Is your kitchen Christmas ready?

We’re not talking new floors or worktops here, just some simple ways to bring the festive spirit into the heart of the home! For the best results, we recommend planning these into the weeks leading up to the big day, rather than cramming it all in at the last minute.

It pays to be organised and plan ahead, for a stress-free day.

1. Spick and span

Seeing as it’s at least 8 months since the Spring, now seems like a good time to give the kitchen another deep clean, just in time for all your family and friends to come and mess it all up again!

It’s only right that the kitchen has its own decorations, maybe even a tree, and you don’t want to put them up amongst cobwebs, so set aside some time to hoover, dust and polish the whole room. It can be your way of thanking your kitchen for all its efforts throughout the year.

Food storage can be functional and look great at the same time.

Have a good clear out to ensure there’s enough room to store your festive treats.

2. A good old clear out

Clearing the fridge and making way for the tasty homemade cheesecakes, Grandma’s boozy brandy butter and the world’s largest turkey, is another great place to start.

Get rid of the jars lurking at the back, that have been there since last Christmas, and give the shelves a clean.  It’s not the nicest job but it’s very rewarding. You can even show it off by asking your friends to grab the fizz from the fridge when they come for drinks!  While you’re on a roll maybe clear out the larder cupboard too.

Make sure you have enough plates for all of your guests

3. Stock-ing up (see what we did there?)

Now that your cupboards are nice and clear – fill them up again!

Make sure you’re fully stocked with mixers for drinks, nuts for nibbling and of course beaked beans, for when you’re so fed up with cooking you tell the kids to fend for themselves.

If you’re anything like us, we stop shopping around midnight on Christmas Eve (who doesn’t have to nip out for a last-minute pint of milk) and then don’t want to go anywhere near a supermarket for at least a week. So, making sure there is enough food to feed an army is essential.

Finally count crockery, cutlery, and seating for the big day to ensure that you are not raiding the shed for emergency chairs, as you are about to sit down to eat.

4. The Lists

There’s only one other person whose lists are more important than yours, and that’s Santa! But whilst his are full of Xbox controllers, iPhones, and hair tongs, yours will be varied and many.

There’s the obvious Christmas card list. Then there’s the Christmas pressie list for your partners and children; the list for the presents you need to buy on behalf of family members, for you partner and children; the list for the presents for the wider family and friends; and the backup list covering all the above.

But the most important list of all is the list of timings for the cooking of the meal on Christmas day. It starts at around 5am when the turkey needs to go in, and by Midday, when the potatoes and pigs in blankets feature, you’ve had too much fizz to even read it!!

Gosh, we love a list.

5. Rearrange the furniture

Christmas is the one time of the year when moving furniture around is permitted. And that’s because the family knows it means they won’t have to sit on grandma’s lap for Christmas lunch!

Seriously though, if you have a tree in your kitchen or if you are hosting a larger number of people than the usual Sunday roast, then it could be time to have a move about. There’s nothing wrong with rehoming a side table or even chest of drawers, for a few days, so that you can get a large temporary tabletop on or accommodate the 8ft tree.

Keep an eye on our instagram feed for lots of tips and design advice, to help get your home ready for the festive season.

 We hope you all have a lovely, wonderfully cosy, and stylish Christmas!