How to add some Hollywood glamour to your next party

While you might not be able to party with a celebrity, you can host a party like one with just a few simple tricks.

And, contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to spend a lot of (or even any) money to make your next soiree look like a million bucks.

Yahoo Canada Shine recently sat down with celebrity home designer Nicole Sassaman to get her tips for how Canadians can bring some Hollywood glamour into their home.

Sassaman, who’s worked with celebrities from Wolfgang Puck and Jennifer Aniston to Janet Jackson, says people should work with the things they already have when planning their décor.

“Great design and glamour come with a lot of layers of design - it's not just one thing,” she says. “When you look at the whole thing it looks fantastic, but there's a lot of little steps involved.”

She suggests putting some colourful candy into little dishes, adding some candlelight, even wrapping an old peanut can in tissue paper – all make great, customizable centre pieces.

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“Always being ready to get out your finest in China and crystal is another wonderful way to add glamour to anything,” says Sassaman. “Often times we get all this stuff from our weddings and it goes in the cabinet and you would never use it. This is the time to get it out.”

You’d never see a stain on a celebrity table, so make sure your linens are clean and fresh as well. Spots on glassware are another thing you’d never see in Hollywood, so give your glasses a final once-over.

Taking the petals off a few roses and sprinkling them across your table is another low-cost suggestion for adding a stunning touch to a dinner party.

Putting in just a little bit of effort to your table setup can really wow your guests.

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Print out a person’s photo and stick it in a frame as a visual place setting that also makes a fun take-home gift. “It doesn't all have to be Waterford crystal,” says Sassaman. “There's nothing that I do that a five-year-old can't – it's that easy.”

One thing you should shell out a little extra for, if possible says Sassaman, is cloth napkins. There’s just something about a cloth napkin that instantly adds a feel of luxury – plus you can fold them in special ways to add to your décor theme. She suggests people stick with white or cream-coloured napkins which will go with anything. You can then add colour in other ways – ribbons, flowers, candies or candles.

Another trick of the stars is having a mini “survival kit” on hand in case any mishaps do occur. Keep all kinds of little things in one spot that you might need like pins and needles, glue, scissors, Goo Gone, a stain remover like OxyClean, double-sided tape and so on. And always, always make sure you have extra place settings and food and drinks. You never, ever want to run out of refreshments during an event.

Also see: Find the perfect colour palette for your home

“I always say if you fail to prepare you prepare to fail,” says Sassaman, “I don't have a lot of challenging days because I really do prepare for everything that we do and I make sure that we have extras of everything on hand.”

If you’re looking for more design tips, check out Sassaman’s new book “100 Sassy Tips: Renovations” for practical, time-saving advice.

For tips on incorporating your family heirlooms into your décor, check out the video below.