- 20 December 2022
Christmas Day is just around the corner, and if you’re hosting this years festivities for your family and friends, read on for some tips and tricks to make it the best day possible, without it costing a fortune!
1. Create an amazing table setting for less
A beautiful table setting is the icing on the cake of a perfect Christmas dinner, and it doesn’t have to cost a fortune! There are many ways to create an inspiring Christmas table without breaking the bank. Take a look at some of our ideas below.
Give your table a luxurious feel by layering up crockery. Begin with a charger plate, and then add in smaller plates and bowls. For extra impact, try to ensure that your crockery and glassware are matching – and don’t forget the crackers!
Gold rim charger plate, Dunelm £10
Brush up on your floristry skills and use some real greenery on your table to give it a proper festive feel. Try using stronger smelling plants and flowers like eucalyptus, and add in pussy willow and red winter berries.
A Christmas table wouldn’t be complete without candles, and plenty of them! Try mixing it up with different colours, shapes and sizes on your table.
Red and green twisted pillar candles, B&M, £2.50
For the rest of your décor, consider where your guests will be spending the most time, and invest in one or two statement decorations for those areas, such as a wreath or even some fairy lights.
2. Make sure you have plenty of food, but don’t go overboard!
With so much on offer at this time of year, it can be difficult to avoid overspending on things you don’t need. Christmas is set to be even more expensive this year with the ongoing cost of living crisis, so much so that the average spend is set to hit £905, with £145 spent on food and £590 on gifts. It’s also important to note that British people bin around 42 million dishes of Christmas food, and we throw away 263,000 turkeys! 66% of Brits also admit to buying too much Christmas food that ends up in the bin.
It wouldn’t be the big day without a Christmas dinner with all the trimmings, but this year, try to really consider the amount you’re buying. Not just for your pocket, but for the environment too! Setting a budget and creating a definitive shopping list are good ways to do this.
3. Have some Christmas Day entertainment in mind
Once the exchanging of presents is over and the dinner has been eaten, you’re left with the rest of the afternoon to enjoy your guests’ company and likely have a few drinks! Make sure you’ve got a good festive playlist, and get the games out.
Depending on the age of your guests you could invest in something like Cards Against Humanity or Mr and Mrs, which are always guaranteed a laugh, or a Christmas classic like Monopoly or charades. Or instead of buying a party game, why not try making your own Guess Who game with your family members!
Do you have any Christmas Day preparation tips that you swear by? Let us know!
Happy Christmas from everyone at Thirteen Homes!