As the nights draw in and the temperature plummets, there are few better ways of lifting the spirits than with a cosy night in with your friends. You don’t have to stress yourself out with a lot of planning and preparation (save that for Christmas Day itself), nor do you have to spend a huge amount of money.

Let’s look at a few ways to enjoy a night-in during the build-up to Christmas.

Play some Old-School games

Nowadays, electronic gaming systems can perform all kinds of miracles: delivering cutting-edge visuals right onto your screen. But they can’t really compete with a more traditional round of charades, or with a much-loved board game like Monopoly.

Baking Festive Treats

Seasonal treats are a fantastic way to satisfy your guests, and your creative instincts. Whether it’s a batch of sausage rolls, or mince pies, or other handmade snacks, there are few things in life more rewarding than home baking. If you do it ahead of time, then you can whip up and scoff down a few test batches.

Christmas Movies

There are more Christmas-themed movies available on television and streaming services than you could possibly watch, even if you spent the whole of December in front of the television. Pick out a Christmas movie that you haven’t seen in a while, and make it part of the entertainment.

Festive Cocktails

There’s an obvious association between this time of year and alcohol. But if you’re going to be serving drinks, then why not go all-out and make sure that everything you’re serving up is seasonally appropriate, and just a little bit special?

Sloe-gin cocktails, berry-based mixers, mulled wine, and special liqueurs with bits of gold leaf floating around in them: they all provide a fantastic way of preparing for the season.

Early Christmas Presents

Giving all of your guests a little early Christmas present is sure to go down well – and especially so if it’s a present that can be used on the night itself. Luxury women’s nightwear, for example, and you’ll be able to get everyone into a relaxed mindset throughout the evening. Get the Vibe Right
Ideally, you want to create an unmistakably Christmassy atmosphere, right from the point that your first guests arrive. This means getting the decorations, sounds, aromas, and lighting all right. Set up and decorate a Christmas tree before everyone arrives, and put on some Christmassy tunes.