If there’s one thing we all love about the Christmas season (and there’s lots!), it’s the opportunity to invite your friends and family round for some wonderful festive parties! Of course, before your first guest arrives at the door it’s worth a bit of planning first, to think about how best you can utilise your space to keep your guests comfortable and entertained. That’s where we’ve got you covered!
Now, it’s true that kitchen flow is an important factor in the design process, but that doesn’t mean you have to completely redesign your kitchen in time for Christmas. (Let’s be honest, you’d be lucky at this stage!) You can do a great job by just making a few small adjustments to your existing layout.
The last thing anyone wants at a party is to have to elbow their way to the buffet or the area where the drinks are laid out. These two areas of the kitchen will be probably be the ones most heavily populated when you’re hosting a party, and easy access to both will keep everyone happy. For that reason, it’s important to put some thought into where each ‘station’ should be, in order to encourage a natural flow of foot traffic within the space. Ideally, you’ll want your guests to select their food and then move on promptly to the dining area, rather than milling around the food preparation space.
The easiest way to subtly encourage them to do this is by simply by setting up your stations in a certain way. For example, placing your plates next to the starters and arranging all the food sequentially, in the order you’d like them to move through it. It might sound very technical and boring, but there’s a method to it! You won’t want people moving from starters, past puddings, getting their mains and then going back to puddings. It’ll be chaos! Instead, arrange it all so they’re following a natural route that leads out into the dining area, which will prevent your kitchen from becoming too crowded all at once.
There are all sorts of factors to consider when creating the right atmosphere for your party. There’s lighting, music and decoration just to name a few! But before you settle on any specifics though, it’s important to think about the atmosphere your kitchen already has.
It’s a good idea to include party features that are in-keeping with the existing theme of your kitchen’s aesthetic. For example, if your kitchen is traditional in design, traditional Christmas food and methods of decoration (like those we’ve recently outlined in this post) will fit the mood beautifully. In a more contemporary kitchen, on the other hand, you might want to try some recipes that are less conventional and more experimental.
The same can be applied to your drinks menu. Gin is all the rage at the moment, so a stylish selection of different gins and tonics would be a great match for a modern kitchen space and could encourage guests to experiment themselves with unique flavour combinations. For a traditional Christmas kitchen, you can always rely on the festive favourites – mulled wine, German beer or eggnog will have your guests feeling merry and festive all night long!
The most important thing to remember when hosting any party, not just at Christmas time, is to allow yourself to enjoy it! Remember that no matter what happens, you’ll be surrounded by people who love you. It’s not a performance art! So stay relaxed, try not to become too consumed by being the host, let the stresses slide and have a good time with your guests.
All these little adjustments to your kitchen might even give you some great ideas for a future kitchen redesign. If you’re thinking about a makeover for your kitchen in the New Year, we’d love to help. Feel free to stop by any one of our designer kitchen showrooms in Blackburn, Manchester or Barrowford for a chat with one of our designers, who’ll be only too happy to discuss your ideas on how to make your dream kitchen a reality.
A STUNNING CLASSICAL KITCHEN FOR A LUXURY APARTMENT
When Karen and Peter downsized from their farm, they opted for a luxurious apartment in a historic hall in Holmfirth, Yorkshire. For their dream kitchen, they turned to Lauren Couperthwaite at Kitchen Design Centre, Housing Units, Failsworth.
Initially considering a local bespoke kitchen company, Karen found they couldn’t match the extensive product range and expert design skills of Kitchen Design Centre.
The brief was to celebrate the apartment’s grand architectural features—high ceilings, natural light, and intricate coving—while crafting a kitchen that blended seamlessly with the home’s traditional aesthetic. Lauren’s choice of a pale sage green ash-effect eucalyptus finish brought timeless charm, perfectly paired with classic handles.
ARE YOU READY TO MAKE YOUR DREAM KITCHEN A REALITY?
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This year, the kitchen will take on even more significance in home design. It’s now more than just a place for meals; it’s a space that reflects your tastes and individuality, much like your living room, and so it deserves the same forethought and planning. With bespoke kitchens on the rise in 2025, we’ve found that lots of customers are moving away from generic designs and one-size-fits-all solutions in favour of kitchens that cater to their unique needs, personalities, and lifestyles.
Whether you’re designing a space for a large family, a multifunctional area to work and eat, or simply a stylish place to enjoy your meals, a bespoke kitchen offers the perfect blend of style and function, so that your dream kitchen is everything you need it to be and more.
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The clock is ticking on these exclusive offers – so don’t wait too long!
We’ve got some brilliant offers in store for you this year, so you can take your pick of ways to transform your kitchen for the New Year. You can Buy Now, Pay 2026 for your dream kitchen, so our designers can get started sooner on making your vision a reality! What’s more, you can claim up to £1,750 cashback with a range of further selected Neff appliances.
Our Winter Sale also gives you a chance to get your hands on our incredible ex-display kitchens, each one of which has a long history of wowing people in our showrooms, and now available at truly unbeatable prices.
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Another busy day yesterday for Simon at our Barrowford showroom. Starting off with a photo shoot - here’s a sneak peek! How cute was the company too. Their cat was helping Mark out get the shots right.
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