Carpet Barn’s Guide to Christmas

In the run-up to Christmas, there's always a lot to do to prepare and think about. From gifts to food and prepping your spare room for family, the list is endless! But don't worry! Our carpet specialists have created this guide to help you get ready for Christmas.

Get decorative

Before diving into the logistics and organisation of Christmas, get into the festive spirit by putting the decks up around the house.

Vibrant decorations can complement your neutral décor and really brighten the place up; try lanterns leading upstairs, for example, to contrast a lighter carpet. Adding a little Christmas sparkle around the house can help motivate you to do some of the planning that comes with the festive period.

Be organised

Christmas is the perfect time for making a list, but we're not talking about the one you'll send to the North Pole! Make a note of everything that you and your guests will need over the festive period, from duvets and bedding to food and drink. Plus, make lists of people you will be buying presents for and what you will be getting.

For many, the food is the most important part of Christmas, so if you are cooking Christmas dinner, it's key to make sure you have all the food you need. Again, list-making can really help you out, from preparing your vegetables to making sure you have enough potatoes to go around. While making this list, it can also be handy to note how long each item takes to cook and when it needs to go in and out of the oven.

To save time and last-minute stress on Christmas day, prepare any dishes that can be made and stored in advance. Peel vegetables and store them in cold water to keep them fresh, wrap sausages in bacon, and make the stuffing. By prepping as much as you can in the lead-up to the day itself, you leave yourself much more time to enjoy the day.

Subtle home improvements can really make a big impression on your temporary lodgers. Christmas is the perfect time to invest in a new mattress or carpet for the spare room, so why not treat your guests to a touch of luxury?

Prepare for guests

If you have family or friends over for Christmas, ensure they get the best night's sleep by planning where everyone is going to sleep in advance. Make their stay easy and comfortable by making sure that they're catered for with towels, bedding and even cutlery on Christmas day.

Help ensure everyone is ready for the big day by giving everyone a comfortable place to sleep. To avoid sore necks from the sofa or waking up on the hard floor in the middle of the night because the air mattress has lost air, why not treat your guests to a proper bed and mattress? Day beds or sofa beds are fantastic for smaller rooms as they can double as a bed and/or a sofa!

Stick to a budget

It's very tempting to go all out for your Christmas party, but it's important to remember you don't need to overdo it. Set out a budget, stick to it, and take the time to consider what you and your guests will realistically eat and drink. While it's always great to have an extra yule log in the cupboard (you know, just in case), think about whether you're actually likely to get through a second turkey or those exotic spirits.

Look after your home

Christmas also comes with the worry of parts of your house getting damaged, especially if you are hosting family and friends over this most wonderful time of the year. With this in mind, it would have been remiss of us to not include a small section on how to look after your carpet or flooring over Christmas.

Spillages are common, especially in a busy home, so to give your flooring the best chance of not being damaged, clean the spillage up as quickly as possible using a damp cloth or well-wrung mop.

If you notice any stains, warm water and a mild detergent should be enough to remove it successfully, though you can use bicarbonate of soda as well if you need an extra hand.

It is important that you avoid using certain types of cleaning products on your vinyl floors; using metal scourers can cause irreparable damage to vinyl flooring, and some chemical cleaning products will not be suitable. Always check the label of your chemical cleaning products before applying them to your floor.

We would also recommend that you avoid dragging heavy furniture over your floor. Needing to move your sofa to make way for a tree or are thinking of creating a makeshift dance floor in your living room by moving your coffee table? If so, you should avoid dragging furniture across your floor, especially vinyl flooring, as this can create unattractive scuff marks. We suggest adding rubber or felt casters to the feet of heavy furniture to prevent this from becoming an issue, or fully lift and place your furniture when moving it.

We hope that you find this guide helpful over Christmas and gives you a bit of extra time to enjoy the festive season.

If all this planning has made you realise that you need a new bed, mattress, sofa bed or even flooring, head down to your local Carpet Barn and The Bed Store to view our collections. We have a large selection of beds, mattresses and flooring, so you are bound to find what you are looking for. Plus, our team are experts in helping you find a mattress that suits your sleep pattern and a floor for your needs.

If you are waiting for January before buying anything, why not browse our online shop for some inspiration ready to purchase in the new year?