There is No Place Like Home for an Elegant Event.

Hosting an event in your home or office can be just as elegant as having one in an expensive posh venue when you add a little bit of style. In fact, according to Jennifer Henrikso of Sinclair Home Staging you can change just about any home gathering into a luxurious soiree with a few simple steps.

Step one: Be Bold and Beautiful!

Create a theme and purchase items like cloths and other decorations that match the color and tone of the theme. For a beach theme, you may want to purchase a bag filled with seashells to place in vases and you certainly can't get any more romantic than with rose petals and pearl beads.

If you are on a budget, decorations are where you can really come out ahead by making them yourself or purchasing bulk items like fake crystals, pieces of glass, stones, and other glittery type objects.

Step two: Ribbons Speak Volumes.

Hang long sheets of matching fabric from the ceiling or have them gently flow throughout the room. If you use a lighter fabric like lace you can be creative and add LED lights inside or alongside the fabric for a "fairy" like glow.

Step three: Think small, act big.

Decorations are always at your discretion and should match the theme. It is always a good idea to use fabric, furniture and the larger items as your bold colors and find small accents in the softer tones. The bold will provide first impression impact, but it the little things will keep your guests wanting more.

Your guests will start to look for things that match the theme because after-all we are all curious.

Step four: It is all about having fun!

No matter how elegant your event is, if your guests are not entertained, the event will be a disaster. No amount of color or style can fix that.

Remember, a small cocktail hour does not give you much time to plan activities but it does give you a chance to leave a lasting impression. Wow them!