Christmas will be here before you know and to ensure that your home is prepped and ready for the festive season we have some tips to help you on your way.
Home and Garden on Female First
DFS designer, Helen Leigh-Jones shares her tips on preparing your home for Christmas
· If your living room is looking tired, give it an instant refresh with a brand new sofa. The family will spend hours here over the Christmas period so a comfy and inviting piece is a must.
· Soft throws and pretty cushions will give your sofa an instant update, while bean bags are great portable seating for younger visitors.
· Sofa beds are a great as they give you additional seating for guests but pull out to put visitors up in the evening.
· Investing in coffee tables will provide you with plenty of additional surface space for cups of tea or glasses of champagne and if you scatter a few coasters around you won't have to worry about spills and ring marks.
· When it comes to keeping the house tidy, live by the motto, 'Out of sight out of mind'. Pile newspapers, DVDs, games and toys into attractive woven baskets to keep the living room clutter free.
· Add festive cheer with sprigs of holly and fairy lights. Christmas cards make a lovely addition too, and even better, cost nothing!
· No matter what the weather is like outside, candlelight will bring a warm glow to your home. Place tall tapered candles on the dining table, put tealights in coloured holders on the mantlepiece and shelves or arrange church candles in the hearth. The interior design rule is that odd numbers look better than even, so for best results arrange candles in groups of three or five and make sure you have replacement stock for when they burn out. Choose non-drip candles so that you don't have to clean up spilt wax and introduce a spice scented option to add to the festive atmosphere.