Say "Welcome"! Breathe new life into an artificial wreath by adding in a few varieties of pine sprigs. We used white pine, cedar and evergreen. A cluster of a few chosen ornaments and wired ribbon adds a festive touch.

Move the furniture, add some seasonal accessories and play with lighting options. “A horizontal stripe on two walls is used to elongate the room, add a visual surprise, and lend a clean, contemporary edge," says Ed. "I used a silver gimp trim, accented with chrome upholstery nail heads as an interior accent. Notice how the sheer white drapes [IKEA] enhance the winter light and lend a subtle design.”

"Paint is simply one of the easiest and least expensive ways to completely renovate a room," says Ed. Consider painting for your special entertaining on a seasonal basis. Need some inspiration? Think winter: frosted layers of snow, frozen and icy.

Don’t slip on the ice! Tree skirts are too pretty to hide. Use them as holiday accents, as Ed did, to add a bit of luxe to your bar. A large vase keeps ice showy and well stocked. Self-serve drinks are easily made with vodka, mixers and all the trimmings and tools necessary for a martini. Villeroy crystal stems and rock glasses sparkle against Ralph Lauren walls painted in Regent Metallics Silver (RM 13). How holiday fabulous is that!

Set plates and stemware out so that guests can serve themselves. Use salad plates rather than dinner plates, so guests can sample smaller portions. The unique shape of the Villeroy & Boch New Wave Collection shows that an everyday contemporary white pattern can fit into any season. Although a holiday pattern can be nice, it will require extra storage and be limited to that season.