Talk to Homebase about your Christmas hosting top tips and/or nightmares and you could win a £300 Homebase voucher NOW CLOSED

[AngelieMumsnet]

As Christmas approaches and planning for Christmas events begins, Homebase is keen to hear about Mumsnetters' best and worst experiences of Christmas hosting - whether it's Christmas parties, having relatives to stay or even hosting the big day itself.

Homebase says: "Christmas is all about getting together with the most important people in our lives. It's a great feeling when loved ones come round to enjoy the fun and festivities- but it can be hard work sometimes too. Preparing food, getting your home looking fabulous, making sure everyone's having a good time ... the festive season comes with its own challenges and things don't always go to plan. We'd love to hear your stories of 'hosting heaven' and 'hosting hell'. Tell us about your Christmas disasters and triumphs, share your tips, fill us in on the fun times and let us know what you're planning this year."

Do you have any top tips to make Christmas hosting go as smoothly as possible? Maybe you create a time plan to make sure everything's done on schedule? Or have you had a nightmare that's put you off Christmas hosting for life?

Share your stories - good and bad - on this thread and we'll enter you into a prize draw where one MNer will win a Homebase voucher worth 300 pounds.

Thanks and good luck,
MNHQ

[beckyinman]

Because we have a massive family (30+ some years!) we do a buffet lunch on Christmas day and everyone brings one savory bit and then one sweet. We then have a proper Christmas dinner on Boxing Day when we are down to a reasonable amount of guests

[tubbyj]

Preparation is everything, get all the presents ect early and wrapped, so you are just left with perishables at the end.

Scale back ambition, it's nice to have freshly baked bread for breakfast a full roast lunch and freshly baked cake for desert, but it's better to scale back the baking.

[beeelaine]

Ah! worst has to be the power cut, we had 2 power cuts before christmas and then on on christmas day!!!! the turkey was in the oven and i kept the door shut, power was off for over an hour, when it came back on i cooked it extra long to make sure it was really well done..... looked like a deflated balloon when finished!

My top tip for christmas food is to do as much prep as you can the day before, especially when its a big family visit and there is lots to do. If you can freeze things - like mash etc then do it! its far easier to be defrosting on the morning or overnight in the fridge and have it all on the go without having to wash up all those pots and pans that prepping makes. Give the laying of the table to the kids to do, always have extra drinks for the kids, and have a little back up option in the freezer in case you burn something! haha. If you are really finding it hard, why not invite everyone round but ask them to bring a platter? buffets are so much fun really and its less formal and people like that!

[shawbarbara]

I try to have everything in and arranged in the fridge and freezer for the holiday period as I like to enjoy the week with my family and friends - not having to worry about going out to the shops - but I always worry that the electric will go off and all my food will be wasted!!

[piggyliggy2015]

Last year I was heavily pregnant and decided to host our 1st Christmas! I wrote all the timings down for the food, but made the mistake of not getting the table ready and not getting serving dishes ready for when the food was done. It was calm until that point and was then very stressful! This year I will plan in more detail :-)

[liamell]

My top tip would be not to be railroaded into having relatives for dinner, It is after all your christmas day and often or not I have made the mistake of being a little too much of a pushover. Maybe if you are feeling the pressure, grandparents could come for Christmas breakfast, watch the children open their presents and then leave you to your day.

[gamerwidow]

Only but enough sweets and xmas treats to last xmas eve, xmas day and boxing day other wise you'' be hoovering up food until new years and end up a size bigger.
Last year we hosted and I ordered the all the veg ready prepared which saved loads of time.

[superhez]

I have learnt over the years to make it as simple as possible for myself so i can enjoy the day too, I buy pre chopped veggies, and cook the turkey crown the day before, so i can relax and enjoy my day.

[hiddenmichelle]

Prepare as much as possible in advance and then make the kitchen the hub - people will help out over a glass of wine - and you will care less about everything being perfect!

[pixelwife]

My top tip is to play to your strengths. If cooking isn't your thing don't be afraid to buy "bung it in the oven" options so you can focus on being a fantastic hostess. If you love to cook but find the entertaining hard, have some games on standby that take the pressure off smalltalk with rarely seen relatives! It only comes once a year so we should all enjoy it!

[jodiecrossley1]

Have a demanding mother and father in law who are coming to stay this christmas and they will be criticising everything- trying very hard to make everything perfect for them!

[Spencer1234]

We always make sure Christmas Day is just us and our child. It can be too stressful having guests and keeping everyone happy but the actual day should be about you and your child enjoying the time together.

[tiddles12]

Bought Xmas dinner for 4 form Cook- £55 (15% discount yesterday) - no prep required- in the freezer and all ready to cook

[LucyBo17]

I don't have much experience of hosting family for Christmas day as we go to relatives for lunch. With respect to presents, I buy things when I see them and keep them hidden until Christmas, I buy things when they are reduced in summer sales and in the January sales. I wrap presents early just in case people pop around before Christmas and so I have their presents ready.

[julieef]

My family come to me every year so I am used to it, I prepare everything the day before cook the meats etc make coleslaw, and all goes well

[glennamy]

My best tip is to try to treat it like a 'normal' Sunday lunch but on a bigger scale, prep what you can the night before, and remember if things go wrong it is not big deal, laugh it off and enjoy the day! :)

[Rcollins91]

Hope someone invites you to theirs and then you can avoid doing much at all other than carrying plates and a bit of washing up :)

[cozza777]

I must admit I am not the best host :/ and the thought of having to entertain a load of people scares the hell out of me. I do tend to make a lot of lists before hand to make sure I know what I need to buy and what I am cooking etc I l prepare any food I can the day before if possible and have a massive clean up in the house the day before, if my house it clean I can relax a bit more :)

[ILikeBigBumpsAndICannotLie]

Never be afraid to shout 'Just get the hell out of my kitchen' as loudly as you need to in order to get some peace.

[rachelmi]

An extra fridge in the garage is always really handy at Christmas so is extra nibbles and wine ready for unexpected guests. Also a couple of spare presents ready if needed, saves feeling embarrassed when someone arrives with unexpected gifts or an extra guest.

[BellaWella86]

Our kitchen doesn't have the biggest amount of storage space, so when we hosted Christmas for the first time a few years ago we didn't know how we were going to store all the food. The conservatory acted as an excellent host for all the fruit, veg and drinks. Its always ice cold in the winter!

[Titsalinabumsquash]

I run Christmas like a military operation, not in a shouty way but j organise early and I'm direct about wha I need people to do, again not in a barking orders kind of way but more of a "right MIL, can you please bring a dessert and SIL can you bring a bottle of wine." Type thing.

I don't make the food complicated and I make ahead everything I can.

Everyone gets involved with decorating (we have a crafty afternoon on a Sunday a few times and make popcorn garlands and paper chains and snowflakes) we put a film or Christmas music on and have hot chocolate or mulled wine (fruit punch for the kids!) and mince pies.,


We do the same with Christmas baking, a big family session of making mince pies, biscuits, fudge and peeling veggies and making food to freeze.
It's fun and I don't feel like I'm doing everything by myself.

[mooota1514]

I love hosting. I prep all veg beforehand, only serve a cold starter and ask guests to bring cheese or deserts. I cook the ham Christmas Eve so only really have to cook the turkey, potatoes, veg and trimmings while I drink wine.

[Soosieboo]

Christmas at our house is quiet. A few friends and family.
We used to go to my mother-in-laws for Christmas day tea and it was always a disaster.
She could make one tin of tuna make sandwiches for 5 grown ups and 2 children. We've had garlic butter on cream crackers (left out so long they went damp). Sausage rolls that were fine on top but raw underneath.
It was always awful.

[feefeegabor]

I try to do as much as I possibly can in advance. I start buying presents in January and throughout the year and I add extra bits to my weekly shop which I add to the freezer so I don't have a huge food bill in December. When it comes to the party, the whole family helps with the snacks and decoration - we make it fun!