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Does your home seem too small for holiday entertaining? According to interior designer , you probably have a lot more space than you think. An expert in bringing small spaces to life, Patricia says most people don鈥檛 know how to maximize the space they have.Here are some tricks for making more room for cooking, dining and festive get-togethers.

Master the mess.

鈥淭he first rule,鈥� says Patricia, 鈥渋s that less is more.鈥� In fact, you won鈥檛 believe the usable space you鈥檒l uncover if you declutter. Scoop up old magazines and newspapers and put away tabletop books. Stash those unused kitchen appliances. Pack away breakable knickknacks and any small rugs that guests might trip over. Remove anything that takes up space you need for guests and temporarily store it away in . Don鈥檛 worry that you鈥檒l miss some sparkle; your guests themselves will provide plenty.

Rearrange for fun.

If your living room just became your dining area, don鈥檛 simply push your sofas to the wall. Instead, create intimate nooks for socializing by placing two chairs around a lounge chair, nesting tables near a couch or a few large floor pillows next to a coffee table.

Invent more seating.

Longing for a traditional sit-down family dinner but your table seats just six? It鈥檚 easy to put two mismatched tables together and throw a holiday tablecloth over them. You can even place a runner between the tables. Another idea is to invest in an expandable wood table which you can fold back up for everyday dining. (Maximize its shine and help protect against scuffs and scratches with a quick cleaning using .) Or consider buying four-seater card tables. Reuse them for game night, sewing circles, outdoor entertaining and your kids鈥� birthday parties.

Create a flow.

Patricia suggests creating food stations throughout several rooms. Place your bar or punch bowl in the foyer, hors d鈥檕euvres in the living room, dinner on the main dining table, and dinnerware and napkins on the sideboard. Desserts can go on the kitchen鈥檚 center island. 鈥淭his makes for good circulation,鈥� says Patricia, 鈥渁nd keeps everyone out of the kitchen until dessert time鈥攁lways the cook鈥檚 biggest problem.鈥�

Make every room more inviting.

If guests like football, try setting up the TV in a study or bedroom where you can also make food and drinks available. To encourage guests to gather also in other rooms, tempt them with soft music, a roaring fire, fresh flowers and/or muted lighting. And of course good conversation.

Fool their eyes.

Really don鈥檛 have extra space? Fake it. The combination of shimmering candles and mirrored glass creates an illusion of depth and distance. Just place some candles in front of a tall mirror ( has a variety of wonderful holiday scents to choose from). Or set a group of flickering tea lights in holders on top of a mirrored surface. Your guests will be awed by the so-right-for-the-holidays twinkling!