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It might only be October, but we’re willing to bet Christmas has already started creeping into your thoughts. The supermarkets are filling up with advent calendars, festive chocolates are back on the shelves, and before you know it, you’ll be wondering where the rest of the year went.
Luckily, there’s still plenty of time to get your home ready – and that’s where our 12 Christmas home improvements come in! From giving your kitchen a little attention and freshening up tired doors to adding a few festive touches outside, we’ve put together some easy home improvements you can tackle without turning your December to-do list into a mile-long project. Let’s dive in!
Christmas is the perfect excuse to finally get your storage under control before the tree, decorations, presents and extra bits and pieces start finding their way into every spare corner. Start with the areas that tend to collect clutter, like the hallway, living room, spare room and kitchen. Clear out anything you no longer use, make room for the things you’ll need over Christmas and give everything else a proper home. You’ll have more room to enjoy Christmas without constantly moving things around, and you’ll start the new year with a home that feels a little more organised.
As Christmas gets closer, you’re about to get a lot busier, so getting the bigger cleaning jobs out of the way now means there’s less to worry about when December gets hectic. Instead of trying to deep clean the house when you’re wrapping presents, shopping and getting ready for guests, you can simply give everything a quick spruce when Christmas gets closer.
Work your way through the jobs you don’t usually get around to. Clean behind and underneath furniture, tackle dusty skirting boards and light fittings, wash the windows and give the kitchen cupboards and appliances a proper clean.
You don’t need to do it all in one go, either. Pick one room or a couple of jobs at a time and work through them over the next few weeks. By the time Christmas arrives, the bigger jobs will already be done, and you’ll only need to worry about the usual last-minute tidy-up.
Next, the practical projects. With family and friends coming over at Christmas, those little jobs you’ve been putting off can suddenly become much more noticeable, and now is the perfect time to get them sorted.
Before the festive rush begins, have a quick walk around your home and make a note of anything that needs fixing or finishing. It could be a shelf that needs securing, a piece of skirting that’s seen better days, a loose coat hook or a small piece of timber that needs replacing. These easy home improvements don’t need to take up your whole weekend – instead, a few quick fixes can make your space feel more finished before guests arrive, and give you one less thing to think about at Christmas.
Christmas often means more people coming through your front door, and depending on the weather, there’s a good chance they’ll be bringing plenty of mud and water with them. A few small preparations now can make a surprisingly big difference as the month unfolds.
Start by putting a good-quality doormat outside and another just inside the door to catch as much mud and water as possible. It’s also worth keeping some grit or salt somewhere easy to reach, so you’re prepared if temperatures drop and paths or steps become icy. While you’re at it, clear away any leaves or debris from outdoor paths, steps and entrances. These small jobs can help keep your entrance cleaner and make getting in and out of the house easier throughout the colder months.
Once the practical jobs are out of the way, it’s time to get to the good stuff. If you’re anything like us, decorating your home at Christmas is when you really start to get into the festive spirit. Whether you go all-out with lights and decorations or prefer a few simple touches, this is your chance to make the spaces you use most feel warm, welcoming and ready for the season.
Start with the main areas where you’ll be spending time, like the living room and hallway. You don’t need to cover every surface with decorations. Instead, choose a simple colour scheme and repeat it throughout the room to make everything feel more pulled together. Reds, greens and golds are a classic combination, while whites, silvers and natural greenery can give you a more understated look.
Think about the places that naturally draw your eye. A mantelpiece, windowsill, staircase or dining table can become a focal point with a few well-placed decorations. Fairy lights can help add warmth, too, and don’t have to be saved for the tree – try weaving them around a fireplace, along a shelf or around a bannister. Mix your favourite decorations with greenery and a few seasonal touches, and don’t be afraid to reuse decorations you already have in a different way. You could fill a vase with pine branches, add baubles to a bowl or use ribbon to give existing decorations a new look. The aim isn’t to create a perfect showroom – it’s to make your home feel warm, welcoming and ready for Christmas.
Before you finish decorating, take a look at the room as a whole and see if anything feels out of place. If an old internal door has seen better days, for example, replacing it can make a big difference to the room and give it a fresh look. It’s a slightly bigger job than putting up a few decorations, but one that can make your home feel more finished long after Christmas is over.
Once you’ve decorated the main living spaces, you might want to carry a little of that Christmas feeling through the rest of your home, too. You don’t have to decorate every room, but adding a few simple touches can make the whole house feel more festive, especially if you’re hosting guests or have children who enjoy finding Christmas decorations wherever they go.
You don’t need to go as big as you have downstairs, either. A small vase of greenery or a festive candle can add a seasonal touch to the bathroom, while a string of lights, some greenery or a few hanging decorations can brighten up a landing or hallway. The idea is simply to carry some of the colours and decorations you’ve already used into other parts of the house. It can be as subtle or as festive as you like – there’s no need to overdo it.
We’ve covered getting ready for the festive season throughout your home, but there’s one room that deserves a special mention at Christmas: the kitchen. It’s where plenty of the festive magic happens, from preparing the big dinner and baking treats to making endless cups of tea when family and friends come round.
Before the cooking gets into full swing, take a look around and see if your kitchen is ready for the extra use. If your worktop is looking worn, scratched, or past its best, Christmas could be a good time to think about replacing it. Worktops take plenty of wear throughout the year, and upgrading can give the room a fresh look while also giving you a practical surface to work on when you’re preparing that Christmas feast.
Replacing a worktop might sound like a bigger project, but getting the right fit doesn’t have to be a headache. At Savoy Timber, we offer a handy cut-to-size service, with our in-house team taking care of tricky trimming and keeping your project smooth and on track.
This one is a smaller idea, but definitely worth considering. We actually mentioned it in a previous blog about how to decorate your kitchen on a budget, and we loved it so much we’re bringing it back this Christmas.
You don’t need anything fancy to create a hot chocolate station. Choose a small area on a kitchen worktop, sideboard or shelf, or use a drinks trolley if you have one. Set out your favourite hot chocolate, mugs and a few toppings like mini marshmallows, whipped cream, chocolate flakes or festive sprinkles. You could even add a jar of candy canes or cinnamon sticks for an extra seasonal touch.
It’s a great option when guests come round, and children will love choosing their own toppings. And there’s no need to pack it away as soon as Christmas is over – keep it going through the colder months for cosy winter evenings, weekend treats or whenever friends and family pop round.
Your front door is one of the first things guests see, so why not make it feel a little more welcoming for Christmas with a festive wreath? If you’re short on time, you can order one online or pick up a ready-made wreath from a supermarket, garden centre or local florist.
If you fancy making your own, a simple wire wreath frame is an easy starting point. You can usually find these online or in craft shops, then decorate it with greenery, pine cones, berries, ribbon or even a few old Christmas decorations. Just make sure anything you use is suitable for outdoor conditions, secure everything well, and enjoy the festive charm every time you arrive home!
Once your wreath is up, take a look at the rest of your front garden. Christmas garden decorations can be as simple as wrapping outdoor lights around a tree or along a fence, adding a festive planter by the front door or placing a lantern beside the entrance. If you have a front window facing the garden, a few lights or a simple decoration there can help tie everything together.
If you’re expecting guests at Christmas, you can never have too much space. With a little preparation, your decking can become an extra room for Christmas festivities, giving everyone somewhere to relax, chat and enjoy the celebrations.
Start by sweeping the whole area to remove leaves, dirt and anything that has collected between the boards. Check the boards as you go and look out for anything that feels loose, damaged or uneven. It’s also worth checking your steps and railings, particularly if they get a lot of use, and making sure everything is secure before people start coming over.
Once the practical jobs are done, make the space feel a little more inviting. Add a small outdoor Christmas tree if you have the room, run some outdoor lights along the railing or add a simple garland. A weather-resistant rug can help define a seating area, while a basket of blankets or a few outdoor cushions can make it more comfortable for guests. If your decking needs more than a clean and has damaged boards or other problems that need addressing, don’t worry – there’s still time to plan an upgrade before the big day!
When you’re decorating your home at Christmas, it’s easy to focus on the rooms inside and forget about the garden. With that said, your back garden is a great blank canvas, giving you plenty of scope to get creative with your festive decorations.
If you’re someone who goes all out at Christmas, this is your chance to really go for it. Create a full lawn display with festive figures, wrap the fence in plenty of lights or use net lights over bushes and hedges for an instant glow. You could even add illuminated trees, stars or other features around the garden to create a proper Christmas wonderland.
Of course, if you prefer to keep things a little more understated, you can still make the garden feel festive without covering every inch in lights. A few potted evergreens by the back door, a wreath on a shed, some greenery around a pergola or a string of warm outdoor lights can add plenty of charm. Even a couple of lanterns along a path can make a lovely difference once it gets dark. Think about what you’ll see from inside the house, too. Placing a few decorations where they can be seen through the kitchen or living room windows means you can enjoy them even when it’s too cold to sit outside.
Christmas is a time for giving, so we thought the final spot on our easy home improvements list should be a gift to yourself. Maybe you’ve been dreaming about painting the living room in a bold new colour, creating a reading nook in an unused corner, putting up some shelves you’ve had your eye on or giving one room a completely different feel. There’s no pressure to have it all finished before Christmas Day. The important thing is choosing something you’ll enjoy long after the decorations have been packed away.
That’s all 12 covered! Whether you’re looking for ideas for decorating your home at Christmas, getting the garden ready for visitors or finally tackling a project you’ve been putting off, we hope you’ve found something to inspire your next home improvement. Remember: you don’t have to do them all. Pick the ideas that suit your home, your time and your plans for the festive season, and leave the rest for another day – and when you’re ready to take on something bigger, we’re here to help.
With over 70 years of experience supporting home improvement across the UK, we supply everything from kitchen worktops and internal doors to timber and composite decking, along with a wide range of products for projects throughout your home and garden. Give us a call on 0345 0268 799, or visit us in person at one of our stores in Preston, Blackpool and Wigan today.
Ready to get started? Make yourself a hot chocolate, put on the festive playlist if you’re feeling brave, and pick your first job. Christmas will be here before you know it!
