Christmas may be the most wonderful time of the year, but hosting guests over the festive period can also make it the most stressful time. However, with these fail-safe Christmas hosting tips, it doesn't have to be.
To guarantee a seamlessly smooth day, it’s best to be prepared well in advance with any Christmas party ideas and adopt a few handy hacks to keep stress at bay.
Whether you have family and friends staying all week or just visiting for the big day, these handy hacks from home experts and the w&h team will alleviate the stress of hosting and ensure everything runs smoothly.
15 essential Christmas hosting tips
The key to hosting Christmas is organisation. Always ensure the glasses are sparkling and platters and plates are out and ready so you won't panic at the last minute when people are flooding through the door.
Along with preparation, there are other savvy ways you can stay organised and stress-free when hosting Christmas...
1. Create a schedule
Like preparing a Sunday roast, cooking the best Christmas food is all about the timing. Creating a schedule ensures you stay on track with what to cook and when.
"Making a cooking schedule for the day of Christmas and a couple of days run-up to make sure I precook/par-cook as much as possible in advance," says w&h's digital beauty editor Aleesha Badkar. "Also have a clear to-do list for the day so that you don't get overwhelmed and also so everything is prepared on time. Plus it means that you can have more time for all the fun bits on Christmas day."
2. Air fry the perfect pre-cooked potatoes
"Last year, like Aleesha, I prepped 90% of my Christmas dinner before the big day," says Millie Fender, w&h's head of E-commerce. "The biggest revelation to me was the roast potatoes, which came out crispier than ever when I used my beloved best air fryer."
"I par-boiled them the day before, tossed them in some goose fat and seasonings and left them to cool in the fridge overnight. Then I simply had to pop them in my Instant Vortex (the best air fryer I've tried for perfect roasties) to crisp up for 40 minutes."
"It's a foolproof method that I learned from Millie Simpson, a chef and kitchen manager at Michel Roux Jr's Sauce by The Langham. So basically, it's a Michelin-starred Christmas dinner tip. You're welcome."
Best under £100
For its price, you simply won't find a better quality air fryer than this one. It's one of the classic models and the evidence speaks for itself. It cooks perfect chips, and grilled vegetables, and even squeezes a small roast chicken in the drawer. It's brilliant.
Best for families
This can work as one mini oven or as a dual-drawer air fryer. All you have to do is slide the divider in and out of place. Each half of the oven can air fry independently to the other and you get to choose between deep baskets as well as solid and mesh trays. It covers every function and every possible option.
Best overall
Air fryers don't get better than this. The Ninja cooked our chips in record time (with no pre-heating) and made the perfect crispy bacon. Having two drawers makes this super versatile since these can work independently or in sync. It might be more expensive than some, but it's still great value.
3. Keep the fridge well stocked
Christmas is the time to keep the fridge well-stocked in more ways than one. While it's best to avoid overloading the fridge and restrict airflow it seems like an impossible task, but what you can do is ensure you know how to organise a fridge for maximum efficiency – with essential Christmas fridge organisation tips.
"The top shelf is the least cold section of the fridge, making it suitable for storing foods that don’t need to be super chilled, perfect for any pre-cooked and cured foods like deli meats that would make a delicious charcuterie board," explains Salah Sun, head of product management at Beko.
"Use the middle section of your fridge for dairy products, ready-to-eat foods Christmas leftovers, and, if the fridge isn’t too full already, then chilled drinks and festive fizz and wines also look great on this shelf."
"The bottom shelf is the coldest part of the fridge, meaning any food placed here will be super fresh, therefore ideal for meat, fish, and dairy products."
4. Fashion your own DIY Cooler
Tis the season for savvy storage ideas and content director Lucy Searle has one of the best for housing extra food when it won't all fit in the fridge.
"I never have enough room in my fridge for everything I need cold, so I dig out a large lidded plastic storage box I have in the loft, empty it (temporarily) of whatever I'm currently keeping in it and put it outside," says Lucy.
"I then use it to store anything that doesn't need to be kept fridge-cold but which might go off if kept in a warm kitchen, from fruit and veg to booze and mince pies. The lid is lockable to keep the foxes out..."
All the same, it might be worth checking out how to stop foxes coming into your garden to avoid the temptation to even explore. Once the day is over you simply give the box a quick rinse and use it once again to help declutter the loft.
5. Clear closet space
After taking the time and making the effort of styling your hallway for Christmas the last thing you want is to let the decor down with a pile of coats and shoes the minute your guests arrive. To ensure you can immediately hide coats, shoes, scarves, and umbrellas from view be sure to clear adequate closet space.
Before your guests arrive remove a large section of coats and relocate them temporarily to an upstairs wardrobe out of the year to be ready for when you need to hang items directly once they are removed at the door.
6. Lay the table the day before
Relieve the stress of frantically trying to dress the table while juggling cooking and greeting early guests – because that always happens. Get your table ready the night before so you have one less task to do on the day.
Lay the tablecloth, set out the place settings, add table runners and stage your Christmas centrepiece idea so that you are ready to go on Christmas Day, without having to worry about any table prep.
7. Steam clean cutlery and glasses
When I was younger I worked in a restaurant synonymous with fine dining called Smith's Brasserie where I served many a prestigious dinner, including David and Victoria Beckham and Lord Alan Sugar. Because of the restaurant's quality and clientele, our standards of service always had to be impeccable. One pre-dinner job that I learnt and still do to this day when hosting dinner is to steam clean the silverware and glassware to ensure sparkling results.
Despite glasses or cutlery being fresh from the dishwasher there are always marks, be it fingerprints or watermarks so it always pays to give them a steam and wipe before using.
To do this, simply take a large bowl of water which is hot enough to produce steam and hold the glass over it until it's suitably foggy. Take a lint-free cloth and buff the glass until it is dry and gleaming with a perfect clean sheen.
8. Prepare the wine by decanting
"I always do a big wine shop for Christmas, choosing certain bottles for each course, meal or occasion over Christmas but I also like to make sure I'm serving each of my wines in its optimum condition," explains Aleesha. "However, as I also do most of the cooking I can't always open each bottle of wine at the right time for it to breathe. So I swear by decanting wine when hosting."
"The process aerates the wine as you pour meaning that I can just open and serve and not have to worry about wine timings as well as oven timings."
"Plus it looks fabulous on the dinner table so really makes an impression. But my favourite thing about it has to be the preserving function. Not that there's ever much wine left."
9. Use safe candles
Nothing beats candlelight for creating an ambience when hosting Christmas, but candles are not often the safest solution for dining tables during family festivities.
I swear by the best flameless candles. I opt for flameless candles for safety - they create a nice ambience without naked flames, and not having to call emergency services is always preferable when throwing a party.
LED candles won't drizzle wax onto your table, singe your fire, or diffuse smoke and toxins into your air. They're pet-safe, child-safe, and accident-proof. Perfect for hosting the whole family.
Best votives
£19.99 set of 4 | These compact votive candles are the ideal size to incorporate into table centrepieces, while a handy timer function allows you to set them to automatically switch on for six hours each day.
Seasonal must-have
£29.99 | The dried seasonal fruit adds an artisan vibe to this wintery design and helps to make it look just like the real deal in terms of a candle aesthetic. The unique TruGlow® candles combine real wax and innovative technology to perfectly mimic the look of real candles.
Best pillars
RRP: £19.99 | This set of 3 Lights4fun pillar candles features real wax to create three thoroughly realistic-looking pillar candles. The assorted sizes offer varying heights to add interest to tablescaping themes or to gently frame a mantlepiece.
10. Don't be afraid to accept help
Sometimes, even with the best plans in place hosting can feel overwhelming. Because your guests all know this, from hosting their own soirees, they will inevitably offer to help at some point – and a top tip is to let them.
Not only will their help be hugely valuable it also includes them and gives them a sense of purpose on the day, which for some is welcomed.
11. Make your guest rooms feel festive
It's always nice to style a guest bedroom ready for Christmas to make it feel extra special and make a bedroom feel cosy and welcoming.
"Styling a bedroom for someone you know is a great opportunity to create a personalised experience as you’ll hopefully know what they like," says w&h's contributing interior stylist Claire Douglas. "If they are fans of Christmas decor, you could add some festive decorations around the room, like perhaps even a tiny Christmas tree."
"I recommend sticking to subtle and pared-back festive touches for styling your guest bedroom, like a small bud vase of festive foliage on the bedside table alongside a festive bowl of their favourite chocolates. A few considered details are the first step to making a guest bedroom feel like a luxury hotel.
12. Share your finest products
Whether it's the 'only for best' Aesop hand soap you've been saving or an expensive shampoo set, Christmas is the time to bring out the big guns.
"For me, a fancy hand soap is a must," says Aleesha. "I think it's just a lovely little indulgence to treat my guests to – visiting the bathroom to be met with a beautiful glass bottle that leaves your hands smelling delicious all night. Anything in a pretty bottle (bonus points for earthy or monochromatic colours) packed with botanicals gets a yes from me."
Aleesha's top picks:
Awaken the senses
£43 | When mixed with water this cleansing hand and body gel becomes a cleansing foam. With the perfect balance between citrus and floral notes, this distinctively fragranced product from Diptyque awakens the senses.
Restorative
£27 | With hyaluronic acid to hydrate whilst you wash this product leaves hands looking smoother, feeling softer, and refreshed by Gloved's signature restorative woody scent.
Aromatic scents
£33 | Make a good impression with this gentle formulation containing oils of Orange, Rosemary and Lavender to effectively cleanse the hands without drying them out.
13. Have the WIFI code handy
Whether you have gaming teenagers or older relatives with a penchant for Facebook you will undoubtedly be asked multiple times for the WIFI password, so a top tip is to have it to hand.
You could even write it out on a chalkboard or letter memo board to have on display in the kitchen so your guests don't feel too rude to ask while you're busy with hosting duties.
14. Create a more sociable layout
Whether or not you have a large group of family and friends that join you for the big day, creating a more flexible and social layout with your furniture can make a massive difference. You might have to break some of the small living room layout rules, but it's only temporary.
"When you have guests over to your house, the last thing you want is for people to be so spread out that the room feels empty and stark," says Melissa Denham, interior design expert at Hammonds Furniture. "However, you do not want everyone to be bunched up together with no space to move around at all.
She adds, "For standing gatherings, clear coffee tables out of the centre of the room and arrange smaller pieces of furniture around the sides for people to rest drinks and plates on. Sofas can be moved a little further back to the walls and you might even want to move armchairs or cuddle chairs to other rooms in your house for the occasion."
Should your guests be seated then try to position your sofas and chairs inwards rather than at the TV. It's also a good idea to bring them closer together if possible so people can chat easily, just make sure there's enough room to be able to walk around.
15. Set the mood with music and scents
Whilst you might not immediately think of scentscaping as one of the most important hosting tips, your guests will certainly appreciate it. The same goes for the perfect holiday playlist, it'll create an atmosphere even when the chatting slows down.
Balsam Hill Ambassador and professional tablescaper, Samantha Picard says, "Music and scents are just as important as the table styling or food! Music sets the emotional tone for your entire event. I recommend starting with slightly more upbeat tunes during arrival- this helps break the initial social ice and energises conversation.
"As you move into dinner, transition to something more mellow that won't compete with discussion. The volume is crucial too, you want it just loud enough to fill silent moments but quiet enough that guests don't have to raise their voices to chat," she continues.
Best scented candle
RRP: £22 | This 140g jar candle offers approximately 33 hours of burn time and is the perfect Christmas scent for parties. With warming spice and a refreshing citrus, this candle will set the festive scene whilst impressing your guests.
Best tealights
RRP: £16.95 | These tea lights in the festive 'Winter Thyme' scent are perfect for dotting around your home wherever guests will be. The scent is a heady blend of rosemary and thyme with notes of winter wood tones.
Novelty Diffuser
RRP: £12 | Not only will this fill your home with wonderful notes of spiced wood and amber it'll also add festive charm thanks to its nutcracker design. This diffuser has up to five weeks of scent so your space will smell divine all Christmas long.
A helpful tip that comes from everyone on the team is to take a brief pause to relax before your guests arrive. Make a cuppa or a coffee and sit for five minutes by yourself to prepare for the festivities that are to come.
Most importantly, remember to enjoy the festivities and not lose sight of the fact that you are spending quality time with loved ones.