Twelve Tips For The Twelve Days Of Christmas!

1. Declutter your space

Over the months, it’s easy for homes to become untidy with boxes casually stored under a coffee table, cordial bottles left on kitchen tops or that spare duvet that now lives on the sofa for fighting the cold.

With less effort than you might expect, you can hide away any unsightly bits and bods, neaten up any ornaments that may have moved out of place, and dispose of items which have outlived their use. At this time of year, it’s good to be strict with yourself and ask, “do I really need this?” If the answer is no, consider whether it can be donated to a charity shop or recycled into something new to give your unwanted items a fresh lease of life. 

2. Prepare a wrapping station

Finding the perfect gifts for loved ones can be a tricky and time-consuming task, but it’s also very rewarding. Nothing is more lovely than handing someone a thoughtful gift that’s perfectly wrapped. To make sure your wrapping is tip-top, it’s wise to set up a dedicated wrapping station at home.

Make sure you have Sellotape ready, scissors where you can find them easily and somewhere for any tags, bows and ribbons you may need. If you live with other people, it’s also advisable to warn them away from the area, after all you don’t want them to see what’s being wrapped or liberating your scissors for a different purpose! 

3. Get ready for guests

When hosting any party, conscientious hosts love to see their guests comfortable and happy. To ensure any visitors to your home this Christmas feel cosy and welcome, don’t forget to do the following:

• – Put fresh bedding down for guests staying the night and get rid of any spooky cobwebs or dust. You can even pop little wrapped chocolates on the pillows!

• – Fluff cushions in living rooms and bedrooms – no one wants a limp cushion at Christmas. 

• – Prepare bathroom sets with any unopened miniature shampoos you may have collected, small toothpaste tubes, soaps and even a toothbrush for those more forgetful visitors. For an extra touch, put these items in nice new drawstring bags.

4. Keep on top of the kitchen

Keeping the kitchen clean is one of the tasks that can get away from anyone but over the Christmas period, being disciplined with yourself will help you save time with little clean ups after every meal. 

Plan and declutter the surfaces, make sure your cupboards are fully stocked, and keep all the Christmas snacks out the reach of hungry children, adults or pets.

5. Take time for the tree

Christmas trees are an integral part of the season. Bringing us joy and happiness, they are something purely for this time of year. In a busy world, finding time to be a family, or just take time for yourself if you live alone is vitally important for our mental health and few things can take us away from the strains of the day better than decorating the tree. Before you come together to dress your evergreen, decide on your theme for the year, then find time to get the decorations out, untangle those lights and crack on. How will you decorate your tree? Some of the most popular themes are:

• – Red & Gold 
• – Blue & Gold 
• – Silver & White
• – A full-on technicolour festival with an array of tones!

6. Select a seasonal scent

The senses we most pander to at Christmas are sight, taste, and sound, but you can make a really cosy atmosphere with the right scent. While the smell of Christmas dinner triggers fond memories for many of us, the smell of gravy and potatoes can’t be enjoyed for days on end, but these can!

• – Cinnamon
• – Clementine & Cloves 
• – Homemade mincemeat
• – Mulled wine – it wouldn’t be Christmas without it! 

7. Welcome guests with a wreath

Christmas wreaths are the perfect way to welcome guests to your home whether it lives on your front door, or above the fireplace. You can even make your own Christmas wreath. To do so, find some holly and fir tree branches, pad them out with some baubles and ribbons and complete with a bow to hang them up! Coordinate with the inside scheme to achieve maximum impact on your Christmas home styling!

8. Make the most of your mantlepiece

Mantlepieces are at the core of shared family spaces in the home. To make the most of your mantlepiece, look to add beautiful taper candles, some gold accented accessories, faux berries, and real foliage. Mix in some photos of loved ones and you’ll have all you need to style up your mantlepiece! 

You can add your own personal touch by selecting either a symmetrical or asymmetrical approach to how you lay out these accessories. There is no wrong way to do it so have fun and your guests will be commenting on how charming it looks in no time.

9. Christmas candles – check!

Light and candles are a symbolic part of the Christmas story and experience. From the Christingle oranges with their candles, ribbons and sweeties to the advent candles found in countless churches throughout the build-up the 25th, candles are a great way to add Christmas cheer to any space. 

Small festive candles placed strategically around the home will add to the excitement of Christmas, and you can make them work towards our sixth tip by picking a scented one! As with any open flame, just be careful where you put them, especially near cards, wreaths and other combustible items. 

10. Craft a table centrepiece

Much of Christmas is spent around tables with plenty of delicious food and drink. While the smell fills our noses, the conversation our ears and the food our mouths, adding a picturesque centrepiece will give a little something for our eyes. 

Consider a low profile, yet well-padded out garland to run along the middle of the table – after all you want to be able to see and speak to the people across from you! Add some faux berries, golden accents, and ribbons to really make it the talk of the room.

11. Establish a bar area

Drink is as much a part of Christmas as food so setting up a dedicated bar area is very wise. 

That sideboard that often gets overlooked, give it a quick dust or lick of paint, replace the door handles with some charming golden ones, and get your finest glassware on display alongside your cocktail making kit to really make a statement! If you make people know that this is your bar area, they’ll also be more likely to put glasses back there once done with them which will help with the tidying up. 

12. Set the table

Your Christmas centrepiece should be at the core of your table, but it doesn’t end there. There are other things you can do to make your Christmas table the talking point of the big day!

From charge plates, to elaborate folded napkins or eye-catching napkin rings and the correct positioning of the cutlery and glasses, there are simple steps you can take to finalise the table before the food comes. Finish off with crackers – after all it wouldn’t be Christmas without them!