Entertaining at home comes naturally for some people. Pizza served on mismatched plates or store-bought rotisserie chicken placed on a gleaming platter can be instant party fare.

Not enough seats? Extra-large throw pillows placed on the floor are inviting and lend a casual vibe. Remember it’s not just one specific detail or item but a combination of elements.

Grace Barbers Baja has a few tips for singletons or early nesters who want to invite friends over for the holidays.

Start with a welcoming atmosphere and build from there. The first thing guests notice once they enter the Baja home in Makati is the heady smell of scented candles. A large-scale painting by BenCab occupies one wall, while a Christmas tree brightens up a corner of the spacious living room.

Last year, the lifestyle blogger (#thespoiledmummy) launched Grace Home Manila with a scented candle and two room fragrances. She has since updated the mix to include stoneware, throw pillows and hand wash.

1) Start with the basics—invest in a sturdy dining or kitchen table, or sofa.

“My family and I spend time hanging out and talking at the dining table. When we have friends over, it’s the same. We stay there for hours,” she says.

2) Consider what you like best and display them accordingly. “What do you collect? Your home should reflect your personality, your lifestyle. Display them in sets so they’re contained and don’t look cluttered,” she advises.

3) Always keep your home clean and fragranced. “I hoard scented candles and room fragrances because I want my home to smell good always,” she notes.

You can also use an air purifier, she adds, and suggests spraying curtains, sheets and pillows with a room fragrance, like her Talc and Vanilla or Olive and Milk variants.

4) Update the look of your home. Throw pillow covers are the easiest and least expensive way to update the look of a room. “You can stick with one accent pillow like a cheery tropical print and keep the rest neutral, or you can splurge and buy a new set,” she says.

Another way to update a room is by hanging new curtains.

5) Don’t be afraid to mix and match the plates you use. Grace Home Manila recently introduced three sets of plates made in Ilocos. The handmade plates available in sets of four with delicate floral etchings come in sage green, powder blue gray and sapphire blue.

“You can buy one set and mix it up with your existing pieces, or buy one set of each color,” says Grace.

E-mail Grace Home Manila: [email protected]