Festivities are in full swing, and it’s time to gather those final provisions for the big day. Whether you’re prepping for guests, planning your cooking schedule or decluttering the house, there’s just over a week to go – so let’s get organised and make the most of Christmas Day.
Here, we’ve compiled our top five tasks to tackle over the busy days ahead so you don’t have to.
Declutter and tidy
At this time of year, friends and family descend on our homes en masse – both invited and impromptu – so make sure everything is in tip-top shape for visitors.
Tackle the big clean well ahead of Christmas Day, giving each room a mini winter spruce and decluttering as you go. Pack away summer clothing into heavy-duty bags if you haven’t already. Check wardrobes for old items no longer worn and scour the playroom for unused toys. This is a great time to donate to charity, as shoppers pick up their last few bits before Christmas.
Give a warm welcome
The tree is up, and decorations adorn the home; now it’s time to add those final touches for a truly welcoming ambience. Create the magical feeling of Christmas with lighting – a warm glow from the Florette lamp adds a touch of refined elegance to any interior space, while pretty, mood-enhancing Lumo glass tea lights dotted around complete the look.
Greet guests with seasonal aromas: a clove-and-cinnamon diffuser and festive foliage in vases are simple yet effective for filling the home with winter joy.
Gear up for overnight guests
If you’re expecting overnight guests, a sofa bed is one of the best multifunctional sleeping options. From the cleverly designed single-seater Titch, perfect for fitting into the tightest of spaces, to the all-singing, all-dancing three-seater Horizon, which effortlessly transforms into a comfy and spacious double bed – there are solutions to suit every home and need.
For the pièce de résistance in comfort, add a mattress topper to your sofa bed to ensure your guests enjoy the best night’s sleep. Thoughtful touches, such as a snuggly robe, a reading lamp and fluffy towels, will elevate the experience and provide that ultra-luxe hotel feel.
Create a prep list
Is there enough seating? Is your shopping list and food order planned? Who can you delegate tasks to? Sit down and think about the day you want and will enjoy. Run through everything with the family and allocate jobs to each person. With everyone mucking in, it’s sure to go as smoothly as possible, taking the pressure off yourself. If helpful, create an itinerary for the day, including timings for cooking and where guests will sit.
Christmas morning box
This is one of our favourites and helps take the stress out of Christmas morning when everyone is already buzzing with excitement. Forget about kids’ Christmas Eve boxes – the must-have for every household is the ‘Christmas morning box’. Filled with practical essentials like batteries, screwdrivers, bin bags, a pen and pad for writing thank-you lists, scissors and maybe even some Christmas activity books and colouring pens to provide some downtime between unwrapping pressies. A simple storage box or basket will do the trick!
There’s nothing more chaotic than being unprepared. Take the burden off by sharing the load with your family for a fun and festive day. If you need last-minute gifts, extra seating or that all-important sofa bed, check us out in-store or online. The last orders within the M25 are this Sunday 15 December, so there’s still time!
We hope you have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
