Pulling crackers, opening presents and indulging in a few festive treats – Christmas is all about embracing the merriment of the season with the ones you love most. However, while Christmas is arguably the best time of year, organising the big day and playing host is no easy feat – but the feeling when you pull it off is simply sensational.
Whether you’re having a quiet one with a couple of friends or inviting everyone you know round for dinner, follow our top tips to be the host with the most this Christmas.
Decor
Transform your home into a winter wonderland to make sure everyone who steps through your door is filled with that oh-so-warming festive feeling. Deck the halls, illuminate the tree and don’t forget the mistletoe. In the living room, hang stockings on the mantelpiece and stoke the crackling fire to really ramp up the seasonal atmosphere. For an extra touch, scatter some festive-coloured cushions on the sofa. Keep it classic with red and green, or add some Christmas glamour with a little sprinkling of silver and gold.
Drinks
Welcome your guests through the door with a festive drink to throw them straight into Christmas. Stir up a simmering pot of mulled wine on the stove, filling your home with sweet aromas like cinnamon and cloves. Eggnog is another Christmas classic you can rustle up in the kitchen – a creamy drink with a hint of rum for the adults. Though mulled wine wins the popularity contest, Christmas Eve is also National Eggnog Day, so it’s only right you mix up a jug or two.
Decor
Transform your home into a winter wonderland to make sure everyone who steps through your door is filled with that oh-so-warming festive feeling. Deck the halls, illuminate the tree and don’t forget the mistletoe. In the living room, hang stockings on the mantelpiece and stoke the crackling fire to really ramp up the seasonal atmosphere. For an extra touch, scatter some festive-coloured cushions on the sofa. Keep it classic with red and green, or add some Christmas glamour with a little sprinkling of silver and gold.
Drinks
Welcome your guests through the door with a festive drink to throw them straight into Christmas. Stir up a simmering pot of mulled wine on the stove, filling your home with sweet aromas like cinnamon and cloves. Eggnog is another Christmas classic you can rustle up in the kitchen – a creamy drink with a hint of rum for the adults. Though mulled wine wins the popularity contest, Christmas Eve is also National Eggnog Day, so it’s only right you mix up a jug or two.
Presents
Thoughtfully chosen and beautifully wrapped, opening your Christmas presents is a heart-warming occasion. Gather everyone together in the lounge to enjoy the special moment together. The super-spacious Emperor corner sofa is perfect for big families, with plump cushions and soft velvet fabric to ensure everyone is comfortable.
Bring out the gifts from beneath the tree and pile them up in front of each person. Some families choose to savour the moment, taking it in turns to unwrap their gifts and admire them one by one. Others succumb to a festive frenzy, ripping open present after present without taking a breath – there’s really no right or wrong.
Christmas dinner
It’s the main event, the most anticipated meal of the year. Succulent turkey, crispy potatoes and tangy cranberry sauce – our mouths are watering already. The secret to success here is to plan ahead and prepare as much as you can before the big day arrives. For the head chef in your household, this Christmas Portion Planner is a saviour. For the rest of us, remembering to avoid clothes with tight waistlines is the golden rule.
Snacks
The feasting doesn’t stop with Christmas pudding. Even after the final remnants of cake have been scraped from the bowl, you know you’ll fancy a festive snack by the time the Queen’s Speech is over. Stock up on treats ahead of time, ready to whip out when the food-induced stupor starts to ease off. Fill your shelves with sweet treats, selection boxes and, the nation’s favourite, mince pies.
Sofa snooze
We all probably say we’re most excited to open our presents and eat the turkey at Christmas, but secretly we all yearn for that after-dinner nap to recharge after a rather taxing turkey session. The Darley four-seater sofa is perfect for festive napping. The natural leather seats are soft, warm and fitted with reclining features. As the day draws to a close, relax and binge on Christmas TV specials together – with a mince pie or two to keep you going, of course.
Alternatively, choose the Laurence in the four-seater recliner sofa option, with double-power headrest to ensure everyone can have a relaxing snooze before the Christmas specials come on the TV.
Staying over
After all the festivities of the big day are done with, your hosting duties might still not be totally over. With a sofa bed to host your guests, you can keep the Christmas fun going that little bit longer. Allowing you to comfortably accommodate your friends and family for the night, you can then neatly tidy away the bed and enjoy a comfortable sofa for the rest of the year. The Glastonbury is a three-seater sofa bed finished in luxurious crushed velvet. If you need a more compact solution, the Majestic two-seater sofa bed is ideal.
From all the team at Sofology, we hope you have a truly magical Christmas with the people you love most.
