Dec 13, 2014 4 min read

Q. I love to entertain, but have little storage for special dishes and trays. Have you any ideas for stylish entertaining in small spaces? Thanks. – Beverley

A. This is an exciting season, when plans to host holiday celebrations abound. There is no need for big rooms and scores of fancy dishware to make your parties special. The secret is organization and a few versatile pieces of furniture. One of my personal favorites is the bar cart, which can be wheeled around to any location and then tucked into a corner when not in use. West Elm’s Mid-Century Bar Cart (www.westelm.com), shown here, has year- round style and sets up well for any party. Your selection of refreshments and glassware plus a small seasonal bouquet will help set the theme. If you love the look, the mid-century wood design repeats in bottle stoppers and a cocktail shaker. Also, look for bar tools that hang on a rack; they save space and display well.

There are a variety of trays available that serve double purposes.

Two sizes – small, 18-inch-by-14-inch, and large, 28-inch-by-18-inch

— give you the option of grouping the trays or stand-alone. Look for a unique finish, such as a mirrored or herringbone pattern. Colored lacquered trays in a range of shades from orange, yellow and blue to natural raffia, espresso and black are perfect for holding a mix of jewelry, keys, cards and loose change on a bedroom dresser, but also make bright serving trays for party food or piled with napkins and silverware for your guests. You can find silver and pewter serving trays at flea markets and secondhand stores. They look fabulous for the holidays.

Cutting boards and cheese boards are everyday items that can add to your party decor. Shop for small knives that have character to match your theme; these are easily stored. Tiered serving plates save space on the table and always look inviting, with layers of goodies from which to choose.

Edit what you have on hand, and choose a selection of items that have dual purpose, for everyday and fancy soirees. Your party spirit and your guest list will take care of the rest. Have a great holiday.

Q. My home has wallpaper on every wall. It appears to have been applied directly to the drywall so that parts of the drywall come off when I try to remove the paper as I did in the hall. Can I paint over wallpaper, as it is going to be very labor intensive to remove it and repair the walls? Any suggestions would be appreciated. – Cynthia

A. You are correct in assuming the walls were not properly prepared before the paper was hung. A good coat of primer sealer should have been applied to the fresh drywall. So now you have two choices. It is possible to remove the paper without damaging the drywall by soaking the paper with water. You can rent water compressors to soak down the paper. Let the water soak in for at least 10 minutes so that it has time to loosen the wallpaper glue. Then use a scraper to lift the paper off. It should come away without marking the drywall, and the drywall will dry.

Your second option is to paint over the paper. Remove any loose bits and sand the edges gently. If the paper is textured, spread a thin coat of spackle to smooth the surface. Then apply clear caulk around the bottom and top edges of the wall to seal the edges of the paper.

Prime over the paper with oil-based primer. Then paint with a good quality latex paint. For your hallway, even out the damage with a coat of spackle before you paint.

Please email your questions to house2home@debbietravis.com.