Christmas is one of the busiest times of the year and there is often a long list of things that need to be done in the lead up to the 25th of December – buy and wrap presents, decorate your home, decide on the Christmas menu, cook, clean your house in preparation for guests, and everything else in between. The Christmas Day to–do list can become very overwhelming. So, we’ve put together an easy step-by-step guide to help take the stress out of the big day, so you can sit back and enjoy Christmas without the chaos.
Step 1: Create A Budget
Creating a budget is our first port of call when it comes to getting on top of Christmas Day. A budget can help you manage your money wisely, and ensure you don’t go overboard with impulse purchases that may leave you in the red come the new year. Write down your ideal budget and then work backwards from there, itemising your desired spend for presents, food, drinks, decorations and so on.
Step 2: Finalise Christmas Day Details
The second step is all about the logistics. Who is hosting Christmas Day? What are your responsibilities? What do you need to bring, cook or pick up? How many guests will be attending? Will you be eating inside or outside?
Hosting Christmas Day is a big undertaking, but a very rewarding one. If 2020 is your year to host, listen up. Yes, your preparation may be a little more intense than that of your guests, but this also means that you are able to make the day everything you want it to be.
Set aside some time to make a brief run-sheet of how the day will unfold. Schedule in times for when your guests are arriving, what time lunch will be served, and when presents will be given. Following a rough schedule will ensure that everyone is on the same page, and nothing is forgotten amidst the festivities. It is important to delegate tasks and allocate time for different parts of the day, but also be flexible if things don’t go as planned or someone is unable to fulfil their assigned job at the last minute.
Deciding the who, what, when and where, of various Christmas engagements is an important piece of the preparation puzzle. Once these details are locked in, divide and assign tasks to stay organised this festive season. This way, everyone is on the same page and Christmas Day will run seamlessly.
Step 3: Prepare Food Where Possible
Once you have confirmed how many guests will be attending Christmas breakfast, lunch, or dinner, and what you are responsible for cooking, you can start to collate your favourite family recipes and stock up on all required ingredients. Think about any dishes that can be prepared ahead of time, and get a head start on these to save time closer to the big day.
Step 4: Decide On Your Décor
With a whole host of other items on your to-do list, it can be easy to neglect your home. To ensure that your space is clutter-free for Christmas, start by sorting through your existing décor and decide what is and isn’t necessary. With the influx of beautiful new Christmas decorations available every year, sorting through what is already on display in your house, and what you have in storage is a great way to prevent clutter building up.
Consider putting less Christmas decorations out – the phrase ‘less is more’ is key when it comes to styling. Start by going through and finding which items fit your proposed theme and colour scheme, and then place these items throughout your space. As you continue to do this, it will become apparent that some of your cherished decorations may not suit your Christmas style this year. The ones that are sticking out like a sore thumb are the ones that you could consider storing away. Storing these items away will ensure that you do not overcrowd your space with decorations that do not match, but they are kept safe for your use in years to come.
Another sure-fire way to maintain a clutter-free home during the festive season is to also store away your current, non-Christmas themed décor that may be taking up too much room. Combining this with removing extra Christmas items that are not relevant to your new style, storing these away will make your home appear fresh and inviting.
Step 5: Declutter Your Space
With family and friends finally being allowed to visit in many parts of the country, decluttering has never been more important. Making space for your loved ones is crucial during the holidays season, whether it is cleaning out the garage or making space in the guest room.
Christmas is a time for loved ones to come together, and this means some guests will be travelling from different cities. Will you have people staying over? It might be a good idea to clean out that dreaded guest bedroom space that has been neglected all year.
We are also conscious of the effects of COVID-19 on traditional Christmas celebrations. If you are unable to visit your family as planned due to ongoing restrictions or precautions, your holiday season might look a little different this year. If this sounds like your situation, perhaps consider setting up a Zoom call so you can celebrate with loved ones virtually. You can still declutter your space, decorate, cook your favourite foods, and play your most-loved carols and create new traditions – how very 2020.
If you are looking to declutter, the garage is another good place to review. The place where all items seem to vanish to when they are no longer needed – the garage can be daunting to declutter. Start with large items and work your way down in size. Couches? Appliances? These types of things can be easily removed and placed into storage with protective covers to ensure that they remain in perfect condition until they are next needed. Freeing up this space will help with the inevitable influx of items that will appear at your house throughout the festive season (here’s looking at you, Christmas tree) and ensure your home stays clean and clutter-free.
Christmas doesn’t have to be stressful. With three sleeps until the big day, there is still plenty of time to get things organised. How can you make sure your house is clean and ready for loved ones? Visit us in-store, or online for all your storage solutions. Merry Christmas!
