How to Host a Christmas Party You're Proud Of

Take some of the stress off of Christmas day itself by preparing as much food in advance as humanely possible. There will still be plenty of "last-minute" tasks that you'll need to do on the day so don't overwhelm yourself with last-minute cooking and baking.

Think about what food you can make early and then chuck it into the freezer to preserve it until Christmas day rolls around. This works well for a lot of desserts, such as truffles, pecan pies etc. You may be surprised at what you can actually store in the freezer! Also, don't forget to prepare plenty of ice if you are hosting. No one want's a warm beer on a hot day.

If you have a lot of extra people coming over for Christmas, it is crucial that you have plenty of cutlery, crockery and glassware to go around. If you have a lot of little ones running around the house, make sure you get your hand on some plastic plates and glasses that won’t break. On a similar note, don’t forget about napkins! If you want to add an extra layer of festivity to your décor, opt for some Christmas themed napkins.

If you aren’t used to having a full house, you will want to make sure that you have plenty of seats. Bring out any stools, outdoor seating or beanbags that have been hiding away in storage to ensure no one is sitting on the floor.

Reduce stress levels on Christmas Day by setting up the table the night before. Create a festive atmosphere by creating a Christmas-themed centrepiece bursting with green and reds. TOP TIP: Get your hands on an Umbra Layla vase to display your centrepiece. Lay out Christmas crackers for your guests, as well as themed napkins. Get out your fancy Stanley Rogers cutlery, nicest Luigi Bormioli glassware and Corelle crockery to complete the setup.

The earlier you determine the menu, the less unprepared you will feel. If you know exactly what ingredients you need, you can make sure you have them on hand in your pantry so you don’t come unstuck. If cooking isn’t really your forte, unload some of the responsibility on your guests. Organise a BYO-type situation and allocate a meal to each person. Designate one person to make the salads, one person to make a dessert, one person to bring a meat dish and so on.

Christmas time is synonymous with food (in excess!). As the host, you are bound to end up with a bunch of leftovers that your guests leave behind. In order to prepare for this, you’ll want to make sure your fridge isn’t full of clutter beforehand. Get rid of all your old food to make space for the new! Use your fridge space efficiently by stocking up on stackable Click Clack containers to store all your leftovers and keep them fresh.

*Photo by Click Clack on Instagram

Thanks to Spotify, you can easily set up a fun Christmas playlist that will keep your guests in a cheerful mood all day long. Pair that with some bubbly and you’ll have some very happy friends and family.

Shop the full Christmas Gift Guide here!