Is ‘less stress’ at the very top of your Christmas wish list? Then consider this the only guide you need to a calm festive season. Our Christmas countdown checklist will ensure your big day is easy-breezy and enjoyable for everyone.
There’s no doubt the pressure of planning the perfect Christmas Day can be a little overwhelming. There are all the practicalities to consider – mouths to feed, guest rooms to prepare, kids to entertain. Then there are the touches that turn a regular day into the most magical time of the year: DIY decorations, serving up fabulous Christmas fare and sharing gifts with loved ones. The earlier you start, the more achievable – and relaxed – it all is.
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Here’s our ultimate guide to preparing the best Christmas Day yet.
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Christmas countdown: 1 month until Christmas
1. Deep clean your kitchen
Now’s the time to declutter your kitchen. Clean the oven, scrub the stovetop and sort through supplies in the pantry and fridge to check expiration dates.
Make a list of what you need to replace so you’ll be stocked and ready to go when it’s time to start prep. Test out small appliances to make sure they’re in working order.
2. Clean and prep your barbecue
Give your barbecue a good clean and make sure that it’s set up in a safe area with plenty of workspace. Stock up on bottled gas and barbecue wipes – they’re great for keeping it looking good between big clean-ups.
3. Choose a signature scent with candles and diffusers
Your home’s aroma is often the first impression guests get, so try to make it a good one. Home Beautiful editor-in-chief Elle Lovelock says there are two approaches: “One is to have a signature scent throughout your home. The other is to create a scent journey from room to room.”
For the latter, marketing director at Circa, Waffa Nakad, says, “The key is to choose fragrances that feel connected by the atmosphere they create… lighter and fresher scents for social areas or warmer, more comforting fragrances for relaxing zones.” For a bonus, choose odour- and mosquito-repelling scents like Circa’s ‘Alchemy’ range.
4. Choose your table theme
Your centrepiece is the heart of your table, so it pays to prep early. For cook and television presenter Justine Schofield, knowing how much space you have is key. “Lay your table and do a trial run,” she says. As for Justine's go-to Christmas table centrepiece? “I like to use different-shaped glasses and fill them with native flowers and foliage,” she says.
“I plan to combine my Grandma’s old plates and glassware with colourful tablecloths, serviettes and placemats”
Justine Schofield, Cook and TV host
Regardless of whether your interior style is minimalist, maximalist or somewhere in between, Christmas is the one time of year that you’ll want to go all out. “Whatever the theme, this is the time for abundance,” shares Elle. “If you don’t decorate the house, the table is one contained area to express your personality.” She suggests accenting your dining table with festive foods people can pick at, such as Vienna almonds and Christmas mince pies for traditional finger food, or fresh fruit for a more casual, coastal appeal. “You can elevate decor with red fruit, like cherries, dusted with edible gold leaf. It looks phenomenal and special,” she adds.
5. Prep your linen
“I love the opulence of table linen and fabric napkins at Christmas time,” says interior stylist and former Home Beautiful creative director, Imogene Abady. “Once I’ve confirmed the number of guests, I make sure I have my tablecloths and napkins laundered so they’re pressed and ready for the big day.”
Christmas countdown: 3 weeks until Christmas
6. Hide oversized gifts
Struggling to wrap oversized gifts? “Take a photo of the gift and wrap the photo in a box along with instructions on where to find the present,” says Vivienne Anthon, expert gift wrapper and founder of Daily Wrap.
“You could even give treasure hunt- style directions to where the gift is hidden.”
7. Prepare your servingware
Once your menu is set, it’s time to work out how and what to serve it on as you count down to Christmas. “I like to dedicate a sideboard where I start placing the servingware, dinnerware, glasses and cutlery for use on the day,” says Imogene.
“I use Post-it notes to write the name of each dish on the servingware and I give everything a polish at the same time.”
8. Donate unwanted toys
“The week between the end of school and Christmas Day is a great time to declutter toys with your kids,” says professional organiser Amy Revell.
“Help them donate toys that they’ve outgrown and create space for any new toys. This creates a lovely opportunity to talk about the spirit of Christmas and helping those less fortunate.”
Christmas countdown: 2 weeks until Christmas
9. Create handmade Christmas crafts
If you have small children, shelve the precious ornaments for a few years and embrace kid-friendly decorations. Time with loved ones is of course the greatest gift of all.
Alternatively, enjoy some crafting on your own, or with friends. Create paper chains with thick wrapping paper and a hot glue gun. Or, keep the hot glue gun but switch the paper for fabric to create an oversized bow for the front door. Festive and on trend.
“Make pompoms, string them into bunting and drape all over the tree,” says event stylist Alexis Teasdale. “Fake flowers also look amazing. Add paperclip hooks to easily slip them onto branches.”
10. Beat the supermarket rush
Two weeks out is when Justine likes to shop for nonperishables, beating the crowd.
“Before you go, check the pantry to ensure you don’t double up on ingredients such as herbs and spices,” she suggests. “Shopping now also means you’re likely to get the exact ingredients you need.”
When you’re hosting, it can be easy to focus on the big items, but that can sometimes leave the bare necessities neglected. Stock up on a popular variety of white wine, red wine and beer, plus classic party snacks such as delicious dips, a cheese board, bowls of olives and potato chips. Little offerings ensure that no one is left hungry or thirsty for even a moment. And don’t forget water! “Have a jug of sparkling water, with fruit like oranges in it, that people can sip throughout the day,” suggests designer Carlene Duffy.
11. Clear the decks
Start to think about the weather. “If you have an outdoor table, invest in a large outdoor umbrella to keep the area cool,” says interior stylist Aimee Tarulli of Archer Interiors. “Add some outdoor bean bags to create an informal break-out space where your guests can relax and unwind after a big lunch.”
12. Stock the bar
“It’s far better to have more booze than to run out,” says sommelier Virginia Selleck. “Prepare to get the party started with a bubbly, or greet guests with a cocktail. This year, try something light and fresh such as The Ruby, with Campari, Escubac, freshly squeezed grapefruit and juice from a lime.” For more Christmas cocktail recipes, click here.
13. Buy emergency stocking stuffers
It’s every host’s worst nightmare – an oversight, a miscount or an unexpected guest that leads to… an invitee without a gift. Thankfully, we have a simple trick to ensure you – and your loved ones – are never left empty-handed. Just remember the three Cs: candles, chocolates and coffee table books. These gifts are perfect to have up your sleeve, wrapped and ready to go. The three Cs work well because people of
all ages and backgrounds tend to enjoy at least one and they’re all available in a wide range of prices, so you can keep it simple or gift a little luxury.
Christmas countdown: 1 week until Christmas
14. Clean the guest bathroom and powder room
For a guest-ready bathroom, go back to basics. As Carlene admits, “When you’re using a guest bathroom, you don’t want to see too much sign of life.” Wipe up surfaces, empty the laundry basket if you have one in the room and fold a fresh hand towel (extra points for festive prints).
15. Refresh your spaces
Give your bathroom and powder room a quick zhoosh as you countdown to Christmas day. "Add some new hand towels, a special pump soap and, in the days leading to Christmas, a little bunch of flowers,” says Amber Clohesy from Down To The Woods.
“I love Ashley & Co’s soap, and Mud’s tear vase is the perfect size for a bathroom. This makes your bathroom special for guests, but is also a cheeky Christmas gift to yourself.”
Simply switching up the aroma can have a big impact. “Give bathrooms a special treatment with a fresh and clean scent in hand washes, lotions and diffusers,” says Elle, who favours Circa White Tea & Wild Mint.
16. Create pamper packages for guests
If there’s a chance your guests may settle in for the long haul and perhaps stay overnight – and what a compliment if they do – ensure you’re prepared in advance by having freshly laundered sets of towels at the ready. Some small pamper packages consisting of basic toiletries and guest soaps also make for a welcoming gesture. Try presenting everything together, tied with a ribbon or in a woven basket. And if the aim is to channel a high-end hotel, add a spare fluffy bath robe to their pamper pack. Along with crisp, fresh sheets gracing your guest bed and a vase of blooms on the bedside, these thoughtful details will seal your status as ‘the hostess with the mostest’ for many years to come.
17. Prepare the guest room
Put the final touches on the guest room: fresh linen, a carafe of water, a spare phone charger, a hairdryer and extra toilet paper in the bathroom, and a note with the wi-fi password on the bedside table.
18. Re-arrange the furniture
No matter whether your soiree is a formal dinner party or casual drinks and nibbles, your decor will help set the tone. Furniture placement silently communicates this to guests, showing them where to sit or stand and conveying any etiquette, and seating arrangements play a big part in encouraging or stifling chitchat. “The biggest mistake I see when people set up for guests? Lining seating up against the walls like a waiting room,” says HB editor-in-chief, Elle Lovelock. “Pull armchairs and sofas closer, so people naturally face one another – it makes chatting so much easier.”
If you have multiple zones in an open-plan space, try to delineate them. Anna DiNapoli, head of interior design at Coco Republic, says to “Define zones with rugs, planters or lighting – placing the dining area closer to cooking zones,” with your lounge arranged to maximise conversation and views. Finally, use the right mix of furniture for the event you are hosting. “Low-profile dining tables or ‘chat-height’ tables can double as both dining and lounge-friendly solutions,” explains Anna. “Dining chairs are ideal for eating, but less suited to long hours of lounging. Lounge seating, on the other hand, is deeper, cushioned and designed for comfort.”
Christmas countdown: The day before Christmas
19. Set the table
It’s always a nice idea to lay the table the night before – it takes way longer than you think. Kids about? Leave off the glassware and throw a sheet over it all so it remains safe from little hands.
Carlene also recommends a natural touch. She likes to scatter low vases down the middle of long tables, filled with pops of colourful florals; but less is more. “You don’t want anything too big – it needs to be functional so you can see each other and have room to eat,” she says. For Carlene, the most essential components in a festive tablescape are your napkins and table linen. “A great tablecloth sets the foundation,” she advises. “If you have a fabulous tablecloth, the hard part is done and everything else is a bonus.” As they say, start from the bottom and work your way up.
20. Buy fresh flowers
Get the pick of the bunch by visiting your local flower market on Christmas Eve. “The best flowers are available from 5am,” says Imogene.
21. Create a Christmas playlist
All hosts hope to avoid awkward silences, but remember, lulls in conversation are a natural occurrence. Gentle background music can help fill the void. For a playlist that complements your event, match the tempo of the music to the occasion and time of day. Evoke wonder and magic on Christmas Eve with scores from Home Alone and Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker. In the morning, keep the sonic experience merry and bright with choral arrangements of classic carols before moving on to the big, swinging sound of festive jazz songs over a long lunch.
22. Plug in and recharge
“Stock up on batteries and put all your devices on charge,” says Alexis. “There’s nothing like not being able to play with new toys to really bring down the festive mood.”
23. Prep the drinks station
“Make sure your bubbles, white and rosé wines are in the fridge chilling and ready to be cracked,” says Magnum & Queens’ Virginia Selleck. “Wash and polish wine glasses and decanters, and cut up limes and lemon slices for cocktails. If your cocktail recipes need freshly squeezed juice, do this ahead of time and store in the fridge.”
24. Recycle and re-use
“Gift wrapping is like Christmas fare – you have to plan for leftovers,” says expert gift wrapper Vivienne Anthon. “Have a box ready for paper, plus a basket for ribbons. Store re-usable paper in long cardboard cylinders.”
25. Check all your lighting works
Just after the sun sets on Christmas Eve, allocate 30 minutes to test your lighting. “Whether you’re using candles, tea lights or fairy lights, it’s a great way to see what will work as day turns to night and make last-minute touches,” says HB food director Imogene Abady.
26. Savour the season’s seafood
Chef and restaurateur Guillaume Brahimi recommends heading to the fishmonger on Christmas Eve to pick up the freshest catch.
“This gives you enough time to prepare it before the big day,” he says. To keep seafood at its very best, “Wrap your fish in Chux cloths to keep it dry,” suggests Lennox Hastie, chef and owner of Firedoor restaurant in Sydney.
Christmas countdown: On the day
The countdown to Christmas is over. Thanks to all of your amazing preparations over the past month, Christmas Day will be a breeze and you can sit back and actually enjoy this special time. We have just one piece of advice left, and it's all about how you welcome loved ones into your home.
27. How to greet your guests
Greeting guests is simple – it’s the moments directly following that are key. Once you’ve relieved people of coats or hats, switch into guide mode. Encourage guests to move into your home, so they end up right where you’ll be entertaining – this helps avoid awkward hovering – then offer everyone a welcome drink.
