Two days till Christmas. Traditionally the time when panic sets in. Time for deep breaths and clear thinking. Before you get entirely overwhelmed, have a little think about the kind of Christmas you are aiming for. For me, cosiness and a festive atmosphere are high on the list.
Bit by bit over the past few weeks I have been doing little things around the house to create a warm and welcoming feel. If that is what you want to achieve too but think you haven’t the time, here are my tips for low-fuss, high-impact mood-makers.
Decorate The Front Door
Inspired by the lovely Lizzie over at Marmelade Pie, I struck a wreath from my long, long list of pre-Christmas jobs and opted for a Christmassy bunch of foliage instead. To get the look snip a few twigs from the lower branches of the Christmas tree, add in some holly, ivy or whatever foliage you can get your hands on, tie it all with a bow and hang it on the front door.
Knock Up A Batch of Christmas Biscuits
Ten minutes is all it takes to whip up a batch of dough. You can store it in the fridge until you are ready to roll and bake it. To save on having to decorate all the biscuits, you can brush the rolled out dough with egg yolk and sprinkle flaked almonds over the top then cut out the biscuits. If you make a hole in each biscuit before baking them, they can even double as edible decorations and be hung on the tree or as a garland.
You can find my Christmas cookie recipes here.
Lovely Lights
Fairy lights and candles add a touch of romance and generally give a snug, cosy feeling to a room. Set on a mirror or in a jar or glass, they sparkle all the more. I often place a large glass container of fairy lights in the hall at the bottom of the stairs. The effect works just as well on top of a dresser or on a windowsill.
A few chunky candles in large jam jars outside the front door make your home seem all the more welcoming to guests. Some twine and sprigs of holly make a simple but effective decoration tied around the neck of the jars.
Hot Drinks
Whether it is mulled wine, Irish coffee, a hot port or a plain old cup of tea, a hot drink in a cosy setting is a great way to get the festivities off to a good start. Homemade cosies like this felt one of mine are a great way to stop your hand from getting too hot when holding your drink. To make one, simply cut a length of felt to fit your glass or mug. Blanket stitch the edges, add some decoration with felt shapes, buttons, beads or ribbon and within an hour you have a pretty cosy to keep or give as a gift.
Festive Tunes
Whether you are into Bing Crosby, East 17 or real carols sundg by a choir, put some music on in the background and you’ll be feeling festive in no time.
Merry Christmas everyone!