30 Simple Steps to Get Your Home Ready for Christmas

How do you prepare your home for the holidays?

So there aren’t many days left until December, in fact not many left until Christmas itself.

Are you thinking about how to prepare your home for the holidays? Have you started your shopping?

If you’re wanting some inspiration for how to get your home ready for the holiday season then look no further. We also want to encourage you to think about saving money this Christmas season too. 

I’ve come up with a simple to follow, 30 step check-list.

Having already already covered how to do the Christmas decorations your way, here is your super easy way to prepare your home for the holidays.

Why not take each of my tips and tackle one per day on the 30 days leading up to and including Christmas day.

30 Simple Ways to Prepare your Home for Christmas

Here’s how to get your home ready for Christmas in 30 simple steps!

  1. Declutter
  2. Deep Clean
  3. Make a List
  4. Choose a Theme
  5. Put up the Tree
  6. Decorate within your Theme
  7. Fairy Lights
  8. Candles
  9. Front Door Wreath
  10. Dining Chairs
  11. Prepare for Overnight Guests
  12. Bedding
  13. Crockery
  14. Cutlery
  15. Bathroom Update
  16. Keep it Cosy
  17. Choose one room for a Mini Makeover
  18. Smaller Room Updates
  19. Storage
  20. Make a Fire
  21. Christmas Displays
  22. Recycling
  23. Wrap the Gifts
  24. Hang the Stockings
  25. Refresh Holiday Linens
  26. Switch on the Outdoor Lighting
  27. Curate a Holiday Playlist
  28. Set Up a Holiday Photo Booth
  29. Organize a Holiday Game Night
  30. Christmas Day!

1. Declutter

Before you start to spread festive cheer, the first step is to spend some time in each room and work through any piles of clothes, paperwork, home accessories or built up clutter. Send unwanted items to charity or recycling to give your home a fresh, ready-to-go home.

Read More: 30 Day Declutter Challenge

2. Deep Clean

It’s not fun but before you get all the Christmas decorations out, give your home a thorough clean to make it sparkle. It will freshen and revitalise your space instantly and prepare the way for the Christmas tree and the Christmas guests.

3. Make a List

Grab yourself a glass of wine and create a detailed plan, including all your great ideas for gift purchases, Christmas parties, food, drinks and Christmas cards. Then delegate some of the tasks to the rest of the family. I actually like to pop on a Christmas movie at this time too – it’s all part of the holiday prep.

4. Choose a Theme

By that I mean the look for your festive decorations. If you’re updating the style this year check out something bright and colourful like the Different Perspective theme that incorporates contemporary styling with more traditional colours. Shop the theme here

5. Put up the Tree

Spend a lovely afternoon decorating your tree, put on some Christmas music and enjoy. For a change, try a Twig tree.

We are big fans of a Christmas twig tree and have lots of tips on how to decorate one. Alternatively you may like to know how to decorate a snowy Christmas tree too. 

Read More: 25 Christmas Tree Trends, Themes and Looks

6. Decorate within your Theme

Add extra decorations, stars and accessories to the rest of the house, not forgetting the mantelpiece. Update your home with Christmas spirit, prepare for holiday parties and give your humble abode the festive treatment. It’s the perfect excuse to invest in lots of new holiday touches, like pine cones, a Christmas wreath.

7. Fairy Lights

If you like to keep it minimal simply add some fairy lights to any part of your home for instant glamour and atmosphere.

8. Candles

And don’t forget the candles, you can never have too many and they are the easiest way to update your space. I’m a particular fan of a Christmas scented candle in order to create the perfect festive atmosphere.

9. Front Door Wreath:

Don’t forget the entrance to your home if you’re decorating for Christmas, it sets the tone for what’s to come inside. We are huge fans of a winter wreath for the front door

Read More: Best Winter Wreaths for the Front Door [Not Christmas]

10. Dining Chairs

Image: Sparkle Lighting

Think about this early on, if you need extra for the Christmas lunch, so there’s time for the delivery to arrive. It’s also a good idea to make sure you have enough table settings too.

11. Prepare for Overnight Guests

Many of us have visitors over the Christmas period so get the spare room ready or purchase a new sofa bed. This also means preparing to feed everyone, so now is a good time to plan your Christmas cooking.

What food items are you going to need to buy in advance? Don’t forget to buy in everyone’s favorite snacks. You’re probably doing to be doing a lot of food preparation so make sure your food processor is in good working order!

Remember to keep your Christmas as eco-friendly as possible. 

Read More: How to Prepare for Overnight Guests at Christmas

12. Bedding

Don’t forget some on-trend new bedding and a fabulous storage box too.

13. Crockery

Do you have enough for the Christmas meals or does some of it need replacing. I’m quite partial to some gold cutlery at Christmas and often track some down in the mid-year sales.

14. Cutlery

Similarly is your cutlery set up to scratch. If you use a special set for Christmas get it out and give it a clean.

15. Bathroom Update

All those visitors, and time spent at home means your bathroom needs to be able to cope. Invest in a few new towels and accessories to bring the room to life.

16. Keep it Cosy

Create a warm, relaxing home and add some gorgeous blankets and throws, perfect for snuggling with in front of your favourite Christmas movie. It’s the easiest way to get into the spirit of Christmas.

Read More: 17 Ways to Create a Cozy Home

17. Choose one room for a Mini Makeover

Image: Sophie Allport bedding

Invest a little time in just one room for some special treatment. Make it the guest bedroom for any surprise visits you receive from friends and family. It’s always a good idea to be prepared for any last minute guests who decide to share their festive spirit with you.

Add plenty of soft pillows to the guest bed, and invest in any new light fixtures and fittings to ensure your guests have a comfortable stay. It’s pretty simple to update your guest room; even some fresh towels and candles will bring that holiday cheer.

18. Smaller Room Updates

Or simply give smaller updates to lots of rooms to ensure your home is comfortable and cosy this Christmas

19. Storage

Invest in some clever, stylish storage to ensure you maintain a clutter-free home. If you’re running out of space for holiday decor or need a temporary solution for storing bulky items, consider renting a self-storage unit to keep your home organized and ready for the holiday season.

20.Make a Fire

Image: Ginger Ray

Nothing makes Christmas (and Winter) special than a real fire. Light one if your home allows. It’s the perfect opportunity to get cozy for Christmas.

21. Christmas Displays

Get out the glasses and set the scene with a Christmas drinks area. Then create festive displays with things like new ornaments, or a gingerbread house for the small children in the family. We love sharing our family photos on the coffee table surrounded by holiday decorations.

22. Recycling

Ensure you’re prepared for all that extra recycling with a good, large-enough system.

23. Wrap the Gifts

Spend an evening (or two) wrapping the gifts and either hide them from the kids or stack under the tree. We love to create a wrapping station with lots of new gift wrap and wrapping supplies.

We arrange the Christmas presents by name and according to family members’ gift list so we can keep track of who gets what.

If it’s time to invest in some new wrapping paper, take yourself off to the store to buy the latest designs.

24. Hang the Stockings

When Christmas Eve rolls around it’s time to prepare for the big day, have a good time with the whole family and start to wind down from all the holiday stress. Prepare any last-minute gifts, check off your to-do list and get into the holiday spirit.

We love to put on Mariah Carey, welcome our Christmas guests and hang the stockings.

25. Refresh Holiday Linens

Swap out your regular bed and table linens for festive-themed ones to instantly infuse your space with the holiday spirit. Think vibrant tablecloths, napkins with Christmas motifs, and cozy, themed bedding that invite guests to feel the joy of the season.

26. Switch on the Outdoor Lighting

Illuminate your home’s exterior with twinkling lights or seasonal fixtures. Not only does it make your home inviting, but it also adds to the neighborhood’s festive ambiance.

27. Curate a Holiday Playlist

Compile a mix of classic carols, modern holiday hits, and instrumental tunes to create the perfect soundtrack for your Christmas celebrations, setting a merry mood in every room.

28. Set Up a Holiday Photo Booth

Designate a corner with a backdrop, props like Santa hats and reindeer antlers, and a camera to capture memorable, fun-filled photos of your guests.

29. Organize a Holiday Game Night

Bring out board games, card decks, and interactive video games for a game night. It’s an engaging way to entertain guests and make new holiday traditions.

30. Christmas Day!

Cook the food, pour a drink and enjoy. Wish everyone a Merry Christmas and then relax!

We hope you love our guide on how to get your home ready for Christmas!

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Jen Stanbrook
Jen Stanbrook

Jen is an interiors writer and blogger and has an insatiable love of home style and decor

Find me on: Web

6 Comments

  1. Stylerite
    November 30, 2015 / 2:30 pm

    I always find people panic around October trying to get the house ready for Christmas.This is the busiest time of year for people looking for new window coverings.

  2. Zara Stone
    December 2, 2015 / 8:59 am

    Great list! Thank you! I will use some of the ideas to prepare my home 🙂

  3. Pippa Clark
    December 2, 2015 / 10:14 am

    The golden pineapple is great! I so want it in my home!

  4. helloitsgemma
    December 3, 2015 / 10:09 pm

    useful list, I really the images, particularly love the pineapple.

  5. Lulastic
    December 7, 2015 / 1:32 am

    Amazing tips! We are keeping dec mega simple this year and it looks lush 😀

  6. Carol Martin
    December 23, 2015 / 11:34 pm

    Great article .Easy to understand .You kept it simple and it is really helpful for us .A big thanks for sharing the article with us.

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