You know what they say about first impressions. This is particularly true for a party. To create the greatest impact with my decorating, I add detail at the doorway and walkway. This immediately creates a festive mood for my guests and sets the tone.

You do not have to decorate extravagantly, just smart. A cluster of flowers in a watering can by the door, a yard ornament of a little boy holding balloons or a bird bath with floating candles create an aura of festivity for your guests. Something as simple as color can create a theme.

I was hired by the local Coca Cola plant to design and set up a party to celebrate the new plastic bottle shaped like the old glass bottles. The entire facility was decorated in red and white. The centerpieces I designed had a patriotic theme with an American flag and to complement this I added blue to the red and white centerpiece. I thought everything was perfect but it wasn't. I found out at the last minute that the colors red, white, and blue represent another soda company. My assistant Kristen and I hurriedly took out all the blue in the centerpieces with the exception of the flag, which the Coca Cola representatives loved, and left them all red and white.

Lesson Learned: Be very careful of color. It does make a statement.

I do learn from my mistakes. Read on:

Every four years New Hampshire becomes the focus of the country with our first in the nation Presidential Primary. I was hired by General Mills to set up the Bisquick Pancake Flip for all the Presidential candidates. I wanted to incorporate the colors of the Bisquick box (blue, yellow, red and white) into the decorating; I came up with the idea of creating a country kitchen. Learning my lesson from the Coca Cola event I designed the decorations with blue and white country curtains, and red, blue and yellow tablecloths.

Lesson Learned: Learn from your other events.

Try some of these ideas, change or add more color, whatever you like.

The point is to carry the color throughout the rooms.
… red baskets with flowers
… a wreath with a red bow
… red candles by the hors d’oeuvres
… red towels in the bathroom
… red candles and flowers on the tables

When I invite friends over I like to do some decorating. Nothing elaborate, but a few soft touches. I carry the theme from the entrance into the party. If I have a basket of greens and pine cones at the entrance, I will have candles on the mantel, a fire in the fireplace, pretty beverage napkins and a basket of pinecones on the coffee table. If I want to create more of an impact I may add cascading green plants on the mantel, more candles in a variety of heights set in different areas, a table display of hors d’oeuvres decorated with candles, greens and pinecones on the table.

If I start with cut flowers or pots of flowers in the entrance, I may float flowers in a pretty dish, add some small potted flowering plants around the rooms, cluster small pictures of flowers or gardens on a coffee table, and add some candles. Simple, yet a theme that is all tied together.

A decorating tip is to focus on areas you want guests to notice. It is better to decorate from the center of the room and work out rather than decorate the four corners of the room and work in.