Preparing the home for Christmas is a vital seasonal task. However, it doesn't have to be stressful if you know how to prepare for Christmas early, in quick and easy stages.
From decluttering to adding festive Christmas decorations, these practical Christmas home preparation tips will help you create a warm and welcoming atmosphere for family and friends. And best of all, we offer products to make it easier to implement these festive season tips.
Quick updates to get your home in tip-top condition
Let's face it, no matter how much you love them, welcoming friends and family into your home for the festive period can be stressful. Knowing how to get your house in order before they arrive will help you breathe a little easier.
There's no need to panic, as there are a few simple things you can do around the house to make it cosy, comfortable, and thoroughly Christmassy.
Grab a pen and paper, and let us help you complete a simple festive home makeover. Have a look at our top tips to prepare your home for Christmas.
Declutter key areas
Home decluttering for Christmas can have a cathartic effect for sure. We're all guilty of putting things down and forgetting about them. Then, before you know it, that just becomes "the place" they go. Preparing the home for Christmas is the perfect time to be brutal with yourself - don't forget, guests come with their own clutter too!
Remove anything that either doesn't need to be at arm's reach or that you simply don't see yourself needing over the festive period. Use this opportunity to recycle, rehome, or reorganise. You could install a new home storage system to stash away the items you're keeping.
The hallway, living room, and kitchen are the most important areas to focus on. You want people to feel the Christmas spirit as soon as they walk in. The living room is where most of your time will be spent together, exchanging gifts and catching up. The kitchen is where you'll share your Christmas meals. So, granted, these rooms will have the biggest impact.
Check out our top holiday storage ideas and Christmas organisation tips:
Festive season tips for decluttering
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Organise seasonal items into labelled baskets for quick access.
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Get some multifunctional storage like seating with hidden storage or side tables with closeable compartments.
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Clear surfaces like coffee tables and sideboards to make room for decorations.
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Consider donating unused décor to free up space for new items.
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Think about limiting throw pillows to make more room for guests to sit.
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Think about where people will put their coats, hats, and gloves when they arrive.
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Start early and tackle one room per weekend to avoid feeling overwhelmed.
Brighten things up
Around the winter months, when there is less natural light inside the home, things can begin to feel a bit drab. Adding a lick of paint is one of the easiest and most cost-effective ways to give your room a glow-up.
Another fast and affordable option is adding Christmas home lighting. Mirrors are also another great way to brighten a room. The more the light reflects around the room, the brighter it looks.
Little things like whitewashing your kitchen walls to spruce things up will go a long way in illuminating the space. Maybe even consider adding seasonal plants such as poinsettia and orchids to complement this and add a fresh feel.
Specific festive ambiance tips and holiday decor ideas:
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Add LED string lights along staircases or windowsills for a cosy festive glow.
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Use scented candles or tea lights to add warmth and a seasonal aroma.
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Reflective surfaces like mirrors or metallic ornaments can amplify natural light in darker winter months.
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Consider eco-friendly or battery-operated lighting options to warm up the room, not the planet.
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Incorporate sustainable holiday décor like recycled glass ornaments, vintage decorations, or recycled wrapping paper.
Add a feature wall
Whilst having lighter walls in some rooms can be invigorating, when it comes to that cosy Christmas cocoon that we're all craving, having darker walls can really set the mood.
Consider adding some colour to your walls. Some feature wall ideas for adding Christmas shades include deep forest green (very on trend), a dark aubergine to give a new feel to your lounge area, or a deep cranberry.
If you are renting, or aren't quite ready for the commitment of paint, prints and artwork work just as well for creating visual impact. Special statement pieces will encourage guests to spark up a conversation with one another, too - avoiding any awkward silences.
If you're lucky enough to have a log fire, add a deep plush rug for toasty lounging perfect!
Christmas feature wall ideas for a festive home makeover:
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Deep forest green or rich burgundy creates a cosy festive vibe.
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Consider wall decals with stars, snowflakes, or Christmas trees for a playful touch.
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Use green wallpaper with a pattern like plaid or berry tree for easy Christmas wall decoration with maximum visual impact.
Tackle small jobs before guests arrive
There's nothing worse than spending a day cleaning from top to bottom before your guests arrive, only to have your Great Aunt Linda complain about the dodgy lock on the bathroom door.
If you're wondering how to get your home ready for Christmas, conquering the jobs that have been abandoned this year is a great place to start. Whether it’s a dripping tap or a junk draw that just won't close, now is the time to fix it.
Have a quick whip around the house in the weeks running up to Christmas and make a note of any little tasks that need doing. Whether that be hanging pictures, oiling squeaky doors, or replacing clock batteries.
Update your blank walls
There are two ways you can utilise blank wall space, either for practical additions or beautiful decor items. When guests arrive, what's the first thing we do? Ask to take their coats! Consider adding some contemporary coat hooks on any wall space in the hallways or smaller rooms. Floating shelves are also a great use of space in these areas.
You can also use your wall space to display gorgeous art prints or even hanging plants, but make the most out of festive themes with quaint and cute Christmas items. When it comes to Christmas decorations it simply goes without saying - just go all out!
Make guest spaces welcoming
Add luxury touches to your spare room
Get your spare room guest ready. For some, this may mean more than revamping the duvet and pillows. If your spare room occupies itself as a dumping ground for storage or clothes for most of the year, it may need a thorough declutter and dust before you begin dressing it up.
Why not spend a night in there yourself to check if the bed and mattress are still as comfortable as you remember? This will also give you the perfect opportunity to experience the lighting, noise, and space, and make quick fixes and tweaks before your guests stay over.
If you want to be remembered as the hostess with the mostest, a few thoughtful extras in your guests' bedrooms will do the trick. A scented candle on the bedside table, an extra blanket on the bed, or a fresh new novel to read are all lovely ways to make your guests feel welcome. Hang a stocking in there and pop a gift inside to help them feel at home.
Test out your emergency seating
In your average family home, it's unlikely you'd be fit to cater for such a high volume of guests all year round. Enter: emergency seating.
Providing seats for lots of extra people doesn't have to be a tough job, but it's worth making sure you have a) enough seats and b) that they're all suitable before you serve up the turkey.
A great way to maximise space is by creating a smaller, fun "children's table", where the little ones can eat together. Or, versatile seating such as a bench works just as well.
Dig out all your extra chairs and arrange them around the table so you can see how the layout works best. You could even draw up a seating plan to ensure everyone will be sitting comfortably on the big day.
Freshen up the kitchen
The kitchen is often the heart of the home, and once the Christmas dinner is over, you'll find most of your guests gathered here for snacks and socialisation. No matter how big or small your space is, make sure your kitchen is party-proof with a simple refresh.
First things first, do an inventory check. Check all your crockery and cutlery to ensure quality and quantity. Consider which guests you'll be hosting and the maximum number you have at any one time, so you won't risk running out. Make sure you have enough Christmas tableware for unexpected guests, too.
Consider painting any cupboard fronts for a fresh look, and upgrading the hardware on drawers and cupboards. Over recent years, it's clear that you don't need a brand-new kitchen to transform its appearance.
As well as decluttering your cupboards, clear out your pantry to make way for the additional festive grazing delights you're bound to add.
Update your furniture
The two main pieces of furniture required during Christmas are a dining table and, of course, the sofa. Spruce up your dining table by sanding off any marks or scratches and re-staining or waxing the surface to make it like new. You may want to use a tablecloth to avoid any new marks, but it also dresses up the table and makes it all the more inviting.
Have a look at how Geri from @overatno18 (on Instagram) creates a tablescape for Christmas.
If your sofa is a little worn, add a luxurious fur throw and some festive scatter cushions to cosy up onto. The same applies to dining chairs too, a festive seat cover will not only prepare your guests for ample dining, but add a hint of decadence to your furniture too.
Pack away your breakables
This one is especially important if you have small children coming to visit, but even in a house full of adults, it's best to keep your breakables out of harm's way. Wrap vases, ornaments, and even your favourite dishes in bubble wrap or brown paper and put them in storage until your guests have gone.
That way, your things are safe from your dad's enthusiastic elbows when he dances to 'Merry Christmas, Everyone'!
The same goes for that cream carpet - consider adding a hard-wearing jute rug if it's in a high-traffic area to avoid any unexpected muddy footprints or red wine spillages!
Stock up on supplies
Doing the big Christmas shop is a joyous occasion for sure. But let's not underestimate how many of the basic things often get forgotten or passed over in favour of those luxury vol au vents:
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Breakfast supplies like milk, juice, and bread.
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Household essentials: loo roll, kitchen roll, serviettes, toothpicks.
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Spare chargers and, most importantly, plenty of batteries for new gifts.
This festive season, you want to be able to take a real break and enjoy switching off. Getting ahead of some of those last-minute tasks and feeling house-proud and prepared will be the key. Your guests are bound to have a great experience regardless but don't forget about yourself as the host.
There's no reason you need to spend a fortune to get your home guest-ready this season, but you can consider some of those luxury touches to give them a Christmas they won't forget!
