The 30-Minute Guide to Getting Your Home Ready for Guests

Dress Up Your Table—Fast

Instead of laying a garland over your fireplace, stretch it down the center of your dining room table, says Meredith Waga Perez, owner of Belle Fleur in New York City. Ready-made versions are easy to find at most floral shops and are cost-effective (ranging between $3 and $8 a foot depending on the type of greenery used). Waga Perez recommends asking for a seeded eucalyptus and juniper mix, incense cedar or magnolia branches; avoid garlands made entirely of pine, which can be sticky and leave sap on your grandmother's antique tablecloth. To add some color and sparkle to your runner, intersperse glittery ornaments or jingle bells. And you're done—no fussy flower arranging or easy-to-knock-over vases.