Deck the halls and prep the pans: Getting your kitchen Christmas-ready!

The festive season is well and truly upon us, which means that our houses often become the centre of activity, with Christmas Day feasts and New Year Eve parties. If, like us at Davonport, your kitchen is often where people seem to congregate, there are some things you can do to get your kitchen Christmas ready ahead of the big day.

The number one piece of advice we always give is to plan ahead. The week before the big day seems to get swallowed up with a multitude of activities, so if you can start doing the smaller jobs now, do!

Deep clean for a fresh start

Nobody wants to have to start cleaning as we head into Christmas, but you’ll be thankful you tackled it now.

A great piece of advice is to see if you can rearrange your cupboards so that you have a dedicated Christmas cupboard over the festive period. Here you can store everything you know you are going to need – including those extra-large tins of chocolates – and you don’t have to worry about losing a pack of mince piece behind the cereal boxes that you only find months later.

When it comes to tackling and cleaning your oven, those lucky enough to have a pyrolytic function will be able to do it easily. However, if you have an Aga, you can clean it using a solution of baking soda and vinegar. You will need to be very careful not to damage the enamel when scrubbing so use only soft, non-abrasive cloths or sponges.

Run a cleaning solution through both your dishwasher and washing machine as both will most likely see some heavy use pre- and during Christmas as you get guest rooms ready and have plenty of dishes to wash with all those visitors.

Organise your pantry

If you are lucky enough to have a pantry, whether walk-in or in cupboard format, now is the time to organise and throw away anything out of date. It is also an opportunity to see what you might be missing if you are in charge of cooking, and also bring anything to the front that you might need over the festive period. This will stop you having to route around and realising you have forgotten cranberry sauce!

Festive decor in the heart of the home

The kitchen isn’t generally a room that gives much attention when it comes to Christmas decorations – unless you have an open plan space big enough for a tree. However, to bring the festive cheer, hang some wreaths on your cabinet doors, add twinkling lights around shelves, and consider placing holiday-themed kitchen towels and oven mitts. These simple touches will stop you being bar humbug!

Set up a festive drink station

If you love to entertain, it might be that you have a dedicated alchemy cupboard that has everything you need to rustle up a cocktail or two to impress your guests. Or for some, a dedicated wine fridge is a must so that your sparkling wine can be served at the perfect temperature.

However, for some, a hot chocolate with lashings of cream and marshmallows is just the ticket which is why a dedicated tea & coffee station can be perfect as it has everything you need, and it keeps guests away from the main cooking area.

Invest in festive tableware

Not a biggie but a great finishing touch. If you have spent all your time cooking the perfect Christmas Day lunch, what better way to show it off than using festive tableware. You may also want to consider festive glasses, tablecloths and even table decorations to create a memorable and festive atmosphere for your family and guests.