Pretty much without fail, the festive season manages to sneak up on the majority of us and give us a massive surprise. It’s actually quite pretty impressive that this still happens nowadays, given how many adverts and reminders we have about the Christmas period, but it happens nonetheless.
If you’re looking to take a bit more of a structured approach this year, to get things done in a (relatively) organised and calm manner, then we’ve got just the article for you. From having a big declutter to focusing on food and drink, here’s how to get your home ready for the festive season.
Have a big clearout
The best way to start off with your preparations for the festive season is to have a big clearout. Christmas might be a while before spring (the classic clearout season), but that doesn’t mean that you can’t declutter – it’ll make things a lot less stressful if you do it right.
Even if you don’t have a huge, methodical decluttering session, at the very least try to get unnecessary things out of your main living areas. This will make it a lot easier to host family and friends throughout the season, while also making it easier to decorate.
Think about what you’re working with
Before you start decorating your home, take a few moments to think about what you’re working with. Think about the dominant colour schemes and furniture styles in your home, and also take a look at what kinds of decorations you have stored away.
You don’t have to just keep on doing the same thing year in, year out, but you also don’t have to commit to a dramatic change. Think about what’s worked in the past, and what you feel like could do with a bit of freshening up.
Look for new decorations
Once you know what you’re working with, and the general aesthetic you’re trying to create, you can start to look for new decorations. What it is that you look for will depend on a number of things, of course, including the season and occasion.
You can find some ideas for Christmas wreaths that will have a beautiful transformative effect on your home, without much work, commitment or financial investment. Try looking at other little decorations as well – the best approach is often lots of smaller items placed on bookshelves and wrapped around lights, rather than just a few big decorations.
Focus on food and drink
Lastly, while decorations are obviously important, you’ll likely find that food and drink give you the most joy. Stock up early on snacks and nice beverages, buying in bulk if you think you’ll be hosting a lot of people. Getting non-perishables sorted – biscuits, crisps, beers, wines – sooner rather than later can help to avoid a mad dash later on, significantly reducing stress as a result.
So there you have it. If you take an approach at least broadly similar to the one outlined above, we think it’s very likely that you’ll enjoy Christmas a whole lot more compared to if you left it until the last minute. It doesn’t take a lot of preparation to get things rolling, and it’s absolutely worth the effort it does take.
