Decor tricks
Love to entertain but feel you can't until your home looks like it came out of a page of one of those decor mags? Well, follow these quick decor tips, and you--and your guests--will be pleasantly surprised by what can be achieved with a bit of creativity.

Make a good first impression by decorating the front entrance with flowers to greet your guests.

Make a cabana to conceal unattractive areas. Edward bought six bamboo sticks (8 feet in length) from a garden centre and secured them with duct tape. Then he got burlap from a fabric store (natural at $1.50/m; turquoise at $4/m) and draped it over the sticks. Orange-coloured tassels, also from a fabric store, add a festive splash of colour.

Use plant stands or stools topped with large trays for side tables. Plastic tumblers from INSIDE OUT BY CELLAR available exclusively at The Bay.

A striped straw runner is used to cover-up the steps. Straw beach mats ($4 each at Ikea) provide a backdrop for the food table. A quick way to secure the mats is with duct tape and a staple gun. A jute area rug is also a great way to dress up a patio and define a seating area.

Wooden, folding patio chairs were made more comfortable with throw pillows. Shown here: Bali Kiwi and Bali Flamingo cushions by House & Home. Available at The Bay. Paper lanterns and a mobile from IKEA were hung from a vine to add a playful touch.

Keep bugs away with the OFF! Mosquito Lamp. It uses a specially designed pad that releases insecticide when it gets heated by the candle -- it keeps mosquitoes at bay for up to 4 hours.

Make a screen by backing a trellis ($13 each from IKEA) with burlap ($1.50/m).

Simply attach the burlap to the trellis using a glue gun, then trim away excess burlap, leaving one inch of fabric that can later be made into a fringe.

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