Clancy Paine
Ensure the festive season runs smoothly with this week-by-week Christmas planning checklist that’s part advent calendar, part to-do list. Staying on track with the logistical side of Christmas preparation, from getting the tree up to having the menu planned and the bonbons sorted, while keeping that festive spirit alive in your heart, requires a special kind of stamina. Before you know it, it suddenly ticks over to December and we’re all left wondering: But seriously, how is it December already?
Our thorough checklist will show you how to get your menu, decorations and gifts organised to create a holiday gathering that is fabulous, and not frantic. You might even have time to put your feet up at the end!
In a bid to make December count, we’ve allocated each of the tasks on a week-by-week plan to help you stay on track and make the preparation feel less overwhelming, starting in November!
When should you start prepping for Christmas?
When it comes to Christmas planning, there is no time like the present (pun intended). But with so much to do, overwhelm is a very real possibility. Start your Christmas prep in November if you can bare it, then get to work ticking off the week-by-week tasks to make sure everything is done so you – shock – even have time for a moment to breathe before Christmas Day.
The ultimate Christmas checklist calendar
November 1st
Those pesky repair jobs
By tending to any little repair jobs around the house as early as possible, you’ll give yourself more time for the fun part of decorating your space. Most of the time, a thorough Spring clean will make your home sparkle, and this can be done in early November.
Declutter
A lot of extra people, extra havoc, and extra stuff is about to explode in your house, it’s time to make space for it. The best way to prepare for and deal with Christmas clutter is to declutter before guests arrive, and take a moment to eliminate junk and other items that are not serving you. Because Christmas is all about the food and the kitchen bench is the epicentre of entertaining, give it a clearing. Remove items that don’t relate to cooking and entertaining – bills, school notes and mail – and put them away at a desk or computer nook. In the pantry, toss any expired items or half-eaten biscuit packets and do the same with the fridge. Jars and cans of food that are no longer fresh can be tossed and shelves can be wiped clean ready for fresh produce. Here are more hot tips on decluttering for Christmas.
Set a budget
Christmas is a notorious budget-buster. But it doesn’t have to be. Take the time now to sit down and work out a budget you feel happy with. There’s are many ways to save through Christmas planning, from decorations to food, table settings, gift wrapping and even getting people to bring a plate.
Seven weeks before
Put up the Christmas tree
We all need a little bit of extra cheer in our lives, and if that means starting the Christmas celebrations a little early, where’s the harm in that? But, Christmas trees rarely look their best straight out of the box or recently untied from the farm, so fluffing the Christmas tree is a thing. Get the kids involved or turn up the carols and make getting the tree up a festive occasion at your place.
For most us, the tree is the centre of all things Christmas-y. It’s either traditional or modern and anything goes. It’s your canvas, so make sure it’s a good one. It has to fit your overall theme and your space. Don’t worry if you don’t have much space, there are plenty of alternative trees available.
It doesn’t even have to be a real tree. As artist Rachel Castle told real living, she uses a fake one: “Last year we had a real one, but it kept falling over and nearly killed the dog and broke all the decorations. This year I’ve gone back to the fake one.”
Put up the Christmas decorations
For those of us who have boxes of Christmas decorations we pull out each year, there’s a lovely sense of tradition as familiar favourites once again see the light of day. But that doesn’t mean we have to use all of our decorations, all of the time.
Changing the theme on occasion is fun and creative and can involve as simply leaving one colour out of your regular combination and adding a new one. You could even try your hand at making your own decorations, which are sure to become sentimental pieces you’ll use again each year.
Once you know the look you’re after, check through all your decorations and decide which ones you’ll need this year and put away the rest.
Set up a magical mantlepiece
The mantlepiece is a natural little stage, so it’s the perfect place for a Christmas vignette. It’s most likely out of reach of kids, so this is where you can display the really good stuff – crystal, mirrors, ornaments, candles…
Or decorate with all your favourite pieces, from antlers and feathers to Christmas cards and kids’ toys (reindeer toys, polar bears anyone?). And don’t forget to hang the kids’ stockings.
Hang a wreath
A Christmas wreath on the front door is a warm and festive welcome to your home.After the tree, the most important decoration at this time of year is the Christmas wreath. “Welcome all,” it seems to say. You can buy a wreath that shows what the look is at your house this year, or make your own to create a Christmas look like the one at the Tenterfield home of writer and publisher Annabelle Hickson. They’re available in many different styles, or make your own – it’s a great craft activity for the kids.
Hang the stockings
Is it even Christmas if there’s not a Christmas stocking hanging, absolutely packed with goodies? Get your stockings out, and if they need an update or have done a Houdini this year, you can bring some magic home with our favourite Christmas stockings to shop, treasure and fill. You’re not alone if you’re wondering if the dog should get a stocking, too.
Six weeks before
Ramp up your gift shopping
The truly organised will have been shopping throughout the year, finding perfect presents and storing them away until December. They might even have scored themselves an advent calendar or two for the family – starting the gifting early and making every day in the lead up feel like Christmas morning.
For the rest of us, with a little planning, there’s still plenty of time to prepare for the season with a minimum of fuss. Six weeks out means you have enough time to find the perfect gift without feeling the last minute rush, and you can even still take advantage of the Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals.
Write your list, check it twice. Many families have differing ideas on how many presents are appropriate at Christmas, so make sure you’re all on the same page and go forth, nabbing deals in early December. Write a note next to each person – considering whether they like practical Christmas gifts, something handmade or luxe, and don’t forget the people in your life with paws.
Start shopping or making gifts early, but be kind to yourself and spread the load over a few weeks. After all, giving gifts should make you feel warm and fuzzy rather than hot and frazzled. Remember, sometimes it takes time to wrap gifts nicely – especially the awkwardly shaped ones!
If you’d rather not run around the shopping centre amongst the crowds, take your Christmas shopping online. Most online retailers offer gift wrapping for a small fee (or for free!) and it can be sent straight to the recipient’s door in time for Christmas. Winning! Just be sure to check out their Christmas day mailing cut-off.
Simple, homemade presents are always well received. Beautifully wrapped seasonal treats are a great idea. An older relative might simply enjoy an afternoon with you, so consider making an invitation to enjoy tea at a cafe that they can redeem in the New Year.
When purchasing gifts, take advantage of the extended trading hours many shops offer in the lead-up to Christmas and their in-store gift-wrapping services. It’s the small things that can make all the difference to your stress levels during the so-called ‘silly season’.
Five weeks before
Find your advent calendar
While you may be preoccupied with this week-by-week Christmas calendar, you can’t forget about the most official – and sweetest – of them all, the Advent calendar! But they’re not just for little ones anymore, after you grab one for each of the kids, pick up one of these more adult Advent calendars that will be your new festive obsession. They’ve got little gifts from cult-favourite beauty products, to ones that are a little boozy that you’ll love opening each day.
Four weeks before
Order the Christmas ham
You should order your Christmas ham by early December to mid-December. Some local butchers cut off orders in the first week of the month, so to avoid disappointment, get in quick.
Make the Christmas pudding
We all want some figgy pudding, right? Whether you call it Christmas pudding, plum pudding or figgy pudding, this boiled cake has become an essential English treat to see out the Christmas feast. The pudding takes about 4 weeks to properly develop in flavour, so make it now. Or, if pudding is not on the hit list for your family, do you research now on what will replace it – there are many delightful festive Christmas desserts out there.
Light up the garden
When the sun goes down a garden looks beautiful with festive twinkling lights, from a humble string of fairy lights to a complete front-of-house extravaganza.
When choosing Christmas lights, think about the mood you’re trying to create. If you don’t want to win the local council Christmas lights competition, keep it simple – just go warm white. Pure joy!
Craft with the kids
It’s now school holidays! Did you notice? Celebrate with them before things get too busy by doing something festive that keeps their little minds and hands busy. Make more decorations for the tree using air-dry clay, or you can make another Christmas wreath – it’s a great craft activity for the kids.
Three weeks before
Organise a pet-sitter
If you’re off for a post-Christmas holiday, making arrangements for pets is vital.
Kennels fill up quickly, however there are pet-sitting services that involve someone coming to your house to feed the animals while you’re away. Or, you could even try these pet-friendly Airbnbs.
Order the Christmas crackers
Get ahead of the crowds and order your Christmas crackers now. If you don’t get in early you can end up with some hugely overpriced options only. Order them today, or use the day to make your own. And yes, there needs to be a hat inside. No one likes a Grinch so just wear the silly hat, get some awkward pictures taken, and have some fun with it.
Donate unwanted toys and items
Something to keep, something to gift, something to recycle. And then there are the items that just need throwing out. The Christmas season is a great opportunity to bribe-slash-inspire the kids to go through their toys and get rid of anything they haven’t used in the last 6 months. Get them to choose which ones they can give to other children who have less.
Living room “We love the slower pace of life here,” says Megan as her daughters work on the decorations. Fresh conifer garland, Braer. Velvet cushion, The Flower Bar. Woven cushion and Monte #0680 wool rug, Pampa. Spots gift wrap and gold ribbon, The The Party Parlour.
Two weeks before
Make a Christmas playlist
Is it even Christmas without Mariah Carey and Michael Bublé? Get in the Christmassy mood with the tunes of All I want for Christmas and I Saw Mummy Kissing Santa Claus and start playing your playlist on repeat from now until the big day.
Think about your tablescape
When it comes to table settings, a plain white dinner set can be easily dressed with coloured or textured napkins, low candles and floral arrangements.
A natural palette might involve your best cutlery sets tied together with twine and a rustic cardboard name tag sitting on top of each place setting. Mix old and new decorations for character and warmth. Flowers are a stunning addition to the table – single stems or small posies look pretty in glass jars, beakers and crystal vases. Foliage also works – twigs, rosemary, holly – or gather up all your candles and candlesticks and place them down the table’s centre. A cluster of Christmas ornaments in a vessel or vase is also a simple way to create a stylish table setting. And shiny mirror tiles, used as a tray or base, “double” the amount of decorations or flowers.
Wrap the gifts
Nothing spreads joy quite like a pile of presents. There are many ways to swing this. Go for Christmas wrapping paper in the brightest colours you can find. To keep this look cohesive, stick to two or three key colours and mix and match patterned designs with plain paper. Or keep things simple with presents wrapped in craft paper with bright ribbons, or all pastels. The choice is yours. Hopefully Santa is not using the same wrapping paper as you do this year.
Emergency gifts
It’s happened to the best of us – we think we’ve ticked everyone off the list and then a surprise guest stops by. If you want to feel like a seriously smug host this Christmas, prepare a few back-up items that will make drop-in guests feel like they’re hugely welcome and expected. Pick up some small gifts or even a few beautiful magazines (did someone say the new issue of Australian House & Garden?) and wrap them – slipping a little post-it note on the front so you know what’s inside – ready to give to unexpected guests who bring something for you. And make a batch of mince pies to freeze (after baking) in an airtight container. Simply pop them in the microwave for 5-8 seconds (seriously, that sugar heats up quickly) when guests come knocking.
One week before
Prepare the guest room
If guests are coming to stay, or if you think people who might need a little nap after Christmas lunch, prepare the guest bedroom by making sure you have enough linen and blankets and that pillows are plump and fresh: an afternoon in the sun should do the trick. Take inspiration from Arafel Park guest house. A fabric star and tea-light holders add a festive touch, while luxurious linen sheets set the scene for a good night’s sleep. Leave a little gift or some fresh flowers by the bed to give your guests a warm welcome.
Declutter spare rooms and fill some vases with fresh foliage.
Plan your Christmas menu
Whether you’re having an intimate family dinner on Christmas Eve or a full-blown traditional Christmas Day lunch, you’ll need to carefully plan a menu so there’s a sense of abundance and celebration without too many leftovers.
You can start with the Christmas pudding of this Italian-inspired Christmas trifle and work backwards if you like. Menu planning can be long winded at this time of year. Find out what the non-negotiable menu items are for you and your people, then get to work pre-ordering the prawns, figuring out (and keeping a record of) what will fit in the oven, who is bringing what, and whether you have enough plates.
Then, decide what type of food you’d like to have on the day; for instance traditional roasted turkey, glazed ham or something lighter such as freshly shucked oysters and barbecued seafood.
From there, add what you’d like such as appetiser, entree, side dishes and dessert so you can calculate portion size and how much you will need to buy.
Getting as much done in advance is important, so make room in the fridge as early as possible. Need inspiration? These Christmas recipes will inspire a memorable festive feast.
Chefs don’t start a meal from scratch when someone walks into their restaurant and nor should you, if you want to keep Christmas lunch manageable and enjoyable. It helps enormously if you’ve worked out a plan for how long things will take to cook so you can start prepping in advance.
It’s also a good idea to stock the pantry with lots of delicious staples you can whip out for impromptu entertaining.
Stock up on Christmas booze
What meal is complete without something tasty to wash it down with? Whether you’re pulling a special bottle out from your wine cellar and leaving it to breathe, popping something sparkling, or making a delicious summer cocktail for your guests to enjoy, make sure you serve it in your finest glassware to really make a moment of it.
Raise your hand if you think drinks trolleys are about the best invention since black and white classic films, glam hosting, and Champagne? So that’s everyone. Up your hosting game with a drinks trolley decked out in all the chic bar cart essentials. Think of it this way: everyone gets to make their own drinks, freeing up time for you, the host. Meanwhile, plan the “house” cocktail and drink list and order now to avoid last-minute anxiety. You can even get the booze delivered to save any heavy lifting.
Three days before
Decorate your outdoor dining space
Whether you celebrate Christmas Eve, Christmas brunch, lunch or dinner, a decorated outdoor space can offer a welcome place to be for the various guests who are spending Christmas with you. Take the whole feast outside and set up a celebratory table that looks beautiful and natural, or simply have chairs and a lovely place to go. Create different zones for both Christmas dining and lounging in your garden. There might be a space for the kids to sit, snack, do drawing or craft and generally be entertained. Even a tiny balcony can serve as a welcome space. Look to your native garden and local neighbourhood for fresh and tasteful decor that will make your Christmas naturally, and sustainably, beautiful. Get the outdoor space ready – clean away branches and leaves (you can do a final sweep the day before), remove excess toys and bikes, clean up any forgotten items or rubbish now.
Take your time to create a beautiful table setting with bonbons and the colours that speak to you. Consider your flowers, where the drinks and ice bucket will go, whether you’re using name tags this year. On this table at the home of artist Rachel Castle, black linen napkins create contrast against the pretty floral hand-printed tablecloth. A touch of gold ups the glamour. Now is the time to pop open some Champagne or enjoy actual time with your people. Bravo, you’re done. And merry Christmas.
Bake some gingerbread
Here in Australia we have to work extra hard to make it feel like Christmas. The weather outside is not frightful, there’s no snow, and we’ve got plenty of places to go. So making your house feel truly festive needs some clever trickery. The smell of gingerbread in the air is one quick way to bring Christmas home. There are plenty of amazing Christmas cookie cutters to buy. Christmas cookies make a beautiful, personal gift as the festive season rolls along. You can take a plate of Australian-themed animals that smell like Christmas to a gathering for the ultimate gift for the host. Or have a batch or two of gingerbread biscuits ready to go for those drop-ins that tend to amp up at this time of year.
Sometimes simple is best when it comes to setting the table. Let the delicious food – and garden if you’re lucky enough to have one like this Byron Bay home does – do the talking. (Photographer: Jessie Prince)
The night before
Pick up some fresh blooms
Gather a bouquet of flowers or go all out and pick one up from a florist. If you live near nature, a foraged branch standing in a vase can act as a beautiful piece of flora at Christmas time. A flower arrangement can transform the scene into something more special. Think of it as a gift to yourself for all your hard work, as well.
Go for the seafood run
If you’re a family of seafood lovers, set aside some time on Christmas Eve to pick up the fresh seafood. But beware, there’ll be a long line.
Take a moment
Now is not the time to rush around and try and catch your tail. Take a moment. Spend time with the kids or your friends. If things are none done and dusted, that’s ok. More important than anything is a stress-free Christmas. Even with just a glass of something bubbly in your hand and someone to hug, perhaps a mince pie to eat, it will still be a merry Christmas.
