When setting the table, Ireland practices a more-is-merrier philosophy. "With the holidays coming, you want to have a little bit of 'zush,'" says the author of "Kathryn M. Ireland: Timeless Interiors." "I'm not a uniformity person. So go ahead and add in some pretty dishes and bowls like these, which are $9.99 each, that you can use for guacamole and chips. You can mix and match it with the china you already have."

An Ireland tip for high-impact floral arrangements: "Instead of buying a dozen roses and putting them in one vase, I take a single stem and put them in a collection of bud vases or bottles, anything with a small neck works. Then you can spread them throughout the house or group them together on a table as a centerpiece."