Four in 10 Brits hosting Christmas will go 'all out' to make it special

05 December 2023 , 17:01

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Hosts tend to splash out on posh toilet roll to impress their guests at Christmas (Image: Andy Teo/Getty Images)

Festive Brits who are hosting this Christmas plan to buy much more food than usual, use their best glasses to serve drinks – and splash out on posh, high-quality toilet roll, research has found.

The most important things to consider, for those welcoming guests to their home this festive season, include that they have a good selection of food and drinks, that everyone likes, as well as “centrepieces” at the dinner table.

And hosts like to make a good impression before guests even walk through the front door – with a striking display of lights and decorations hung outside the house, as well as a clean front door, with a gorgeous hanging wreath. Fluffy towels in the bathrooms, and eco-friendly soaps and washing-up liquids on display, are other must-haves to impress their guests.

And the research, of 2,000 adults who celebrate Christmas, found that 41% will be going all out this year, to create an occasion that is special for everyone.

Gareth Lucy, for hygiene and health company, Essity, which makes Cushelle and Velvet toilet tissue, said: “Typically, we see lots of people splash out on more premium loo roll during the Christmas period, in a bid to impress their guests. For those that are hosting family, the number one objective is to make sure everybody feels well and truly looked after – so, splashing out on the top brands can be one way to serve up the best possible quality in every room of the house.”

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Four in 10 Brits hosting Christmas will go 'all out' to make it special

And they will typically spend over two hours cleaning their homes, to make sure everything is ready for visitors (SWNS)

The study also found 14% of people will buy more branded products ahead of hosting Christmas, and 26% will visit higher-end shops when preparing for the big day.

The living room is the area people worry most about (26%), followed by the bathroom (12%). And the average host will worry about what their home looks like at least four days ahead of the occasion itself, cleaning for more than two hours to get things in tip top shape.

The research also revealed how visitors should behave in someone else’s house – including leaving at a sociable hour, taking shoes off at the door, and offering to do the washing up.

Those who are hosting this Christmas have also shared how they expect guests to use the bathroom with good manners – including replacing a finished toilet roll (15%), and leaving the toilet seat down after flushing (24%).

Other useful hacks include quickly using kitchen roll to wipe up spills and food crumbs, helping clear up plates, and making an effort to engage in good conversation.

It is important for a resounding 86% of people that their guests behave nicely when visiting the house – although 15% have hosted someone with particularly bad manners. Some of the top gripes include guests outstaying their welcome (37%), being ungrateful (35%), and leaving the toilet in a state (31%).

And others would be upset with guests who let their children run riot (30%), drank too much (27%) – or helped themselves to belongings, such as toilet roll (11%). The typical respondent, in the OnePoll study, said that hosting for five guests is considered manageable.

Ruth Gresty, spokeswoman for Essity’s Cushelle brand, said: “It’s hard not to become a Christmas Scrooge when badly behaved guests come to stay – and seeing a messy bathroom is a sure way to lose your festive spirit, especially if you’ve gone all out to impress.

“Our message to anybody that is visiting friends and family over Christmas is to be courteous, kind – and never leave any unwanted Christmas gifts in the bathroom.”

TOP 30 WAYS ADULTS INTEND TO HOST THIS CHRISTMAS:

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Buying more food than usual
Having something for everyone, with food that everyone likes
Having a plentiful and good range of drinks, that everyone likes
Using their best glasses – i.e. no plastic
Lining the tables with cloths and place settings
Hanging Christmas decorations and lights in all the key rooms that will be used by visitors
Having Christmas fragrances/candles in all rooms used by visitors
Putting “centrepieces” at the dinner table
A proper Christmas cake
A beautiful front door, clean and with a gorgeous wreath
A fancy cheeseboard
Setting out cutlery which only makes its way to the table once a year
Posh chocolates for after dinner
Really posh Christmas crackers
A huge, amazing tree
Investing in fine wines
Stockings for all
Quality branded toilet paper
Lighting a Christmas pudding – but make it BIG
Buying fluffy towels for the bathroom
Decorating/painting rooms
Hanging show-stopping lights and decorations outside the house
Whipping out the cocktail-making kit
Making a hotel-style breakfast for anyone staying
Christmas jumpers for all
Expensive wrapping paper
Having eco-friendly washing-up liquid on display
Having eco-friendly soaps on display
Having Christmas pyjamas ready for anyone staying
A high-end food hamper