Christmas Inspirations In partnership with LoveMedia


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Entertaining made easy


Elevate your Christmas


entertaining game


From craft decoration projects to do with the kids to smart ways to upscale your table and presentation, here are nine top tips to improve your entertaining game this Christmas and seriously impress your guests


T


he festive season is undeniably hosting season. Whether you’re preparing to host a big group or an intimate gathering, there’s thought and planning that goes into these


occasions and those who find it easy often say that the key is in the prepwork. We’ve taken that hard work away from you by compiling these hacks to help you make entertaining easy this year. Whether it’s DIY decorations with the kids, crafting an elegant tablescape, or impressing guests with creative culinary touches, this guide offers inspiration to make your celebrations stress-free and unforgettable for your guests.


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Make your own craft decorations


Christmas crafts are a wonderful way to involve kids in the holiday preparations while creating unique, meaningful decorations. Salt-dough ornaments are an enduring favourite. Simply combine flour, salt, and water to make a pliable dough, roll it out, and let the kids cut out festive shapes using cookie cutters. After baking, the ornaments can be painted and adorned with glitter, turning them into keepsakes. Alternatively, try creating


colourful paper garlands from recycled wrapping paper or making hand-painted pinecones as natural tree decorations. To step things up, consider assembling a homemade advent calendar with envelopes or boxes containing small notes, activities, or treats. This adds a daily dose of excitement leading up to Christmas Day.


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Find more entertainment ideas in our digital magazines at LoveMedia.


Create a stylish table


A well-dressed table sets the tone for Christmas meals. Begin with a colour scheme—classic red and gold never fail, while modern combinations like silver and sage green offer sophistication. Layering is key: start with a high-quality tablecloth or runner, then add chargers under plates for an elevated look. Candlesticks, fairy lights, or small lanterns create a warm, inviting glow, perfect for intimate dinners. Bows are big business for 2024 so consider putting them on candle sticks or on plates too. Incorporate natural elements for a finishing touch. Arrange sprigs of rosemary or holly on each napkin, tied with twine or satin ribbon. Dried orange slices or cinnamon sticks can add festive scents while doubling as decorations. For place cards, use small baubles with guest names written in gold pen or mini chalkboards.


3 Photos: Shutterstock


Curate your cheese board


Cheese boards are a Christmas essential, offering a delicious centrepiece that’s both versatile and visually impressive. Start with a variety of cheeses, aiming for a mix of textures and flavours. Choose a creamy Brie or Camembert, a sharp Cheddar, a crumbly blue like Stilton, and a goat cheese for tang. For plant-based guests, brands like Violife and Nush provide excellent options. To accompany the cheese, add sweet and savoury elements to build a board they’ll remember. Grapes, figs, and dried apricots balance the richness, while walnuts, almonds, and honey bring depth. Choose your crackers and bread wisely and consider a chutney or jam If you want to go beyond cheese, add cured meats, pickles, or marinated vegetables to create a charcuterie-style platter. Social media has a real feast of content to inspire your charcuterie boards after they rose to new heights in recent years. It’s become an art in itself. If you’re going for the oversized grazing- board style, then make sure to go big. The bigger, the better for pure entertainment value – and to fill up your hungry guests!


Top tip: Serve your cheese at room temperature for optimal flavour, and provide cheese knives for easy serving.


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