How to Be a Last-Minute Christmas Domestic Goddess
You can hear sleigh bells jingling, you haven’t done a thing and your house doesn’t exactly look festive. Don't worry, read on
Are you a ‘bah, humbug!’ person, who resists frenzied Christmas consumerism, but relents at the eleventh hour? If you are starting to hate those smug people who started buying gifts and crafting decorations back in June, and whose Christmas tree is already twinkling in their beautifully styled living room, don’t panic. Stifle your envy and gird your loins. Here are some fast and fabulous ways to put instant sparkle in your Christmas – everyone will think you’ve been working for weeks.
Photos & Advice
1. MAKE A FIRST IMPRESSION
Even if your Christmas efforts don’t go further than the front door, it’s a good place to start.
Dress your door
A festive wreath doesn’t have to be a perfectly circular work of art, in fact, the more homemade looking, the better. Garden cuttings can be combined with artificial foliage and you could dress it up on Christmas morning with fresh flowers.
See how easy it is to make a wreath in the Comments section of this link.
Even if your Christmas efforts don’t go further than the front door, it’s a good place to start.
Dress your door
A festive wreath doesn’t have to be a perfectly circular work of art, in fact, the more homemade looking, the better. Garden cuttings can be combined with artificial foliage and you could dress it up on Christmas morning with fresh flowers.
See how easy it is to make a wreath in the Comments section of this link.
I made this wreath in less than an hour, with florists’ wire, gumtree bark picked up from the driveway, gum leaves and coloured balls filched from a dried arrangement.
If you don’t have a wooden heart, cut one from thick cardboard or plywood, give it a coat of paint and write a Christmas note.
If you don’t have a wooden heart, cut one from thick cardboard or plywood, give it a coat of paint and write a Christmas note.
To make a wide wreath, cut a stiff cardboard or plywood ‘doughnut’ and glue or wire sprigs of greenery to it, all pointing the same way. Tie with a fabulous red striped ribbon – easy! This one is very neat, but yours can be more free-form.
For a traditional look, use pine branches and a dusting of Christmas-in-a-can Santa snow.
TIP: Combine rosemary, fresh bay and pine and tuck fresh herbs like oregano into the wreath for a scented welcome.
For a traditional look, use pine branches and a dusting of Christmas-in-a-can Santa snow.
TIP: Combine rosemary, fresh bay and pine and tuck fresh herbs like oregano into the wreath for a scented welcome.
Go grungy with a wreath like this one. Wire dried twigs together into a loop and wrap with a strip of hessian and a big blowsy bow. Decorate at whim.
TIP: Soaking twigs makes them easy to persuade into a circle.
Shop Christmas decorations
TIP: Soaking twigs makes them easy to persuade into a circle.
Shop Christmas decorations
Foliage to the rescue
No time to make a wreath? Fill a large garden pot with big bold boughs of greenery, add a Christmas star and sit it by the front door.
No time to make a wreath? Fill a large garden pot with big bold boughs of greenery, add a Christmas star and sit it by the front door.
Paint the town – or the front door – red
As much as we try to get away from the time-honoured red-and-green combo, red will always say Christmas. You don’t see Santa in any other colour. Go on, paint the front door red. You can always repaint it after New Year, but you might get to like it.
Read more: Give Your Front Door a Statement Paint-Over
As much as we try to get away from the time-honoured red-and-green combo, red will always say Christmas. You don’t see Santa in any other colour. Go on, paint the front door red. You can always repaint it after New Year, but you might get to like it.
Read more: Give Your Front Door a Statement Paint-Over
2. DECK THE HALLS
Christmas decorations don’t need to be sumptuous and glitzy – homemade ones are somehow more sincere. If you have left things a bit late, take some shortcuts.
Arrange a Christmas vignette in your entry
There’s nothing specifically Christmassy in this charming small display, but the bright colours, jelly beans, touches of red and wooden elf do a lovely job of setting the scene.
Read more: Alphabetical Order: An ABC of Arranging Vignettes
Christmas decorations don’t need to be sumptuous and glitzy – homemade ones are somehow more sincere. If you have left things a bit late, take some shortcuts.
Arrange a Christmas vignette in your entry
There’s nothing specifically Christmassy in this charming small display, but the bright colours, jelly beans, touches of red and wooden elf do a lovely job of setting the scene.
Read more: Alphabetical Order: An ABC of Arranging Vignettes
Recycle
Op shops, like St Vinnies and Lifeline, sell packs of Christmas baubles and ornaments at budget prices. Do a good deed and support their Christmas efforts.
Charity shops also sell preloved children’s toys and stocking fillers. Satisfy your recycling conscience and give them a second Christmas.
Op shops, like St Vinnies and Lifeline, sell packs of Christmas baubles and ornaments at budget prices. Do a good deed and support their Christmas efforts.
Charity shops also sell preloved children’s toys and stocking fillers. Satisfy your recycling conscience and give them a second Christmas.
Christmas tree 101
Raid your kitchen for unusual containers – here, a flour sifter, mustard pot and jars. Fill with soil or sand and poke in fresh pine branches. Cover the soil with pine needles. Group a collection on a table and surround with wrapped gifts. Adorn with Christmas razzle-dazzle.
TIP: Other containers you could use are terracotta flower pots, vases, teapots, copper saucepans or wine bottles.
Raid your kitchen for unusual containers – here, a flour sifter, mustard pot and jars. Fill with soil or sand and poke in fresh pine branches. Cover the soil with pine needles. Group a collection on a table and surround with wrapped gifts. Adorn with Christmas razzle-dazzle.
TIP: Other containers you could use are terracotta flower pots, vases, teapots, copper saucepans or wine bottles.
Gorgeous garlands
Because we colonials cling to many English Christmas traditions, we love anything that suggests snow and icicles in our Christmas scenarios. Buy a packet of small white paper doilies and peg or glue to a length of twine. Vintage crochet lace ones look pretty too – thread the twine through the holes, as seen here. Hang against a coloured wall to get the full icicle effect.
Because we colonials cling to many English Christmas traditions, we love anything that suggests snow and icicles in our Christmas scenarios. Buy a packet of small white paper doilies and peg or glue to a length of twine. Vintage crochet lace ones look pretty too – thread the twine through the holes, as seen here. Hang against a coloured wall to get the full icicle effect.
3. PRETEND TO COOK
You either love it or hate it, but cooking – lots of it – and Christmas are inextricably linked. Even if you are ordering in Christmas lunch, fill your house with foodie touches.
Signs of baking
Give an impression of bountiful home baking industry. Place glass storage jars full of shop-bought biscuits prominently on kitchen benches and shelves. Of course you made them!
You either love it or hate it, but cooking – lots of it – and Christmas are inextricably linked. Even if you are ordering in Christmas lunch, fill your house with foodie touches.
Signs of baking
Give an impression of bountiful home baking industry. Place glass storage jars full of shop-bought biscuits prominently on kitchen benches and shelves. Of course you made them!
Be suggestive
Fill the house with foodie fragrances. Rub a little cinnamon essential oil on one or two light globes, to waft a spicy aroma gently through the house. Keep a pot of water or cider on a low simmer on the back burner or in a just warm crockpot, mixed with a generous spoonful of ground cinnamon or a handful of broken cinnamon sticks and a few cloves. Replace every day or so.
Fill the house with foodie fragrances. Rub a little cinnamon essential oil on one or two light globes, to waft a spicy aroma gently through the house. Keep a pot of water or cider on a low simmer on the back burner or in a just warm crockpot, mixed with a generous spoonful of ground cinnamon or a handful of broken cinnamon sticks and a few cloves. Replace every day or so.
4. SERVE THIRST QUENCHERS WITH WOW FACTOR
Aussies leave the gluwein, egg nog and mulled claret to those in snowier climes. We like our drinks cold. Try these no-sweat ideas.
Keep your cool
For keeping a bowl of fruity punch cold, whip an ice ring out of the freezer at the last minute to a chorus of oohs and aahs.
You will need:
2. Half fill cake tin with cold water and freeze solid.
3. Arrange fruit and leaves on ice. Top fruit with unmoulded ice ring, to keep it from floating.
4. Fill tin carefully with chilled water and return to the freezer until solid.
TIP: Place ring in large glass bowl before filling with prepared punch –it displaces quite a lot of liquid. See Archimedes’ Principle.
PUNCH WITH PUNCH: Mix chilled fruit juice, soda water or lemonade, sliced fruit, mint leaves, and whatever you fancy by way of alcohol – or not. Try apple or pear cider, Pimm’s or a fruity riesling.
TIP: The ring can be used as a centrepiece that holds fresh cherries. Tie with a jolly bow and place on a platter to catch melted ice.
Aussies leave the gluwein, egg nog and mulled claret to those in snowier climes. We like our drinks cold. Try these no-sweat ideas.
Keep your cool
For keeping a bowl of fruity punch cold, whip an ice ring out of the freezer at the last minute to a chorus of oohs and aahs.
You will need:
- Ring cake tin
- Chilled water
- Strawberries or cherries
- Ivy leaves or other (non-toxic) foliage
2. Half fill cake tin with cold water and freeze solid.
3. Arrange fruit and leaves on ice. Top fruit with unmoulded ice ring, to keep it from floating.
4. Fill tin carefully with chilled water and return to the freezer until solid.
TIP: Place ring in large glass bowl before filling with prepared punch –it displaces quite a lot of liquid. See Archimedes’ Principle.
PUNCH WITH PUNCH: Mix chilled fruit juice, soda water or lemonade, sliced fruit, mint leaves, and whatever you fancy by way of alcohol – or not. Try apple or pear cider, Pimm’s or a fruity riesling.
TIP: The ring can be used as a centrepiece that holds fresh cherries. Tie with a jolly bow and place on a platter to catch melted ice.
Champagne tastes
Champagne needs nothing to make it special, except more champagne. These glasses look so celebratory on a silver tray. Sugar-frosted rims are optional.
CHAMPAGNE PLUS: Give Christmas toasts extra gaiety. Soak a sugar cube with a dash of brandy or raspberry liqueur, drop a couple of fresh raspberries into flutes with the cube and top with champagne.
Champagne needs nothing to make it special, except more champagne. These glasses look so celebratory on a silver tray. Sugar-frosted rims are optional.
CHAMPAGNE PLUS: Give Christmas toasts extra gaiety. Soak a sugar cube with a dash of brandy or raspberry liqueur, drop a couple of fresh raspberries into flutes with the cube and top with champagne.
5. SET A FAST AND FESTIVE TABLE
Minimum effort is needed to lend a sense of occasion to a Christmas meal.
Centrepieces with style
If you are hosting the Christmas feast, whip up a centrepiece with a few well chosen bits and pieces. A vintage tray, candles in silvered glass cups and pine cones with a spray of snow or glitter create just the right impression. Set on a table runner and you have the table done and dusted.
Minimum effort is needed to lend a sense of occasion to a Christmas meal.
Centrepieces with style
If you are hosting the Christmas feast, whip up a centrepiece with a few well chosen bits and pieces. A vintage tray, candles in silvered glass cups and pine cones with a spray of snow or glitter create just the right impression. Set on a table runner and you have the table done and dusted.
This elegant arrangement is effortlessly Christmassy. Striped candy canes look cute with pine sprigs and glass baubles in a silver dish.
Set a simple all-white table
An all-white tablescape cuts down on last-minute fussing. It’s fresh and crisp and a breeze to decorate.
An all-white tablescape cuts down on last-minute fussing. It’s fresh and crisp and a breeze to decorate.
It’s time to bring out the best china. White and gold is cool and classic. Christmas isn’t Christmas without a bonbon at each place, containing a silly hat, a bad joke and a plastic Phantom ring. Pick bonbons with a touch of gold, add tall white pillar candles and a white runner – job done.
Red, white and … green
Tealight candles nestled in a bed of snow-like sea salt flakes or rock salt look festive surrounded by pine sprigs and red fruit. If you can’t find pomegranates, use red and green apples.
TIP: Hire loose canvas dining chair covers from a wedding hire company – they have all colours to match your table.
Tealight candles nestled in a bed of snow-like sea salt flakes or rock salt look festive surrounded by pine sprigs and red fruit. If you can’t find pomegranates, use red and green apples.
TIP: Hire loose canvas dining chair covers from a wedding hire company – they have all colours to match your table.
Tie a piece of greenery onto napkins with a red ribbon.
Natural appeal
A table with a natural earthy theme looks wonderful for an outdoor Christmas lunch. Employ your excited little elves to paint place markers on smooth stones, gum leaves or pieces of bark or driftwood.
A table with a natural earthy theme looks wonderful for an outdoor Christmas lunch. Employ your excited little elves to paint place markers on smooth stones, gum leaves or pieces of bark or driftwood.
A dainty place setting spells Christmas with a simple twist of wired ribbon and a gold bauble. Pick up a metre or two from the supermarket, newsagent or craft shop.
6. GO TO THE GARDEN
Raid the garden – or the florist.
Instant Christmas in a vase
You can’t go past bright floral arrangements as pick-me-ups for a home. Nurseries are full of gorgeous scarlet poinsettia right now. A cluster of these cheerful plants in pots is all you need on a shelf or table to put a room in a holiday mood. Tie the pots with wired ribbon.
Raid the garden – or the florist.
Instant Christmas in a vase
You can’t go past bright floral arrangements as pick-me-ups for a home. Nurseries are full of gorgeous scarlet poinsettia right now. A cluster of these cheerful plants in pots is all you need on a shelf or table to put a room in a holiday mood. Tie the pots with wired ribbon.
Heliconias, bird-of-paradise, proteas, Australian Christmas bush, kangaroo paws, Chinese lanterns… Red and orange blooms feature prominently in Australian Christmas gardens, as if nature is entering into the spirit of the season. Borrow their brilliance to enliven your decor, in vases or bowls, on tables, shelves, kitchen benches and bathroom vanities. Their vibrant beauty is the best way for your house to say ‘Merry Christmas’.
TELL US
Do you have a fast and fabulous idea for keeping Christmas laid-back? Share it with us in the Comments section.
MORE
10 Steps to Hosting the Ultimate Barbecue All Year Round
Not a Naturally Organised Parent? It’s Time for a Guilt-Free Christmas
10 Ingenious Organising Tricks Designed to Make Life Easier
TELL US
Do you have a fast and fabulous idea for keeping Christmas laid-back? Share it with us in the Comments section.
MORE
10 Steps to Hosting the Ultimate Barbecue All Year Round
Not a Naturally Organised Parent? It’s Time for a Guilt-Free Christmas
10 Ingenious Organising Tricks Designed to Make Life Easier
I loved the photo with all the thrifted finds. Here's my dessert bar arrangement from last year. A fleamarket oilpainting borrowed from my daughters room, a partridge print I found free online and framed, gathered foliage from my garden, and a homemade yule log. Not all elements have to be Christmassy, just gather and arrange the things you love and have around your home.