After we have all stuffed ourselves with turkey and dressing, the last thing on our minds is hauling Christmas decorations from the garage into our house. The thought of that sounds daunting and stressful. Why not consider challenging yourself this year by getting Christmas ready weekly?

Join me on this challenge to get #ChristmasReady!

November 1^st-15^th: Fetch The Christmas Decorations & Get Your House Christmas Ready

It has become a habit to take out all the decorations in phases. When November rolls around, I create a list of items I need to get and set a time to shop for those items every Friday in November. I then make it a point to rummage through my inventory and bring the Christmas decorations closer to their display spot. Typically, the six main things at the top of everyone’s list are the fireplace mantel, Christmas tree, coffee table, staircases, railings, and wreaths at the entry and doorways. On my list this year is the staircase above the double sliding door and coffee table.

Designer Tip: The key to getting your House Christmas Ready is to have the items nearby per the area you plan to tackle each Friday or weekend. Over time, you will start assembling all the necessary foundational things to stay on track with each area. This approach makes it doable and less intimidating.

Follow these easy steps:

• Bring decorations near the area you plan to style
• Participate in the family-oriented activities for Christmas and take the infamous family photos
• Layout all the elements you plan to utilize, such as the garlands, trees, mistletoe, etc., and begin fluffing away.

Note: Don’t worry about actually decorating; fluff and prepare. I find doing this adds a natural look to your home.

November 15^th-28^th: Begin Christmas Shopping & Wrap Those Gifts

Indulge in the Christmas Spirit! Now it’s time to go shopping and plan for two of the most significant meals of the year: Christmas and Thanksgiving. I like to tackle these dinners in tandem. Whatever recipe that’s not a hit for Thanksgiving, you can try again for Christmas with more preparation. Mail out those lovely pictures you took earlier in the month and send them as Christmas cards. Freshen up your home and decorate the Hot Chocolate and Warm Cider Bar. Make it a fun family activity. Let the Christmas movie marathons begin! If you need some inspiration, see my list below.

Designer Tip: If you feel overwhelmed, take a deep breath, relax for that day, and continue the following day.

# KeepCalmAndCarryOn!

Sign up for my free Christmas Checklist to keep you organized!

My favorite Christmas Movies

• Home Alone 1-3
• Miracle on 34^th Street
• The Polar Express
• The Christmas Chronicles

At last, my favorite part of the plan has finally come together: let’s decorate the tree after your lovely Thanksgiving dinner.

November 29^th-December 12^th: Decorate the Front of your House

Spice up your home with Christmas Spirit! Place some lights outside your house to attract the neighbors. Make it a family affair and host a tree and house lighting ceremony! Revisit the Christmas menu and decide on dishes to serve. Let’s get the family looking like a unit and get those cute matching PJs. Gradually stuff a few stockings and make a lovely tradition to countdown the 25 days of Christmas with your favorite Advent Calendar.

December 12^th-24^th: Baking and Christmas Dinner

There’s nothing like fresh baked sugar cookies to say It’s Christmas time! Remember to bake with your loved ones and pay special attention to your little helpers in the kitchen. They will cherish these moments forever, so don’t forget to leave fresh cookies and milk for Santa. Drink tons of eggnog and read a good Christmas story. I hope all that planning has helped you along the way. All that remains is to prep breakfast and dinner, and tomorrow is CHRISTMAS DAY!!!

December 25^th: Enjoy your family and Friends!

You have probably been up to making breakfast early in the morning, and you hear your little ones running to the Christmas Tree (while the pancakes and bacon are cooking and eggs are getting fried or scrambled). Food is almost on the table, and all there is to do is eat and be merry. Oh, wait! One more thing: Open Those Christmas Presents! Santa stopped by the house while you slept.

Merry Christmas!!!

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Le Chateau De Pierre is an Architecture and Interior Design Journal dedicated to sharing and exploring tips for emerging professionals and educating readers about great architecture and building design concepts. Our publication is designed to inspire and inform both new and experienced Interior designers, architects, and those interested in the field of architecture.