How to Host Christmas 2025 Without a Hitch – Our Ultimate Guide to a Stress-Free and Magical Festive Time

With the holiday nearly upon us, we're all thinking of ways to elevate our hosting game this year. From planning your Christmas day menu to your Christmas table decor ideas, the countdown is on. If your home will take center stage for hosting a large group of family and friends, or you're opting for a more intimate gathering this year, ensure that you're organized for the days ahead with this expert advice. Here's how to have a very merry (and well-planned) Christmas.

Create an Inviting Atmosphere

Creating a sense of warmth and ambiance for the festivities with ensure everyone feels, calm, merry and ready to enjoy the holiday as well as creating a welcoming home-from-home for your guests. 'Holiday hosting should feel as warm and memorable as the gathering itself,' says interior designer Erica McLain, founder of McLain by Design Interiors. 'I like to think of my space as an experience that starts from the moment guests walk in the door.'

1. Make Your Entrance Feel Welcoming

Don't forget to think about your front door when hosting guests this festive season. Since it's the first interaction guests will have upon entering your home, adorning it with a festive Christmas wreath creates a welcoming entrance that says 'come on in.'

'Don't miss the opportunity to make an impression right from the start,' says Jenny Weiss, founder and director at Hill House Interiors. 'Greet your guests with a festive flourish – a beautiful wreath hung on the front door is the perfect way to set the tone for your styling.'

'Wreaths can be personalized to suit every taste, from a traditional mix of cinnamon and orange slices with lush foliage to an exuberant display of layered baubles and ribbons – anything is possible. The smell of pine and mistletoe is key to bring that scent of Christmas throughout, hence why we love to integrate foliage, right from the entry. Our top tip is to weave twinkling lights throughout the wreath; battery-operated lights are easy to use and add a magical touch.' Festive Doormats (like this fun Let's Get Spritzed doormat from Anthropologie) and slippers for guests to put on when they arrive will all add to the welcoming atmosphere.

2. Create a Cozy Feel With Lighting

When hosting guests during the holidays, lighting is key. Ambient lighting creates a relaxed and intimate feel. 'Lighting acts as an effortless, atmospheric backdrop to hosting and should be a core consideration in your festive season planning,' says Mara Rypacek Miller, founder of Industville. 'Small changes can make maximum impact – look to change bulbs to warmer tones with lower Kelvins in order to nurture seasonal wellbeing.'

'Setting the mood rests entirely on the lighting you choose,' agrees interior designer Matthew Williamson. 'Forget about using one main lighting source in favor of illuminating a few lamps around a kitchen for a more interesting, flattering lighting scheme.'

'If there is ever a time to experiment with lighting, it’s the holidays,' says suggests Denver-based interior designer Nadia Watts. 'Simply adding a strand of white twinkle lights (like these Battery Operated Fairy String Lights from Walmart) can make your entire space feel more festive. Dim your overhead lights and focus on layered lighting. Add candles, luminaires, and strands of holiday lights in unexpected places.'

3. Add Candles for Ambiance

When hosting throughout the holiday season, candles are one of the easiest and most effective ways to create a cozy and welcoming feel for your guests. Whether that's with taper candles (like these Christmas taper candles from Target) on your dining table or pillar candles in the living room, candles are the finishing touch to ensure a welcoming home.

'Candlesticks are a stylish and budget-friendly way to enhance your holiday decor,' says Interior designer Darla Bankston May, founder of Houston-based Bankston May Associates. 'They bring a touch of elegance and warmth to your space, making them perfect for decorating table settings or mantels. With endless color options, you can select candlesticks that align with your style and decor, adding a festive flair to your home.'

4. Consider Fragrance

A smaller detail that won't fail to create a welcoming vibe is to use seasonal home fragrances. Whether using the best candles or reed diffusers, opting for seasonal scents of spices or pine will ensure your home feels festive from the moment guests walk through the door.

'Something subtle and natural like a cinnamon, cedarwood, or balsam fir can make the space feel even more inviting and cozy without overpowering the senses,' says Erica McLain. 'The goal is to create a space where people feel truly at home, surrounded by beauty that feels effortless and comforting.' Try the Pottery Barn Fireside Cinnamon Scent Collection, which includes candles, tealights, diffusers and potpourri.

5. Set up a Self-Service Bar

Don't forget the welcoming drink for when your guests first arrive – a festive cocktail or hot toddy is a lovely idea to invite them in from the cold with. But once everyone is settled in, it's nice to have a self-serve bar cart or even a mini fridge, which guests can help themselves to and it will save you the job of bartending, too. When it comes to cocktail hour, a kind guest might even pour you a drink to enjoy in the kitchen while you're food prepping.

You may also want to invest in some luxe cocktail essentials, from nick and nora glasses to tumblers, and cocktail shakers to bar tools. 'When the holidays roll around, I always like to make sure that my bar cart and drinks cabinet are fully stocked, not only with a variety of spirits, wines, and garnishes but also with a plethora of glassware,' explains interior designer Kathy Kuo. 'It's so nice to be able to use the proper glass for specific cocktails and wines, and it really does add to the overall festive mood of a gathering when guests can delight in how beautiful your coupe glasses or cut-glass tumblers are.'

Get Your Kitchen Holiday Ready

No room works harder when it comes to hosting season than the kitchen. But as well as the food prepping, the kitchen is often a hub for hosting, too. There are some easy Christmas kitchen countertop decor ideas you can try to give the room a sense of occasion. The kitchen is often a sociable space during the holidays, so it's important to make it feel inviting, but also to ensure that it works practically while you're busy cooking and your guests don't feel 'in the way'.

6. Make Sure You Have Enough Kitchen Essentials

'A well-stocked armory of essentials, easily accessible, can transform hosting from a daunting task to a gracious art.' is how designer Artem Kropovinsky so eloquently puts it. The last thing you want to be doing when hosting is washing up, so ensure you have enough of the best cookware, like roasting pans to accomodate your meet and veg, as well as utensils, to make everything as easy and as seamless as possible.

The same goes for dinnerware. Think about the maximum amount of people you usually host and ensure you have enough plates, bowls, glasses, cups, cutlery, and so on. It may be useful to stock your hosting closet with some good basics (such as this Corelle Dinnerware set in winter frost from Target, which is microwave and dishwasher safe), to cover all bases so you don't run out.

7. Consider How You Use the Space

You'll want to ensure you can move as easily as possible around your kitchen while your guests are in there, too. 'Carving out clear zones for the culinary dance of prepping, cooking, and cleaning can compose a harmonious rhythm,' says Artem. 'Generous seating and surface realms beckon guests to alight, mingle, and partake in the culinary narrative.'

Tempt guests to certain areas that you know will be out of the way, but feel like they are part of the action. And don't just stick to one space, as guests will congregate in one part of the kitchen, which could become awkward. Have a bar set up in one section of the kitchen, and dot food around the rest.

The kitchen island may feel like the perfect space to have guests gather, and you could actually turn it into a curated hosting space for a charcuterie spread, like Designer Bryan Graybill.

8. Choose Serveware That Doubles as Decor

'When preparing to host for the holiday season, I like to first make sure my kitchen is stocked up on rustic wooden serving boards (like this carved edge round wood board from Hearth & Hand with Magnolia at Target), glassware, decanters, and barware, and plenty of scented candles. I also like to place a large stone or ceramic vase of seasonal greenery or foliage on my countertop to add an air of festivity,' advises designer Kathy Kuo.

Having serveware that does the job and looks lovely is something I also rely on when getting my kitchen ready for hosting. Aesthetically pleasing platters, boards, and glasses can do so much of the work for you. Plus, as Kathy suggests, you can make them part of a display that will instantly give your kitchen a relaxed, festive feel.

Plan the Food Prep

You might have your Christmas Day menu sorted, but to ensure everything goes as smoothly as possible on the day, it's important to put in some groundwork. The experts have shared their advice on everything from making sure you don't run out of key ingredients, to keeping things simple, and clever shortcuts to help you along the way.

9. Check Your Supplies

Don't forget the chef prep secrets for holiday meals, to ensure your ingredients are fully stocked and prepared ahead of time, as you don't want to run out of an essential ingredient at a crucial point or when the stores are closed for the holidays.

'Always be sure to go through your panty before you do any shopping, so you’re not buying duplicates of items,' advises Mackenzie Mitchel, Founder At Home With Mackenzie. 'It’s also a good idea to organize your pantry in advance – that way you can find everything you need easily and check the dates of items. There have been several times when I thought I had an ingredient only to realize it had expired, and I had to go back out.'

10. Stick to What you Know

'The biggest mistake I see from hosts is overcomplicating things; the goal isn’t perfection, it’s connection,' says Sakshi Khurana of the luxury home lifestyle brand, dumæ. 'Pare down the menu, let your pieces speak, and focus on creating warmth for your guests. At the end of the day, the best host is one who is confident, having fun, and feeling good in the space they’re entertaining in – because that’s when your guests truly feel at home.'

The same applies to the menu, according to etiquette expert, Maryanne Parker 'One of the most important tips for hosting a successful holiday gathering is this: never experiment with a new recipe on the day of your lunch or dinner party. Even the best home cooks can have a mishap, and the holiday table is not the place to take that risk,' she says.

Chef Dennis Littley agrees: 'Be smart with your menu,' he advises. 'Pick two show-stoppers. For example, a glazed ham and potato gratin, and keep the other dishes simple. Roasted vegetables, a green salad, or a very basic, but well-seasoned side can round out the table without overwhelming you.'

12. Keep Things Cool

With so much extra food to store, from Christmas canapes to desserts and cheeses, organizing your refrigerator can become a game of Jenga. Not to mention all those extra drinks you'll need to keep cool. That's when you need to think outside the box – quite literally.

'Pre-packed coolers are a hosting powerhouse and free up precious refrigerator space,' says Atlanta-based entertaining expert and party planner, Sandy Dostal. 'Fill one with beverages – beer, soda, bottled water, canned cocktails – for quick grab-and-go service. Use another for chilled side dishes, desserts, garnishes, or condiments. And always dedicate one cooler solely to ice – trust me, it becomes liquid gold once beverages start flowing.'

Another idea is to invest in a mini fridge that is stylish enough to be kept in the living room, so guests can help themselves to cold drinks (they might even offer to re-stock it for you when it's running low.)

13. Take Strategic Shortcuts

There's nothing wrong with making life a little easier on yourself when the pressure is on, and there are plenty of kitchen shortcuts that will help save you time and stress.

Mackenzie Mitchel suggests 'Make and freeze pie dough in the dish (wrapped in plastic wrap and then foil) ahead of time – this will store for up to three months.'

Better still, Executive Chef at the Waldorf Astoria, Beverley Hills, Peleg Miron gives you permission to buy elements of your meal in. Not everything has to be made from scratch. 'High-quality store-bought crusts or gravies can elevate efficiency without compromising flavor,' he says.

And, if you're cooking turkey for Christmas day, Mark Jeffers, Culinary Director, Fifth Group Restaurants, suggests a great time saver. 'Spatchcock Your Turkey: Remove the backbone and flatten the bird for even cooking, crispy skin, and freed-up oven space.'

Letting yourself off from doing everything perfectly from scratch is the first step towards feeling more relaxed on the day. If the pros do it, so can you.

14. Nail Your Timings

Managing the cooking times can be one of the trickiest parts of Christmas meal prep, and despite best efforts, it doesn't always go to plan. But you can buy yourself some breathing space.

'Decide what can be made ahead. Cold desserts, chilled apps, doughs, roasted veg and certain mains keep well and save time,' suggests Chef Chrissy Camba, Head Chef at Tovala.'Time your reheats and plan which dishes require the same oven temperatures, in advance, and when each item should go in. Putting the schedule to paper keeps everything moving.'

And, for an absolute failsafe, Karina, Founder of food and lifestyle blog, Goodley Living says 'always plan an extra 30 minutes to an hour buffer if you’re roasting a dish. It tastes better when it’s had time to sit anyway, and it will help to ease peace-of-mind should something be unexpectedly undercooked and you need a little longer.'

Practical Ways to Keep Things Calm and Organized

With a lot more people in the house comes a lot more noise, movement, and stuff. It's important to clear space, so your guests have enough room to stow away their belongings. And don't be afraid to get your guests involved with helpful tasks – the chances are they will be happy to oblige, and it will help you keep things ticking along calmly. Here's how to ensure you keep the chaos to a minimum and the day going smoothly.

15. Do a Dry Run

Even if you've planned out your Christmas table decor ideas to a tee, when it comes to the day, you will want to avoid any unexpected hiccups, so lay everything out in advance to check it all works together and looks as you expected.

'The first thing I do before hosting anything is to pull out every platter I plan to use and do a quick dry run,' says Whitney English, organization expert and author of Organize First, Decorate Second: How to Go From Clutter to Creativity. 'If it’s family-style, I set the dishes right on the table to make sure everything fits – serving pieces, glassware, flatware, all of it. If it’s buffet-style, I mock up the whole spread on the sideboard, down to the serving spoons and trivets. It saves me from the last-minute scramble.'

16. Make Space for Coats, Boots & Bags

Chances are your guests will arrive togged up for the chilly weather, which means bulky coats, chunky boots, hats, scarves, and the rest. It may sound obvious, but making sure you have somewhere to store them is essential to keep your entryway or cloakroom clear and organized. Your entryway may be perfectly organized all year long, but bring on a holiday, or a last-minute family gathering, and it can easily be thrown out of sorts.

Sandy Dostal says 'multiple coat trees are a hosting hack I swear by. Dedicate one to coats, and another to handbags. It keeps your home organized during the event and makes it easy for guests to retrieve their belongings when it’s time to head home.'

Making sure there's somewhere to store shoes, such as a large basket (like this water hyacinth basket from the Container Store), which can look stylish as well as being practical, is a good idea too, for keeping your carpets clean and your entrance uncluttered.

17. Stow Unnecessary Items Away

With more people in the house, there will inevitably be accidents and breakages, but you can avoid that happening by storing away your precious items and anything unnecessary before your guests arrive. One idea is to put them in the boxes that you took your Christmas decorations out of, so they can be wrapped in the same padding, and there's no chance of forgetting where you stored them as you'll do the swap again when the decs come down.

Barbara Brock, professional organizer, home stager, andowner of Barbara Brock Inc., says, 'have an empty tub handy to put unnecessary items, then remove items and put them all in a closet to be edited later.'

Conversely, Maggie Kelly, founder of Organizing CU suggests storing the pieces you need for the festive period in a hosting bin. 'I store all of the dishware, utensils, and other holiday items I only use for the week of Christmas in one easy location.' This also allows you to clearly see what you have and what you might need to stock up on when everything is all in one place.

18. Ask for a Helping Hand

Asking for help as the host can feel a little daunting, and some are quite stubbornly against it. However, saying 'yes' to a kind friend or relative who wants to help you, whether that's laying the table, making an appetizer, or even washing up, can make all the difference.

'Get your guests involved. Assign small, meaningful roles like pouring drinks, arranging a cheese board, or warming rolls,' says Chef Dennis Littley. 'This not only eases your burden but makes people feel part of the celebration.'

19. Plan Ahead for the Cleanup

Amid all the excitement of the day itself, the last thing you'll want to think about is the cleanup, but making your home feel like your own again after the holidays will be worth a little forward planning to make the process so much less arduous – your future self will thank you.

'Make a list of everyday essentials to stock up on – items that often get overlooked but are always needed, says Sandy Dostal, 'think garbage bags, hand soap, dish detergent, disinfecting wipes, paper towels, napkins, toilet paper, foil, a plunger, zip-top bags. Store them all in one central spot so any willing volunteers don't have to hunt down supplies.'

Want to know more about how the hosting pros get ahead? Read our Ultimate Christmas Prep Countdown to help you to stay calm and composed on the day.