitchen with two countertops that can be dedicated to cold vs hot dishes? Savory and sweet? Food and drinks? Is there enough space to create a U-shaped line? Can you extend your countertops with a rolling cart? Take some time to think about how guests will naturally approach the buffet line before you start to set up. Once you've got a plan, consider using some of these tips to maximize your limited space.

No matter what kind of delicious food you prepare, your buffet line won't be a success unless it starts with clean plates. You could stack them, but consider offering plates or bowls in a vertical drying rack like the adjustable YKLSLH Expandable Large Capacity Sink Rack instead. Although it's intended to fit behind a sink, thanks to the suction-cup feet, this sleek dish rack can be securely placed anywhere on your counters. Instead of using the lower baskets during your gathering, easily remove them to create more space for serving dishes below. 

Instead of large chafing dishes with live flames that can be hazardous, keep food hot and save space at the same time with a double or even triple slow cooker like the highly-rated Elite Gourmet Maxi-Matic Buffet Server. You can also use decorative bakeware to both make and serve food. The colorful Le Creuset Noël Collection Stoneware Mini Cocotte looks charming at Christmastime. To protect your countertops from damage, set your hot platters and bowls on beautiful wooden trivets that you can DIY using clothespins.

Tiered trays are a smart way to save precious counter space when offering crackers, fruit, or cheese to your guests. The Masirs Collapsible 3-Tier Party Tray is an inexpensive choice that's also easy to store when you're done using it. But if you're looking for something a little more elegant, the Sumerflos Porcelain Tiered Stand is easy to assemble and offers plenty of space to pile on sandwiches or cupcakes. If you simply don't have room on your countertops to serve desserts, tiered stands also work well on a side table. 

For buffets in small spaces, it's important to think vertical and use height wherever possible. A tall cake stand like the bestselling Libbey Selene Glass Cake Stand will be lifted off the countertop enough to place a flat serving plate slightly underneath. But you can also create height by using a stack of books or sturdy boxes for a tiered effect that will keep guests from reaching over platters of food (or each other) while helping themselves. To keep it thematic, try using classic Christmas books or wrap empty boxes to look like presents.

Even just a simple stack of cocktail napkins can take up precious space on your countertops. But napkins are an essential item, as nothing ruins a superb party like sticky fingers. If you're serving more than finger foods, roll silverware inside of buffet napkins and then stand them upright in a cup to save space. You can even put them in individual disposable flatware bags decorated with stamps or stickers for a festive touch. Remember that plates should be at the beginning of your buffet line, while silverware should be at the end. Extra stacks of cocktail napkins are better near the bar or on your coffee table. 

It can be tempting to put condiments or dips out in individual dishes with serving spoons, but this approach can take up a lot of space. Instead, if your party is casual enough for jars of hot sauce, ketchup, or mustard, put bottles on a simple lazy Susan so they're easy for guests to reach. If you're hosting a fancier affair and want to serve your special sauces in beautiful bowls or you've run out of room for that giant veggie tray, check out the bestselling AUAM Two-Tier Acacia Wood Lazy Susan Turntable, which offers the same easy access with double the space.

Whatever you do, don't clutter up your buffet with holiday decorations that will take up space or get ruined by spilled food. Instead, use a simple roll of craft paper to cover your countertops. You can use a black marker to label each of your dishes directly on this paper, which will also save you space by not needing freestanding labels. Consider adding fun puns like "You're bacon me crazy!" or "I'm a real fungi." Be as playful as you'd like, giving guests something to read and laugh about while they wait in line.

There are many simple ways to create extra counter space in your kitchen, and a sink cover is one of them. Available in a wide variety of sizes and materials from custom marble to bamboo options like the Hifybaty Expandable Over the Sink Cutting Board, a sink cover can create lots of additional countertop space when you need it most. You can use the flat surface to serve a variety of items. An added bonus? If you don't have a dishwasher, a sink cover will also hide any dishes you didn't get to before the party.

You may want to use your range to keep certain dishes warm, allowing guests to help themselves directly from your pots or pans. But a stove cover can be another excellent way to dramatically extend your counter space. There are several styles to choose from, but a deep and walled version like the Prosumer's Choice Bamboo Stovetop Cover works especially well for a holiday gathering. Because it's food safe, it allows you to cover your stove with charcuterie, grazing table style. This tray also has removable feet, ensuring that it will work on both gas and electric stoves.

Whether you need a place to keep that rolled silverware or you want guests to help themselves to individual servings like bagged chips or cookies, consider repurposing a stacked cabinet organizer like the two-pack of Simple Trending Sliding Storage Drawers. This space-maximizing solution not only takes advantage of vertical space, but the drawers will also tuck neatly out of the way after guests have helped themselves to the contents. Designed to hold spices, it's an ideal choice for the end of your buffet line if you want to offer salt, pepper, or dressings.