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Year after year, you try to be organized but take last-minute stress. However, Christmas is a time to celebrate, rejoice and give. It is a time to take it slow and remember what peace feels like. But for most of us, it is the opposite. A stress-free holiday season is possible. Here are some secrets to help make it a reality this year.

Start Shopping Early

Many families tend to shop at the last minute, and they end up scrambling around on Christmas Eve for last-minute shopping. This means the famous Christmas dinner gets delayed, and so do the family festivities. Hence, always start shopping early. Make a list and head to the store quickly to find exactly what you want. There are some things you buy each year, and if you know what you want, do not wait for the last moment. Shopping early can reduce a lot of stress and you will also be able to avoid the massive line at the billing counter.

Get the Gifts and Decor Ready

Another last-minute task that stresses all of us is getting the gifts ready. If you wait until the last moment to wrap gifts, it will cause a lot of trouble and stress. It makes no sense to stay up until 5 am on Christmas morning to prepare the gifts. Once you have bought the gifts, set aside a night to wrap them. If you have the time, you can turn on a Christmas movie and make a party out of it. If you are hosting a party, you can hire a Christmas interior designer to elevate your decor and take the load off of you. Also, remember to buy wrapping supplies and decorations like ribbon, tape, and paper before time.

Be Flexible

Whether you are partying, traveling, or having guests over, there is a chance that your routine will be put to the test. But this is also a time to let go and enjoy. Do the best you can, and do not let a few days put you under stress. You will only feel worse if you try to control everything. It is important to be flexible and go with the flow. When it comes to traveling or partying, you might not have control over everything and you will have to adapt and adjust. You will have less stress if you remain flexible.

Simplify

This is the time of social media, and it is easy to get caught up in the idea that you have to do everything to make the holiday special, but this is not true. The lists can be never-ending and could only cause more stress. You do not have to do it all during the holiday season, and you should not try to cram just one more thing to make a difference this year. It is okay to simplify and do only what you enjoy. If you do not want to host a party or have a lot of people over, you can avoid it. And if you are hosting a party but do not have the time to cook everything yourself, you can simply order. Try to simplify as much as possible, and it will make a huge difference.

Stock up on the Snacks

This is the time of the year when you can expect an unexpected drop-in from anyone who has ever had a chance to know you. And you will be obliged to welcome them with the right nibbles or snacks. This is why having enough food at home is a huge Christmas worry. Remember to stock up now to ensure that you do not feel awkward with the snack offerings when someone drops by.

Schedule the Big, Deep Clean Up

The one everyone feels stressed about- is the deep clean before the guests arrive. Everyone will be very busy cooing about the new dishes and gifts to even pay attention to the little dirt or an odd cobweb in the house, but you will feel obliged to take care of it. You can make the task less tedious by breaking it down into small tasks and getting them done over a period of time. You can hide the clutter in the cupboards or under your bed if you need more time. Just focus on the living room, kitchen, and dining rooms.

It is natural to feel overwhelmed before the holiday season but you must remember that the festival is all about having fun and spending time with your loved ones. If you plan well and remain flexible, it is possible to have a stress-free holiday season.

Photos By: Unsplash

It can be a fine balance between decorating and adding to the clutter when it comes to the kitchen. Here are some small Christmasy details you can add without taking up too much space.

Hanging Citrus and Cinnamon

Natural, rustic elements are making a huge comeback this holiday season. Dried citrus and cinnamon sticks, in particular, are a hot trend that not only looks great but also smells incredible. This DIY decor element is the perfect activity for a snowy December day.

String your dried citrus and cinnamon sticks on some fishing line to hang from cabinets, hooks, or even the light fixture as a floating centerpiece. Take the aromatic impacts of this decor to the next level with some fresh sage leaves as accents between the citrus and cinnamon sticks.

Simple Boughs and Lights

You can’t go wrong with the simple classics this holiday season. Adding pine boughs and string lights is an easy way to add a touch of holiday elegance to your kitchen.

Many designers have been using glass panel pieces from the best online cabinets during home remodeling projects this year. The combination of boughs and lights reflected on the glass are magical. This simple decor piece is also versatile enough to be adapted for any kitchen style. Lay the boughs on top of your cabinets, the windowsill, or even the range hood.

Floating Cranberries and Candles

Don’t forget to use cranberries when decorating this holiday season. Create a floating cranberry and candle centerpiece or accent pieces using a vase and water.

Add a pine bough underneath the cranberries and floating candles for a stunning contrast of red and green. This simple Christmas decor is affordable, easy to assemble, and highlights the best of the Christmas season. You can also add baby’s breath or white roses for a softer look.

Chair Ribbons and Bows

One of the easiest ways to dress up your kitchen without using up any counter space is to decorate the chairs with ribbons and bows. Hang a decorative bow on the back of each chair or dress them up with a small wreath. If you’re feeling ambitious, you can add a stunning seasonal slip cover to bring the look together.

If you have a shared kitchen and dining space, don’t forget to add a name tag to the back of each chair for Christmas dinner.

Hot Cocoa Station

Coffee stations have long been a staple in kitchens. Make this feature more Christmasy by creating a hot cocoa station with festive mugs, sprinkles, and candy canes. Add a few trendy hot chocolate bombs and chocolate spoons to make this simple station Instagram-worthy. A hot cocoa station doesn’t have to be elaborate or require a special set-up. You can use a cake stand or tabletop lazy Susan to set it up. Don’t forget to add a few adult-friendly additions to the station as well.

Window Wreath

Finally, finish the room with a beautiful window wreath that pulls the decor together. Consider taking a custom approach that includes natural food elements, like the dried citrus, cinnamon, and cranberries mentioned previously. For an extra creative approach, make a wreath with thyme and rosemary that you can use after it dries.

For a modern take on the traditional wreath, decorate a golden hoop with minimal lights and pine boughs for a simple-yet-elegant statement piece.

With these small Christmasy details, you can get your kitchen holiday ready.

Photos By: Living Etc.

Match Your Existing Decorating Style

Just because it’s in the store, it doesn’t mean it will match your home! There are so many beautiful Christmas decorating objects that you can decorate your home with, but you want to be careful that it won’t clash with your existing decorating. If you have bohemian style decorating at home, you want to try to choose holiday decor that will match this specific style. If your home is monochrome (black and white), you might want to make your tree like this too, with a pop of one color such as silver. Being cautious of how you decorate your home is one way to make sure it looks designer-ready when your guests come over!

Wrap Garland Around Your Windows

Fresh green garland isn’t only for wrapping around your staircase and mantel, you can even spruce up your windows with it too! Since garland can be super pricey in some places, its easy to make it at home yourself. All you need is some wire and twine to wrap and secure branches of pine tree around the wire. Then, attach some Christmas ornaments onto the garland for a customized, and unique look.

Make Easy Decorations Out of Paper

There are a ton of easy holiday inspired decorations that you can make with just paper! The living room above shows how you can use just metallic paper to create circular style decorations that scream “Christmas is here!” for only a few dollars. Cut out out a piece of wrapping paper and fold it up into a fan. secure the ends to create a circular decoration that’s easy, peasy, and most importantly, affordable.

Mini Christmas Trees

These mini trees are absolutely adorable and are a fun way to spread the holiday spirit throughout your home. You can purchase mini faux trees or even real small trees at your local Christmas tree stand and place them into decorative planters. Then, hang some ornaments on them and voila – you have yourself a cute and easy decoration that costs only a few dollars. There are also stores like Magnolia and Decorator’s Warehouse that sell mini trees and other decorative holiday objects that are affordable and super cute!

Go Big with Your Staircase Railing

Make the entrance of your home stand out and make a grand first impression to any family and friends that come over. This means, going big with your staircase railing and packing on that garland. Skip the thin store-bought plastic garland, create your own and home and pile it on to create a layered, rich look. You can also stack some fake presents along the stairs to really get your guests in the mood!