Ingenious tips for spring entertaining from master of style Jason Grant

Never labour over how to perfectly scatter lounge cushions again after following Jason Grant’s low-maintenance tips for high-traffic areas. Stylist and author is known for his laid-back home aesthetic – the key to great entertaining areas, he says. The aim is spaces that are lived-in and loved, that reflect your personality.

In Melbourne recently for a styling masterclass with World of Style by Porter Davis, Grant revealed just how he pulls off his very Australian approach.

Kitchen

Styling your kitchen for entertaining is no different than for any other occasion; it’s simply about amplifying details to make the ordinary feel extraordinary, Grant says.

“Sometimes those high-traffic areas are the kind of places we create to be more functional and we think we can forget about them, but it’s important to give them just as much love,” he says.

“It’s about having a little beauty in the everyday.”

Small items to focus on in this typically functional room include the fruit bowl, dish rack, soap holder and tea towel, all of which can be updated for relatively little cost, he explains.

If you’re someone with a great range of tableware, showcase this proudly by installing some basic shelving.

If you don’t have any spare space, the Bondi stylist recommends taking the doors off your existing kitchen cabinetry.

Dining Room

The dining area is where styling is most likely to deviate from the everyday, but this doesn’t mean it requires hours of preparation.

Simply by placing on the table some handpicked flowers in a vase, or a tray of objects found in nature, such as interesting stones and leaves, is way of instantly bringing beauty inside the home.

Enjoy being creative with your table setting, start with a linen tablecloth and layer with handmade plates, unscented candles (“You want to be enjoying the meal, not the scent of the candle”), elegant glassware, napkins and decorative ceramics of varying heights.

One way to encourage the rest of the family to maintain your look year-round is to keep decorative items on the dining table, therefore avoiding it becoming a dumping ground when not in use.

“Just putting something on the table leaves less space for laundry and ironing!” Grant explains.

Living Area

Creating a stylish room is all about investing in quality and timeless pieces, starting with the floor rug.

“I always recommend getting the bigger floor rug rather than the smaller one. I think that’s a great way of defining and setting the tone for the living area,” Grant says.

Inject some personality into this room by displaying meaningful items on a mantelpiece, sideboard or coffee table. This may include photographs, books, house plants, ceramics, candles, or more functional pieces such as lamps and coasters.

“For people who aren’t expert decorators, these are really safe places to experiment and play,’’ he says. ‘‘It’s about finding those places where you can create a little moment.”

Limit your spending to pieces you truly love, even if it takes you a while to find them. “I think your home needs to be a sanctuary, somewhere relaxing, and just filling it up can be too much,” Grant says.