Hosting Christmas Lunch – Your Checklist
After spending much of the year isolated from our loved ones, coming together at Christmas is more important this year than ever.
As the days become warmer and we spend more time outdoors, entertaining at home becomes a staple as we welcome friends and family into our home.
Whether you’re just having a December barbecue with friends to make up for lost time, or you’ve committed to hosting on Christmas Day itself, your kitchen, dining room and outdoor area will become the stars of the show.
Here are a few tips on how to prep Sydney and Central Coast kitchens to ensure the day runs smoothly and that your guests have a great time – and a great feed!
Be wise with your time
It’s the most wonderful time of the year, and you should be enjoying the time with family and friends that Christmas brings – not stuck in the kitchen preparing for hours on end!
Some time-saving tips when entertaining at home include:
- Heading out to the supermarket now to avoid the last-minute rush closer to Christmas. If you have to make a supermarket run in the week of Christmas, try to go as early in the morning as you can to get it out of the way.
- Consider which items on your menu can be pre-made or store-bought. Your guests would much rather spend time with you on Christmas than catch glances as you dash in and out of the kitchen, so don’t feel like you need to make everything from scratch.
- Get together items for a grazing platter and table nibbles that make for a no-fuss starter. Grazing boards have surged in popularity this year, so not only are you being efficient – you’ll be on trend, too.
- Ask your guests to bring a salad or dessert to share the Christmas spirit (and lighten your load)! If you’re asked for suggestions, something that can go straight out on the table or be served straight from the fridge without any additional preparation is always a winner.
- Create a drinks station – this not only gives your guests a chance to catch up over pouring their drinks, but relinquishes you from the role of fridge gate-keeper for the night. Let your guests know where to find the station as they arrive, and where to find top-ups if you run low at any point.
Decorate with the festive spirit
By December, you’ve likely already put up your decorations throughout the house – but why not give your dining area (and kitchen, if you fancy!) a dose of Christmas spirit?
If you like to keep it no-fuss, some napkins in Christmas colours or a vase filled with baubles as a centrepiece can be enough to set the tone. Don’t forget the token Christmas crackers!
Central Coast kitchens lend well to a natural Christmas theme. Incorporate linen tea towels in sage green, decorative timber Christmas trees on the bench and rattan or pampas grass features for a coastal Christmas aesthetic.
Before your guests arrive, enlist the kids to help you give the kitchen and dining area a good clean. Challenge them to create a beautiful table setting, and tick one extra thing off your to-do list.
Have a flexible plan
Christmas Day is certainly not the time to be fussy about a schedule, but having a loose timeline of the day will help you feel more organised.
You’ve already told everyone when to come over – work out a window for when you want to serve food, and work backwards from there in terms of your preparation.
Set a rough time for gift exchanges too, if this is something your family participates in – and don’t forget to factor in time for clean-up and dishes after lunch (you can delegate this to someone else, though – you’ve done more than enough!
Ultimately, Christmas is about enjoying the day with your loved ones and being thankful for the opportunity to do so – something we’re extra grateful for this year.
We hope all clients of Apollo Joinery Group enjoy Christmas in their beautiful new Sydney and Central Coast kitchens, and look forward to all to come in 2022.
