Christmas is the perfect time to throw open your doors and hold festive party. However, to make sure it goes smoothly and doesn’t end destroying your home, follow party guidelines...

• Most people hold parties in the evening. Why not have a late morning or early evening drinks party instead? It'll be more controllable... probably!

• Serve relatively dry, non-sticky one bite eats - cocktail sausages, chicken drumsticks, flans, pizzas, etc.

• Avoid serving red wine, liqueurs and, ideally, coffee - all of which will stain with enthusiasm. Applied immediately! mixture of mineral water and white wine is excellent first-aid for dark-staining spills.

• Don’t stint on the drink - allow the equivalent of one bottle of wine per head. Get it on a sale-or-return basis from your local wine merchant or off-licence, and hire glasses there too.

• Set smoking rules from the start, if you're allowing smoking indoors, always be generous with ashtrays.

• Relax and enjoy yourselves - it's your party too!