10 Things You Shouldn't Do When Hosting Christmas

The holiday season is magical, but let’s face it—it can also be stressful, especially if you’re hosting Christmas.

Between planning meals, decorating your home, and ensuring everyone has a wonderful time, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. However, you can reduce stress, enjoy the season with some organization, and avoid a few common pitfalls. Here are ten things to never do when hosting Christmas that will help you stay calm, organized, and ready for the holiday cheer.

A woman in an apron stands in a kitchen, smiling, with baking supplies on the counter.

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Ten Things You Shouldn’t Do When Hosting Christmas

A dining table set with Christmas-themed plates, glassware, and cutlery. A decorated Christmas tree is visible in the background near a window.

Hosting Christmas can feel like a magical experience but also comes with its fair share of stress and pressure. Between cooking, decorating, and making sure your guests are comfortable, it’s easy to fall into common hosting traps that can make the day more overwhelming than joyful.

To help you avoid those mistakes, I’ve compiled a list of 10 things you shouldn’t do when hosting Christmas. From trying to do everything yourself to over-complicating the menu, these tips will help you create a relaxed, festive, and memorable holiday for everyone—including yourself!

#1 – Never Wait Until the Last Minute to Plan Your Menu

A last-minute scramble in the kitchen is a recipe for disaster. Start planning your menu at least two weeks in advance. Consider dietary restrictions, and make sure you have a balance of dishes that can be prepared ahead of time and those that need to be cooked on the day of. Write a grocery list to shop in stages, spreading the workload.

Pro tip: Test new recipes before the big day to avoid surprises.

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A decorative plate with a Christmas tree design in the center and ornate gold patterns around the rim. — Spode Christmas Tree Gold Dinner Plate

Four round burlap placemats with fringed edges arranged in overlapping layers. — Burlap Round Braided Placemats Set

Embroidered Cotton Table Napkin, Cloth Napkins Set of 4

#2 – Never Skip Decluttering Before Decorating

Two beige armchairs with tree-patterned pillows sit by windows decorated with hanging wreaths. A small tree and a glass lamp adorn a white dresser nearby.

It’s tempting to dive straight into decorating, but putting festive decor over clutter only makes your home feel chaotic. Take time to declutter areas where guests gather, such as the living room, dining room, and entryway.

I completely decluttered this room, and it was a storage room until it became a sitting room. You can see the transformation here.

I estimated the time I spent organizing vs. decorating this year, which was 2:1. I felt so much better because I could not believe how long it took me to decorate our house this year! The bonus is that our basement is reorganized and decluttered!

Donate or store items that you don’t need during the holidays. A clean space makes decorating much easier and creates a more welcoming environment for your guests.

Rectangular pillow with a pattern of green pine trees on a cream background.

Christmas Pillow Covers 12×20

A beige armchair is placed on a light wood floor near a window. A woven basket and books are on the floor nearby. — COLAMY Upholstered 360° Swivel Accent Chair

Festive wreath with pinecones, red berries, and green foliage arranged in a circular pattern.

22 Inch Christmas Wreath

#3 – Never Assume You Have Enough Supplies Without Checking

A kitchen scene with a wooden bowl of pears on an island, white cabinetry, and a wreath hanging in the window above the sink. — Christmas decor

Running out of essentials like wrapping paper, tape, or toilet paper during the holiday chaos is an avoidable mistake. Take an inventory of all your supplies early—including tableware, serving dishes, napkins, drinkware for hosting, and household items like soap and towels.

Stocking up beforehand ensures you won’t have to run to the store frantically.

Gold Wrapping Paper

A roll of red metallic adhesive vinyl, perfect for gift wrapping, partially unrolled on a white surface.

Red Metallic Wrapping Paper, XL Roll

Metallic Christmas Wrapping Paper

Five rolls of sheer ribbon in maroon, red, green, teal, and gold are elegantly arranged in a row, perfect for adding a touch of flair to gift wrapping.

5 Rolls Holiday Color Organza Ribbon

Six rolls of Scotch Magic Tape, perfect for gift wrapping, featuring green plaid design on dispensers, neatly placed on a white box labeled “Scotch Magic Tape.”

Scotch Magic Tape, 6 Rolls

Three pairs of scissors with colored handles - purple, green, and gray with orange - perfect for gift wrapping projects. Each is labeled "Amazon Basics," ensuring reliability and style.

Soft-Grip Scissors, 3-Pack

A set of five ornate silver utensils, including two forks, a knife, a large spoon, and a small spoon, gracefully arranged vertically on a white background. Perfect for adorning your Thanksgiving plates with elegance.

Wallace Queen 18/10 Stainless, Set of 65

A collection of white cloth napkins, with one folded into a fan shape and held by a silver napkin ring, is artfully arranged on a wooden surface, perfect to set a Christmas table.

Cotton Linen Blend Napkins, 12

Clear Embossed Water Glasses, Set of 6

Set of three nested white rectangular ceramic baking dishes with handles. — White Ceramic Baking Dish Set, Set of 3

White fluted tart dish with a smooth, glossy finish, perfect for serving pie for breakfast, viewed from above.

Porcelain Quiche Baking Dish

Porcelain Mixing Bowls, Set of 4

Three bottles of Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day Iowa Pine Scent Hand Soap, each with a pump dispenser, labeled as limited edition, 12.5 fl oz (370 ml) each. — MRS. MEYER’S CLEAN DAY Hand Soap, Limited Edition Iowa Pine

A stack of Bounty Quick Size paper towel packs, labeled 16 rolls equal to 40 regular rolls, arranged in three rows. — Bounty Paper Towels Quick Size, White, 16 Family Rolls = 40 Regular Rolls

A stack of white napkins with silver tree imprints, adorned with red ornaments and fir branches. — By Madee: 50 Pack Premium Christmas Napkins

#4 – Never Forget to Set a Budget

My white kitchen with lots of baking materials on the butcher block island.

Hosting Christmas can be expensive, and it’s easy to overspend without a budget. Decide in advance how much you’re willing to spend on food, drinks, decor, and gifts.

Stick to your budget by planning meals and decorations that maximize what you already have. A beautiful Christmas doesn’t have to cost a fortune—sometimes less is more.

A stack of folded red and white kitchen towels with varying patterns, including stripes and solids.

Large Cotton Kitchen Towels

A light green ceramic cake stand with a wavy edge on a single pedestal base.

Martha Stewart 11″ Jadeite Ruffled Edge Cake Stand

Christmas wreath with pinecones, berries, and green foliage, adorned with small lights surrounding a circular frame.

22 Inch Christmas Wreaths

#5 – Never Neglect Asking for Help

Trying to do everything yourself is a fast track to burnout. Don’t hesitate to delegate tasks to family or friends. If someone offers to bring a dish, accept it. If no one offers, ask them to bring a dish. Involve your family in cleaning, setting up, and even decorating.

Sharing the workload reduces stress and makes the preparations more fun and collaborative.

#6 – Never Overcommit to Activities

The weeks leading up to Christmas are often packed with events, from school concerts to work parties. While it’s wonderful to celebrate, overcommitting to activities can leave you exhausted by the time Christmas arrives.

Prioritize the most important events. In my case, that would be family first.

Be selective about what you say “yes” to and prioritize time to prepare for hosting. Permit yourself to say “no” to events that don’t align with your goals for a relaxed and meaningful holiday.

And just to be clear about this, we committed to holiday events the four nights before our party. That was not smart, as I needed those evenings to bake and prepare for the party! My bad, but I couldn’t say no.

#7 – Never Forget to Prep Your Space for Overnight Guests

how-to-make-a-christmas-wreath-from-a-garland

If you’re hosting family or friends overnight, their comfort is crucial. Don’t wait until the last minute to prepare guest rooms.

Freshen up the bedding, stock the bathroom with toiletries and ensure enough seating and space for everyone. If you’re tight on time, focus on the essentials like clean towels and a comfortable sleeping area.

Three pump bottles of hand soap with festive labels: Nutcracker, Holiday Treats, and Christmas Time. The designs feature holiday-themed images and colors. — Michel Design Works SPECIAL HOLIDAY EDITION 3-PACK

Three white pump bottles labeled shampoo, conditioner, and body wash are arranged side by side. — HARRA HOME Modern Gold Design Pump Bottle Set 27 oz

Cotton Towel Set – 6-Piece 100% Turkish Cotton

Four transparent canisters containing green flossers, cotton rounds, cotton swabs, and cotton balls. One canister lid is slightly ajar. — 4 Pack Acrylic Qtip Holder Dispenser for Cotton Swabs, Balls, Pads, Floss Picks

Two white striped pillows stacked on a bed with a blurred background. — Qnoon Hotel Collection Bed Pillows for Sleeping

A beige bath mat with a waffle texture on a wooden floor next to a white bathtub. — Waffle Bath Mat

SafeRest 100% Waterproof Queen Size Mattress Protector

Hansleep Quilt Set

Hooded Classic Bathrobe Turkish Cotton

TESSAN Power Strip

3 Pack Apple MFi Certified iPhone Charger Cable 10ft

Microfiber Makeup Remover Cloths

#8 – Never Leave Shopping to the Last Minute

Instructions to tie a bow with ribbon on your Christmas gifts using rose gold metallic wrapping paper and assorted ribbons.

Last-minute shopping for gifts, groceries, or decor is one of the biggest sources of holiday stress. Start early and plan your shopping in phases. Don’t forget you can get most groceries delivered. Costco delivers, which could save you hours and free up the time you need!

Purchase non-perishable groceries and pantry items ahead of time, leaving only fresh ingredients for closer to the date. Online shopping can save time for gifts but don’t wait too long to avoid shipping delays.

Flip Through My Holiday Gift Guide

Click the photo below to shop my holiday flip book.

flipbook holiday gift guide

#9 – Never Forget to Create a Timeline for the Day

The color coded spreadsheet I use to manage the cooking for our Christmas party.

It’s so easy to discover Christmas Day is a chaotic rush. Instead, create a detailed timeline for the day, especially if you’re serving a big meal. Include when to prep, cook, and serve each dish and time for cleaning up and socializing.

For more about my Color-coded timeline, visit here.

Build in a few buffer periods for unexpected delays. A well-organized timeline ensures that everything runs smoothly and you have time to enjoy the celebration.

#10 – Never Let Perfectionism Take Over

A decorated Christmas tree with white lights and ornaments stands near a white sofa and a table with white poinsettias.

It’s easy to want everything to be perfect—whether it’s the table settings, the food, or the decor. Remember, the true joy of Christmas comes from spending time with loved ones, not impressing them.

Focus on creating a warm, welcoming atmosphere rather than stressing every detail. Imperfections often go unnoticed by guests, but your relaxed attitude will be remembered.

A slim, artificial, pre-lit Christmas tree stands in a bright room with white walls and a large window.

Best Choice Products Pre-Lit Sparse Christmas Tree

Glass Green Ornaments

Red frosted berry branches arranged in a white vase.

Frosted Red Berry Picks

Bonus Tips for Stress-Free Hosting

Three frittata recipes you can easily make for Christmas brunch.

• Prep Ahead: Make dishes that can be prepared in advance, such as casseroles, desserts, and sides. This will free up time on Christmas Day. Here are recipes for Christmas Brunch and make-ahead Christmas sweets.

• Simplify Decor: Choose a cohesive theme that ties your decor together without going overboard. A few statement pieces can create a significant impact.

• Prioritize Self-Care: Don’t forget to take care of yourself. Whether it’s a quick walk, coffee, or a nap, giving yourself time to recharge is key.

Ceramic Fluted Quiche Baking Dish

8-Piece Deep Glass Baking Dish Set w/Lids

Food Storage Containers Set with Lids

How to Enjoy Hosting Christmas

A living room with lit Christmas trees decorated with ornaments. A white sofa with a festive pillow is on the right, and a tray of additional ornaments is on the floor.

Hosting Christmas doesn’t have to be overwhelming. By avoiding these common mistakes and planning, you can create a stress-free environment for yourself and your guests.

Remember, the holiday season celebrates love, joy, and togetherness. When you focus on what truly matters, you’ll find that even the busiest days can be magic.

Here’s to a joyful and organized Christmas! What are your go-to hosting tips? Share them in the comments below—I’d love to hear how you make your holidays stress-free!

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