Christmas Countdown: Here's Your Essential Planning Checklist
Getting organised is the key to enjoying the festive season – this timeline will help you keep track of important tasks
Jo Carmichael
21 November 2019
Houzz Australia contributor. I am a professional organiser and the founder of All Sorted Out.
Houzz Australia contributor. I am a professional organiser and the founder of All... More
There’s no denying that Christmas is a joyous time, but the weeks leading up to it can feel busy and stressful. You can ease the mental load – and perhaps even start enjoying yourself – by ticking tasks off your list well in advance. Here’s what to do when.
And be sure to go easy on yourself. The focus during the festive season should be on spending time with your loved ones and feeling thankful for the good things in your life, not on expensive gifts or trying to make every little detail perfect.
And be sure to go easy on yourself. The focus during the festive season should be on spending time with your loved ones and feeling thankful for the good things in your life, not on expensive gifts or trying to make every little detail perfect.
Mid-November
Make a family plan: If you haven’t already decided which family members will host Christmas Day and who will travel on the day, get onto it now – particularly if anyone needs to book transportation, accommodation or pet boarding.
Plan a get-together: If there are any important people in your life who you can’t see on Christmas Day, make plans to celebrate the season together on a free weekend in late November, early December or early January.
Make a family plan: If you haven’t already decided which family members will host Christmas Day and who will travel on the day, get onto it now – particularly if anyone needs to book transportation, accommodation or pet boarding.
Plan a get-together: If there are any important people in your life who you can’t see on Christmas Day, make plans to celebrate the season together on a free weekend in late November, early December or early January.
Set up an activities calendar: With so many things going on in December – end of school term, visitors coming to stay, trips away, sporting events – it helps to have a master calendar handy where you can keep track of everything. Keep it somewhere easy to access, such as on your phone or a print-out on the fridge.
Also, consider setting up a group family calendar on your smart phone where you can share important dates and coordinate schedules.
Prepare the spare room: Will you be hosting overnight guests over the holidays? Put aside a few hours to get ready beforehand. This may include clearning out the spare room, making extra space in the kids’ bedroom, or popping over to a friend’s house to borrow an inflatable mattress and spare bedding.
Need a hand getting organised for the big day? Find a decluttering expert near you on Houzz
Also, consider setting up a group family calendar on your smart phone where you can share important dates and coordinate schedules.
Prepare the spare room: Will you be hosting overnight guests over the holidays? Put aside a few hours to get ready beforehand. This may include clearning out the spare room, making extra space in the kids’ bedroom, or popping over to a friend’s house to borrow an inflatable mattress and spare bedding.
Need a hand getting organised for the big day? Find a decluttering expert near you on Houzz
Buy gifts: These days, less is more. Many families, including mine, now do a Christmas ‘raffle’ where instead of buying something for everyone, we buy one good gift for one family member. If you’d like to try a present raffle in your household this year, it works best if you break it up into age groups so adults buy for adults and cousins for cousins.
Elect someone in the family to coordinate the gift giving, so those who don’t live nearby have time to find out who they’re buying for and can shop accordingly. The gift should have a modest price tag.
With young children and teens, rather than asking them to write out a Christmas list this year, why not ask them to specify just one or two items they really want instead.
In our family, some years we dispense with gifts altogether and give to a charity instead.
Elect someone in the family to coordinate the gift giving, so those who don’t live nearby have time to find out who they’re buying for and can shop accordingly. The gift should have a modest price tag.
With young children and teens, rather than asking them to write out a Christmas list this year, why not ask them to specify just one or two items they really want instead.
In our family, some years we dispense with gifts altogether and give to a charity instead.
End of November
Clear the decks: Remove everyday ornaments from shelves and tabletops in order to make space for the Christmas decorations and platters that will be coming out soon.
Take stock of decorations: If you hang exterior lights and ornaments, check if they’re in good order or if they need repairs.
Go through your decorations and decide which you will reuse and which need replacing. If you are tired of any decorations that are still in good condition, donate them to a charity – just be sure to do it by early December so they have a chance to be reused and enjoyed by someone else.
Clear the decks: Remove everyday ornaments from shelves and tabletops in order to make space for the Christmas decorations and platters that will be coming out soon.
Take stock of decorations: If you hang exterior lights and ornaments, check if they’re in good order or if they need repairs.
Go through your decorations and decide which you will reuse and which need replacing. If you are tired of any decorations that are still in good condition, donate them to a charity – just be sure to do it by early December so they have a chance to be reused and enjoyed by someone else.
Tidy up your outdoor area: The garden and deck really come into their own as entertaining spaces and second living rooms throughout December.
Now is a good time to trim hedges, spring clean the garden, discard old pool toys, clean outdoor furniture and give the barbecue and deck a scrub.
If you’re hosting Christmas this year, it’s a good idea to buy a second gas bottle for the barbecue, too.
Now is a good time to trim hedges, spring clean the garden, discard old pool toys, clean outdoor furniture and give the barbecue and deck a scrub.
If you’re hosting Christmas this year, it’s a good idea to buy a second gas bottle for the barbecue, too.
First week of December
Get decorating: Put up the Christmas tree and decorate it. Hang wreaths, put up Advent calendars… and feel the buzz of Christmas begin.
5 Easy Tips to Care for Your Live Christmas Tree
Get decorating: Put up the Christmas tree and decorate it. Hang wreaths, put up Advent calendars… and feel the buzz of Christmas begin.
5 Easy Tips to Care for Your Live Christmas Tree
Get ready for end of term: This is a good time to locate any costumes the kids (or you!) will need to wear for end-of-year school concerts and parties, such as Christmas hats and fairy wings. It can save last-minute searching – and your sanity.
Sort menus and divvy up chores: If you’re hosting the Christmas meal make sure you know what you’ll be cooking and what family members need to bring. Email or phone them so you are all on the same page early.
Write a shopping list: Work out how many people you’ll be catering for and start writing a master shopping list.
Order a turkey or ham: If this is your choice of meal. You can still purchase them from most supermarkets right up to Christmas Eve, but if you’re the chef, it’s reassuring to know this one is ticked off your list by tackling the task early.
Sort menus and divvy up chores: If you’re hosting the Christmas meal make sure you know what you’ll be cooking and what family members need to bring. Email or phone them so you are all on the same page early.
Write a shopping list: Work out how many people you’ll be catering for and start writing a master shopping list.
Order a turkey or ham: If this is your choice of meal. You can still purchase them from most supermarkets right up to Christmas Eve, but if you’re the chef, it’s reassuring to know this one is ticked off your list by tackling the task early.
Do a count: Work out whether you have enough chairs, glassware and plates for the number of guests coming on Christmas Day. If not, look at borrowing or hiring extras.
Organise gifts and cards for postage: To ensure cards and gifts arrive before Christmas, write up your Christmas cards now and package gifts for postage.
Delegate: If you’re hosting Christmas this year, give the card-writing and present-wrapping jobs to someone else in your household, such as one of the kids.
8 Christmas Decorations You’ll Want to Keep Year-Round
Organise gifts and cards for postage: To ensure cards and gifts arrive before Christmas, write up your Christmas cards now and package gifts for postage.
Delegate: If you’re hosting Christmas this year, give the card-writing and present-wrapping jobs to someone else in your household, such as one of the kids.
8 Christmas Decorations You’ll Want to Keep Year-Round
Second week of December
Post gifts and cards: Sending them out a few days before Christmas gives the recipients a chance to put your gift under the tree and display your card – something many people enjoy.
Shop for non-perishable items: Such as alcohol and any canned goods or pantry staples you’ll need. It’s easy for family members to mistakenly tuck into this Christmas stock, so you may need to keep it bagged and labelled for Christmas Day.
Declutter: Chances are, your home will soon be overflowing with an abundance of new things. Now is the perfect time to make space by going through cupboards and shelves to clear out anything you no longer need or use. If the kids are on school holidays, they can do this in their own bedrooms.
Anything still in good condition can be donated to charity.
Post gifts and cards: Sending them out a few days before Christmas gives the recipients a chance to put your gift under the tree and display your card – something many people enjoy.
Shop for non-perishable items: Such as alcohol and any canned goods or pantry staples you’ll need. It’s easy for family members to mistakenly tuck into this Christmas stock, so you may need to keep it bagged and labelled for Christmas Day.
Declutter: Chances are, your home will soon be overflowing with an abundance of new things. Now is the perfect time to make space by going through cupboards and shelves to clear out anything you no longer need or use. If the kids are on school holidays, they can do this in their own bedrooms.
Anything still in good condition can be donated to charity.
Third week of December
Deep clean: Do a thorough clean of your home (or enlist the services of a professional cleaner) so it’s ready for the big day. You’ll want your home to be sparkling, so be sure to get into all the nooks and crannies.
Enlist help: Treat your older kids to a mince pie if they help with the other Christmas cleaning – polishing any tarnished silverware that you’d like to use on Christmas Day. Get them to do this outside with a bottle of silver polish and a soft cloth – it’s amazing how much they get into this task when they see the cloudy surface of silverware turn shiny.
Clear the fridge and freezer: Make space in the freezer by eating up frozen meals, and removing any leftovers and half-empty jars from the fridge. Give fridge shelves a wipe while they’re relatively clear.
Deep clean: Do a thorough clean of your home (or enlist the services of a professional cleaner) so it’s ready for the big day. You’ll want your home to be sparkling, so be sure to get into all the nooks and crannies.
Enlist help: Treat your older kids to a mince pie if they help with the other Christmas cleaning – polishing any tarnished silverware that you’d like to use on Christmas Day. Get them to do this outside with a bottle of silver polish and a soft cloth – it’s amazing how much they get into this task when they see the cloudy surface of silverware turn shiny.
Clear the fridge and freezer: Make space in the freezer by eating up frozen meals, and removing any leftovers and half-empty jars from the fridge. Give fridge shelves a wipe while they’re relatively clear.
Send out a reminder: Remind your guests what time to arrive on Christmas Day and what to bring.
Pick up supplies: Batteries are often required for Christmas items (particularly toys) so make sure you have a good supply handy in various sizes.
13 Christmas Decorating Ideas for Small Spaces
Pick up supplies: Batteries are often required for Christmas items (particularly toys) so make sure you have a good supply handy in various sizes.
13 Christmas Decorating Ideas for Small Spaces
Three days before Christmas (22 December)
Buy fresh ingredients: This year Christmas falls on a Wednesday, so try to buy all your fresh ingredients over the weekend and tick them off your shopping list. It’s best to shop early in the morning before the shops turn into a zoo.
Take out the tableware: Get the ‘good stuff’ out of the cupboards and have it ready to use. Silver platters and ornate glass decorations all take on a new lease on life at Christmas.
Make it easy for guests to help on the day, by placing a note on platters stating which dish is to be served on it.
Buy fresh ingredients: This year Christmas falls on a Wednesday, so try to buy all your fresh ingredients over the weekend and tick them off your shopping list. It’s best to shop early in the morning before the shops turn into a zoo.
Take out the tableware: Get the ‘good stuff’ out of the cupboards and have it ready to use. Silver platters and ornate glass decorations all take on a new lease on life at Christmas.
Make it easy for guests to help on the day, by placing a note on platters stating which dish is to be served on it.
Two days before Christmas (23 December)
Set the table: Setting your indoor table now may seem a little early, but it’s so rewarding knowing this job is done and dusted – plus, a festive table is beautiful to look upon.
If you’ll be eating outside on Christmas Day, get everything set up on your indoor table so it can easily be transferred on the day.
Buy fresh flowers: Buying flowers now allows blooms to open by Christmas Day but ensures they will still look fresh.
Get cooking: Cook or prepare anything that can sit in the fridge or pantry for a couple of days, such as desserts.
Shop: Finish last-minute shopping and gift wrapping.
Send out another reminder: Remind family and guests again what time you want them to arrive on Christmas Day and what they’re bringing (because chances are they’re busy too, and the details may have slipped their minds).
Set the table: Setting your indoor table now may seem a little early, but it’s so rewarding knowing this job is done and dusted – plus, a festive table is beautiful to look upon.
If you’ll be eating outside on Christmas Day, get everything set up on your indoor table so it can easily be transferred on the day.
Buy fresh flowers: Buying flowers now allows blooms to open by Christmas Day but ensures they will still look fresh.
Get cooking: Cook or prepare anything that can sit in the fridge or pantry for a couple of days, such as desserts.
Shop: Finish last-minute shopping and gift wrapping.
Send out another reminder: Remind family and guests again what time you want them to arrive on Christmas Day and what they’re bringing (because chances are they’re busy too, and the details may have slipped their minds).
Christmas Eve
Make a cooking timeline for tomorrow. Decide what time you’ll be feasting then count backwards to determine what time you need to put dishes in the oven, when to get them out, and what else needs to be cooked at certain times.
Print out the timeline and stick it on the fridge door so others know what to do too – you want to think and work as a family team. If you have lazy family members who aren’t so keen on helping, prepare a neatly written menu for the day, including their names as plate clearers and dishwasher fillers. You will never look back!
Make a cooking timeline for tomorrow. Decide what time you’ll be feasting then count backwards to determine what time you need to put dishes in the oven, when to get them out, and what else needs to be cooked at certain times.
Print out the timeline and stick it on the fridge door so others know what to do too – you want to think and work as a family team. If you have lazy family members who aren’t so keen on helping, prepare a neatly written menu for the day, including their names as plate clearers and dishwasher fillers. You will never look back!
Christmas Day
Follow your cooking timeline and, with a little luck, things will go like clockwork.
Designate a family member to be maître d’ who will cheerfully oversee the serving, dish clearing between courses and drink pouring (you may want to divvy up this task between a couple of people to share the load).
Breathe out and enjoy your Christmas Day!
Follow your cooking timeline and, with a little luck, things will go like clockwork.
Designate a family member to be maître d’ who will cheerfully oversee the serving, dish clearing between courses and drink pouring (you may want to divvy up this task between a couple of people to share the load).
Breathe out and enjoy your Christmas Day!
Your turn
What’s your top tip for taking the stress out of Christmas? Tell us in the Comments below, save your favourite images, and like this story. Join the conversation.
More
Want some more expert organising advice? Don’t miss Moving House: Ultimate Timeline for a Successful Move
What’s your top tip for taking the stress out of Christmas? Tell us in the Comments below, save your favourite images, and like this story. Join the conversation.
More
Want some more expert organising advice? Don’t miss Moving House: Ultimate Timeline for a Successful Move
Related Stories
Bathrooms
8 Key Design Elements for a Family Bathroom
Don’t forget these essential items to ensure your family bathroom works well for the whole household
Full Story
Building Components
The Finishing Touch for Your Wall and Floor Tiles
By Becky Harris
See how tile-edging trim adds graphic style to these five bathrooms and kitchens
Full Story
Kitchen Expert Advice
6 Essential Steps to Organising Your Kitchen Utensils
By Amy Revell
Put an end to knives and forks overlapping, spoons crammed together and that mess of baking utensils
Full Story
Selling
How Do I... Improve the Value of My Property?
Your home is your investment – a property expert reveals the simple things you can do to maximise your return
Full Story
Renovating Advice
Pro Panel: How to Control the Cost of Your Bathroom Renovation
Three UK-based bathroom designers offer 10 budget-saving tips for fixtures, layouts and materials
Full Story
Room Of The Week
Room of the Week: An Elegant Ensuite With Exquisite Detailing
See how an interior designer squeezed a tiny ensuite into a Victorian terrace and made it sing with luxurious finishes
Full Story
Decorating FAQs
How to Make Your Boring Bedroom Beautiful (in 5 Steps)
By Noni Edmunds
An interior designer reveals how to make your bedroom a standout, from first to final touches
Full Story
Garden Design
How Do I... Choose Plants That Are Easy to Grow?
Are you lacking the green-thumbed gene? A horticultural expert reveals 6 of the easiest plants to grow
Full Story
Bathroom Expert Advice
3 Experts Reveal How to Design a Bathroom That’s Easy to Clean
Want a clutter-free, sparkling bathroom? Follow this expert advice on how to cut down on cleaning time
Full Story
This Christmas is going to be great! Our daughter suggested "home made" presents to reduce the financial stress and increase the creativity in us all. Christmas is all about the people we love. What a great time of year.
Thank you this is a very well organised approach to help people enjoy the time leading up to and on the day even more
Tess love your daughter's home made suggestions - enjoy Jo all sorted out