Lifestyle: How to Stay Sane When Hosting Christmas Day
If the idea of organising Christmas at your house feels a bit daunting, read on for tips and advice on how to enjoy the big day
Jo Simmons
7 December 2015
Houzz UK Contributor. I have been an interiors journalist since 1995, writing several books on design and numerous features for glossy homes mags over the years. For Houzz, I cover decorating ideas and trends and interview designers and professionals for their insights. My favourite pieces to write, though, are Houzz Tours, as I love exploring and learning about real homes. Call me curious — or nosy!
Houzz UK Contributor. I have been an interiors journalist since 1995, writing several... More
Christmas carries a weight of expectation and pressure, so while it should be a happy time spent with family and friends, it can easily slip into feeling stressful and labour-intensive. Which is a shame, because when Christmas goes well, it’s a wonderful celebration and a chance to gather together with loved ones, have fun and forget about daily life.
If you are hosting the day this year, a mix of forward planning and tweaked expectations can really help ensure it’s fun and memorable. So, before you deck the halls or order the turkey, read these 12 tips for hosting the day and enjoying it, too!
If you are hosting the day this year, a mix of forward planning and tweaked expectations can really help ensure it’s fun and memorable. So, before you deck the halls or order the turkey, read these 12 tips for hosting the day and enjoying it, too!
Set the agenda
Work out what you want to get from Christmas and how you’d like it to be. Do you fancy a traditional celebration, with a big tree and a turkey dinner? Or are you more interested in swerving tradition and just enjoying family time? It can be helpful to sum up your intentions for the day in one word, such as ‘playful’, ‘alternative’, ‘meaningful’ or simply ‘merry’!
Discover how to keep your Christmas tree in top shape
Work out what you want to get from Christmas and how you’d like it to be. Do you fancy a traditional celebration, with a big tree and a turkey dinner? Or are you more interested in swerving tradition and just enjoying family time? It can be helpful to sum up your intentions for the day in one word, such as ‘playful’, ‘alternative’, ‘meaningful’ or simply ‘merry’!
Discover how to keep your Christmas tree in top shape
Manage expectations
Christmas takes up so much space in our cultural imagination that almost everyone has some opinion of how it should look, feel and be organised. So, before the big day, gently manage your guests’ expectations by letting them know roughly what to expect chez vous come the 25th.
If you have no intention of serving six different types of veg with the turkey, will not be having a tree this year, or are pretty sure your kids will be up at 5.30am, let them know, so they can tweak their vision of the day and get on board with your version.
Christmas takes up so much space in our cultural imagination that almost everyone has some opinion of how it should look, feel and be organised. So, before the big day, gently manage your guests’ expectations by letting them know roughly what to expect chez vous come the 25th.
If you have no intention of serving six different types of veg with the turkey, will not be having a tree this year, or are pretty sure your kids will be up at 5.30am, let them know, so they can tweak their vision of the day and get on board with your version.
Bend the rules
Give yourself and your family a break on Christmas Day by bending or ignoring the rules you aspire to live by. Yes, your children will eat a lot of sugar and almost certainly ignore their sprouts. Don’t worry about it! Yes, your guests may all be tramping mucky shoes through your house. Fine! And perhaps today is the day to let the dog have scraps from the table, courtesy of Grandad. Let it all go!
Enjoy the chaos while it lasts. There will be plenty of time to get back on track afterwards.
Give yourself and your family a break on Christmas Day by bending or ignoring the rules you aspire to live by. Yes, your children will eat a lot of sugar and almost certainly ignore their sprouts. Don’t worry about it! Yes, your guests may all be tramping mucky shoes through your house. Fine! And perhaps today is the day to let the dog have scraps from the table, courtesy of Grandad. Let it all go!
Enjoy the chaos while it lasts. There will be plenty of time to get back on track afterwards.
Check the basics in advance
It’s easy to get caught up with putting up decorations or shopping for titbits and then forget the essentials.
A week or so before the guests begin to arrive, check whether you have enough chairs, china, glasses and cutlery for all of them. Will they fit around the table or should you put up a small, temporary table, too? Is there space in the fridge for the fresh food you plan to buy or will you need guests to store and bring some of it themselves?
Get all this sorted in advance to avoid last-minute panics on the day.
It’s easy to get caught up with putting up decorations or shopping for titbits and then forget the essentials.
A week or so before the guests begin to arrive, check whether you have enough chairs, china, glasses and cutlery for all of them. Will they fit around the table or should you put up a small, temporary table, too? Is there space in the fridge for the fresh food you plan to buy or will you need guests to store and bring some of it themselves?
Get all this sorted in advance to avoid last-minute panics on the day.
Get ahead
Minimise catering stress on the day by cooking dishes in advance that can be frozen, or simply stock up on a selection of prepared morsels that will save you some effort.
Minimise catering stress on the day by cooking dishes in advance that can be frozen, or simply stock up on a selection of prepared morsels that will save you some effort.
Assign jobs
When you are the host, it’s not expensive presents that bring the most festive happiness, it’s delegating! Assign guests a simple task, from peeling the spuds to lighting the living room fire or keeping glasses topped up, so you aren’t forced to take responsibility for everything.
Make sure the job is clear, though. ‘Help with the veg’ is too vague. ‘Peel the parsnips and cut them into batons’ is more like it. Most guests will welcome being given a role, as it helps them feel useful and breeds a feeling of sharing. So don’t become a Christmas martyr – treat the day as a community effort and get the whole family involved.
When you are the host, it’s not expensive presents that bring the most festive happiness, it’s delegating! Assign guests a simple task, from peeling the spuds to lighting the living room fire or keeping glasses topped up, so you aren’t forced to take responsibility for everything.
Make sure the job is clear, though. ‘Help with the veg’ is too vague. ‘Peel the parsnips and cut them into batons’ is more like it. Most guests will welcome being given a role, as it helps them feel useful and breeds a feeling of sharing. So don’t become a Christmas martyr – treat the day as a community effort and get the whole family involved.
Enjoy the moment
Turn off the voice in your head listing all the things you should be doing or criticising you for not making your own mince pies or not getting a bigger tree. Instead, take a minute to watch and enjoy what’s going on around you, warts and all. Try to see it all with an amused, ever-so-slightly detached eye.
Take a sneak peek at these Christmas homes around the world
Turn off the voice in your head listing all the things you should be doing or criticising you for not making your own mince pies or not getting a bigger tree. Instead, take a minute to watch and enjoy what’s going on around you, warts and all. Try to see it all with an amused, ever-so-slightly detached eye.
Take a sneak peek at these Christmas homes around the world
Learn from experience
Think back to previous Christmases to remind yourself of family tensions, issues or flashpoints. Do board games bring your uncle out in a rage? Does your aunt prefer to sit in a high-back chair? Is Granny allergic to the cat? Will little Jimmy have a tantrum if presented with sprouts? You don’t have to pander to your guests’ every whim, but understanding and avoiding the most obvious triggers for tension can help avoid a lot of awkwardness.
Think back to previous Christmases to remind yourself of family tensions, issues or flashpoints. Do board games bring your uncle out in a rage? Does your aunt prefer to sit in a high-back chair? Is Granny allergic to the cat? Will little Jimmy have a tantrum if presented with sprouts? You don’t have to pander to your guests’ every whim, but understanding and avoiding the most obvious triggers for tension can help avoid a lot of awkwardness.
Duck out
Christmas Day can be so full and busy that it’s easy to forget to take five. So be sure to sneak away at some point during the day. Take a short walk (with or without festively clad pooch) or disappear into a quiet room to sit calmly for a few moments, before returning to the action feeling refreshed.
Christmas Day can be so full and busy that it’s easy to forget to take five. So be sure to sneak away at some point during the day. Take a short walk (with or without festively clad pooch) or disappear into a quiet room to sit calmly for a few moments, before returning to the action feeling refreshed.
Watch your intake
For many of us, the idea of viewing Christmas Day through an alcoholic haze may seem enormously appealing, but being too woozy to carve the bird or slice the pud is not ideal. Pace your intake – drinking water with every glass of alcohol will help you feel jolly and on the right side of functional!
For many of us, the idea of viewing Christmas Day through an alcoholic haze may seem enormously appealing, but being too woozy to carve the bird or slice the pud is not ideal. Pace your intake – drinking water with every glass of alcohol will help you feel jolly and on the right side of functional!
Be clear on duration
Make sure everyone knows how long they are staying and when they are leaving. Guests outstaying their welcome or being hazy about when they may leave will push your stress levels up and stretch your generosity. Be up front about how long they can stay and don’t apologise for this!
Make sure everyone knows how long they are staying and when they are leaving. Guests outstaying their welcome or being hazy about when they may leave will push your stress levels up and stretch your generosity. Be up front about how long they can stay and don’t apologise for this!
Make it magical
Pulling off a great family Christmas creates powerful, positive memories for everyone gathered there, especially the children. So dig deep, remind yourself it’s only one day and do your best to make it a good one. The collective memories created on that day can nourish you all for years to come.
Be inspired by these nine festive ways to dress your Christmas table
TELL US…
Do you have any tips for hosting Christmas Day happily? We’d love to hear them in the Comments below.
Pulling off a great family Christmas creates powerful, positive memories for everyone gathered there, especially the children. So dig deep, remind yourself it’s only one day and do your best to make it a good one. The collective memories created on that day can nourish you all for years to come.
Be inspired by these nine festive ways to dress your Christmas table
TELL US…
Do you have any tips for hosting Christmas Day happily? We’d love to hear them in the Comments below.
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Yes, and we have a few pairs of guest slippers for people to put on if they want!
@kanike GUESTS who come into my home on a special day like Christmas, are only the people I love.
I agree with the article, people who come into my home with shoes on that day, will be forgiven. I'll hire a cleaner for €15 an hour to clean it all up afterwards. At least I won't be feeling stressed about it, and my GUESTS won't feel uncomfortable. In addition to the above, these GUESTS whom I love would know that they have to take their shoes off in my home, so they wouldn't do it.
Relax @kanike, you're already starting to stress...
Happy Christmas!
All good points for the hostess 'to get the mostest' out of Christmas. Had a enjoyable romp through the many comments as well. And a Happy Christmas to y'all...