Easy tips for stress-free hosting this Christmas

Christmas is coming – and so are your kids and their partners, your next-door neighbours and the friends that you only see once a year. But if you’re expecting a houseful, panic not; with just a touch of pre-planning you can ensure that when guests descend they’re comfortable and happy, and that your own holiday period is fun, fabulous and stress-free.

Beyond fresh sheets and the traditional tin of Quality Street, here are some easy and inexpensive ways to up the hosting ante, with advice from the experts who do it best.

Have treats on tap before they arrive

Interior and furniture designer Tatjana von Stein always makes sure there are treats on the table and ready to go as soon as her guests walk in the door. “You can never go wrong with a plate of deliciousness and drinks so that people feel welcome. It lets them know that you’ve been looking forward to their arrival,” she says. “My go-tos are chocolate truffles with tea, or a negroni with olives and saucisson.” Arrange them on a tray on the coffee table or kitchen island for extra style points.

Cocktail hour, any time

Eleanora Cunietti, co-founder of London-based interior design practice Carden Cunietti, offers her guests margaritas when they arrive, which she mixes beforehand and chills in vintage bottles in the freezer so they’re ice cold. “I serve them in coupes and martini glasses,” she says, “but I hold off on precious glassware that will probably get smashed if the party gets too rowdy.” Cheat with bottles of pre-made cocktails such as those by Kocktail, which you can chill in the freezer so that they’re ready for cocktail hour.

Similarly, “I never want anyone to feel like they are missing out on their Christmas guilty pleasures,” says Ruth Leigh, co-founder of hotel and restaurant Updown Farmhouse near Deal. “This year, we’re providing bottles of Baileys, Drambuie and Amaretto and making up a little home bar. We invite people to help themselves so they don’t feel the need to ask permission – they can just choose whatever they’d like, whenever they please.”

Bring out the best towels

If your bathroom or downstairs loo is looking a little bland, a new hand towel could be all that’s needed for a speedy transformation. These, from Christy, come in a suitably festive cherry-red colourway. In a similar fashion, Mark Winstanley, chief creative officer of The White Company, recommends swapping in a fresh tea towel on the oven door just before guests arrive to make the kitchen feel more pulled together.

Deploy some flower power

Interior designer Angus Buchanan of Buchanan Studio is a big fan of planting paperwhites, which not only make a fresh change from tinsel and glitter, but smell delicious too. “I have them on surfaces throughout the house, including guest rooms,” he says. “The bulbs are so easy to plant and you can use any bowl or watertight vessel you might already have. They give off an amazing scent and bring much needed natural life to a home in winter.”

Keep it simple with table decor

There’s no need to go overboard with table decorations. To keep it chic, follow the advice of Georgie Pearman, co-owner of Cotswolds hotel the Double Red Duke: “We’ve had some disasters with me trying to tablescape, so now I like to keep things simple,” she says. “We have a long table which we dress at the centre with vintage candelabras we’ve found at various antiques fairs, and then we have pine branches and pinecones straight from the garden, which are woven around the chaos of any meal we might be hosting.”

Create the hotel experience

To make your spare room extra comfortable, boost the luxury hotel feel with some considered extras. “A fluffy gown, comfy slippers and a basket with things that people may have forgotten to bring, such as a toothbrush, razor, deodorant and moisturiser are nice additions,” says Candy Murray, interior style manager at Soho House. “I also like to include shampoo, conditioner and shower gel.”

If there’s no space in your spare room for a wardrobe or chest of drawers, simple shaker hooks on the wall gives your guests somewhere to hang their clothes and bags.

Offer some thoughtful extras

“Provide a tray in your guest’s room with a fresh jug of water, a bowl of fruit or a jar of cookies so that your guests can have a snack whenever they’re peckish without having to ask,” continues Candy. “It’s also nice to leave a stack of magazines or books by the bed, if possible ones that reflect their interests.”

Fashion some DIY crackers

To avoid waste and add a personal touch, designer and ceramicist Henry Holland opts for homemade crackers. “There are lots of options for kits and tutorials online that show you how to make your own, and adding small, more personal gifts for each guest is a lovely touch,” he says. “What’s more, it avoids even more unnecessary waste and joke gifts going to landfill over the festive period.” For easy last-minute favours that guests will appreciate, fill crackers with chocolates or miniature spirits, and perhaps paint a design on the outside – a good holiday activity for kids or grandchildren.

And finally… what not to do

Don’t over-light

“NEVER put the big light on,” says Henry Holland. “Lighting is the most important thing to set the mood for your soiree. If you’re hoping to create an intimate atmosphere then candlelight is perfect. For something a little less informal, lamps dotted around the room will create pockets of light; but avoid harsh, overhead bulbs at all costs.”

Don’t scrimp on comfort in the spare room

Don’t cut corners in the bedroom, says Candy Murray: “Your guest bed should have a really comfortable mattress, a quality duvet and pillows, and nice bed linen. You want them to feel rested and there’s nothing worse than a sparse set-up. Add warmth with cushions and cosy throws to layer up a sumptuous bed that looks so amazing they can’t wait to sleep in it.”