Hosting at Christmas: Tips for a Stress-Free Open House of Joy

The festive season is a wonderful time of year, and hosting at Christmas is the perfect way to bring together our favourite people and fill our homes with warmth, light and delightful aromas.

The thing is, being responsible for everyone's seasonal joy can lead to the host missing out on some of the fun. However, with the right approach, you can enjoy the party as much as your guests.

The secret to stress-free hosting at Christmas is preparation and breaking things down into manageable chunks. With that in mind, we asked Santa’s little helpers for their top tips around:

• Getting ready for guests
  

• Atmosphere and ambience
  
• Fuss-free food and drink
  
• Making everyone feel at home
  
• The post-party tidy-up

Remember: your guests are coming to enjoy your company, and being prepared lets you spend more time with them as a sparkling host who’s having as much fun as everyone else.

GETTING READY FOR ARRIVALS
Relaxed hosting at Christmas comes from knowing that your home feels 100% ready to welcome your guests, with no last-minute panics as they’re about to arrive.

• Clear your hallway hooks and shoe zone, or designate a space for coats and footwear, from a cupboard to a corner to a spare room.
  
• Engage the household in a power session of vacuuming and dusting the day before everyone arrives, so you can wake up to a clean canvas.

• A mountain of mince pies is a cherished Christmas tradition, but you don't need to make them yourself. From your local bakery to deluxe supermarket options, they’ll all hit the festive spot.
  

Why not make a checklist now of anything you can organise in advance? Writing things down gets them out of your head, and ticking them off removes any anxiety over what you’ve forgotten to do.

ATMOSPHERE AND AMBIENCE
Even if your visitors know your home well, and whether or not Christmas decorations are your thing, adding some sensory festive touches will set the perfect mood from the start.

• Use lamps and candles to create soft, inviting pools of light. Even switching your bulbs to a vintage or soft tone will instantly warm things up.
  
• Music makes the mood, so create a long playlist of your favourites, from carols to classical to contemporary tracks. Play at a conversation-friendly volume.
  
• Summon the scents of winter with natural, warming aromas. Simmer mulled wine with cinnamon, cloves, and orange slices on the hob, or light a seasonal scented candle.

On a purely practical note, remember that people make rooms naturally warmer, so you can take the heating off full blast to avoid your guests wilting in the heat (and save on your energy bill!)

FUSS-FREE FOOD AND DRINK
Even if you're an absolute kitchen whizz and often cook for large groups, hosting at Christmas can still be daunting, so try these ideas to simplify your work without compromising the feast.

• Set the table, stock up on ice, and lay out all the drinks and glassware the day before. Unless you’re a mixologist at heart, a self-service station beats constant bartending.
  
• Peel your veg 24 hours in advance, cover in salted water, and leave in the fridge or a cool room. You can even make mashed potatoes a week ahead, freeze, then defrost the night before.
  
• For foolproof turkey, cook it upside down and turn over for the last 30 mins to brown the skin. This keeps the breast juicy and gives the drumsticks time to get fall-off-the-bone tender.
  
• Non-meat options include homemade or store-bought vegetarian roasts, or putting together an easy vegetable pie with ready-made pastry and a simple creamy sauce.
  
• For a Christmas pudding alternative, don’t be afraid of a posh centrepiece dessert from the supermarket, then personalise to your desire with berries, candied nuts and chocolate.

As a final point: have fun putting out nibbles and treats, then make space on shelves and sideboards so your guests have somewhere to put down their drinks – don’t forget the coasters!

MAKING EVERYONE FEEL AT HOME
Hosting at Christmas is about making everyone feel as comfortable and relaxed in your home as you are, which means a little bit of kindly behind-the-scenes work to cater for all your guests.

• Define two social areas: a main lively room with music, telly or games, and a quieter space for conversation and proper catching up.
  
• Have a central spot with power strips and spare chargers so everyone can keep their devices juiced up for seasonal messaging.
  
• If children are coming, set up a room or space where they can play, make noise, and have their own kind of fun away from the boring grown-ups!
  

To end on the most essential note of all, check your facilities to ensure the main guest bathroom is well stocked with fresh towels, soap, loo roll and tissues.

THE POST-PARTY TIDY-UP
The sight of morning-after mess is a horrid way to start the day, and the best stress-free parties include a plan to avoid waking up to a mountain of muck.

• Place labelled rubbish and recycling containers near the drinks and food area to save empties from piling up.
  
• Have a 'Pre-Bed Power Push' of clearing plates, loading the dishwasher, and getting napkins and tablecloths into the washing machine to prevent food and stains from setting overnight.
  
• Put all leftover food into airtight containers and stack them in the fridge or freezer, with labels if that's your thing!
  
• Always accept offers from your guests to help with clearing up. In fact, ask for it! More people tackling the task makes the job faster and more fun.

If all that clearing away inspires your inner stylist, take a look at our Four Ways to Declutter blog to find your perfect method and give your home a fresh look and feel for the new year. 

Ready to host with the most?
We hope that our tips for hosting at Christmas will fill your home with magical moments that you’ll treasure forever.

All that remains is to wish you and the people you love the most a wonderful festive season from everyone here at Piccolo Property.