To create and partake in an enjoyable celebration - do some serious list-making, and you will have a ball.

It's easy to slip into panic mode when the Christmas party is at your place. But if you stay focused on the goal - to create and partake in an enjoyable celebration - and do some serious list-making, you will have a ball.

Party styles and food fads change with time but the essence of Christmas entertaining remains the same. These days, casual chic wins out over formal menus; invitations and decor speak to an appetite for simplicity. The emphasis is on ideas that are achievable, thoughtful, creative, inspiring and, most of all, conducive to you sharing the fun.

Define the occasion

As the host, you want your guests to feel special. To achieve that, you need to consider the number of guests in relation to the type of gathering you're holding. Kate White, who runs Sydney-based event styling and catering company Katering, says you can make a small party special by focusing on details such as a well-thought-out menu and soft music. If you're hosting a cocktail party, let the size of the room dictate the number of guests. "The room should feel comfortably full but not crowded," says White. "It contributes to the buzz."

Party planner Karin Slade, who runs Catering by Design, says it's important to make sure the guests are the stars. "Go easy on the chairs otherwise people won't mingle," she adds.

Give early notice

People are busy around Christmas time so it makes sense to let them know about your event as early as possible. Whatever you do, don't rely on email - so many invitations get lost in cyberspace. Set an RSVP date and phone those you haven't heard from as the deadline approaches.

Make lists

If you are preparing the food yourself, make sure you plan a menu early. Make lists of absolutely everything, including table decorations, condiments and garnishes. Your checklist for the bathroom should include guest soaps, fresh towels and extra toilet paper. And your general list should include candles, batteries for fairy lights, mineral water, mixers and ice. Decide whether you will need a caterer (you might reconsider after having looked at all those lists!), florist, wait/bar staff, or need to rent supplies - and don't leave this decision to the last minute or you'll be disappointed when they tell you they're all booked up.

"Having the food pre-made allows you to spend more time with your guests. Set up food stations for people to help themselves," says White.

Set to impress

If you're hosting Christmas lunch, create some magic with the setting. White suggests keeping it simple - bring out the silver, the best linen and the largest plates, and put fresh flowers on the table.

"Traditional pieces provide memories, like the platter your grandmother used to put the ham on. It evokes a special feeling and a sense of family - it's what Christmas is all about," she says.

Interior designer and consummate party giver Leroy Belle prefers to glam it up rather than settle for tradition. Each year, he uses black, white and silver plus one new colour. "The neutrals get recycled, then I add one fab colour, such as pink, brown or chartreuse. I bought some white linen napkins and dyed them black. With white Wedgwood dinnerware, Christofle silver and that one feature colour... bang! What an impact," he says. His Christmas tree and gifts receive the same treatment.

Embrace the outdoors

A seafood barbecue at the beach may be the modern concept of an Aussie Christmas lunch, but the traditional turkey-and-ham affair still gets the thumbs up. Whatever the fare, many families have moved the lunch table outdoors, where guests can serve themselves buffet style.

It may be a casual outdoor party, but it's still a celebration. Choose real glassware, cutlery and china plates instead of disposables, says White. "It makes the meal more enjoyable."

Self-serve solution

Here is the answer if you want to be able to mingle with your guests and don't want to get stuck in the kitchen: set food down in various locations such as the kitchen bench, dining table and sideboard. Do an elaborate antipasto or mezze plate, gravlax, cheese platter, a leg of ham or side of prosciutto on a stand, a big bread basket and a chocolate station (a giant chunk of couverture for guests to chop off as desired). Guests can help themselves and you don't have to fuss over them.

Keep your hands free

The easiest presentation of food for any occasion is on platters. Slade recommends using melamine trays rather than heavy china platters. "There's also a trend for presenting food on little bamboo skewers and bamboo boats," she says. "Try to minimise two-handed eating by having finger food that's easy to grasp and put in your mouth, like mini steak rolls (be sure the rolls are soft), mini tarts, cocktail meatballs, and instead of bruschetta, try filled wraps cut into small pieces."

Think drinks

Low-alcohol and micro beers, cocktails and fruity organic waters are all the rage. And, there's a shift away from soft drinks and energy drinks to teas and homemade lemonade. A well-stocked bar should include quality spirits. For a party, serve a signature cocktail - nothing says celebration more than a Champagne cocktail or the classic kir royale (dry sparkling wine and creme de cassis). For something a bit different, add hibiscus flowers in syrup or crushed berries (just mind the fizz). Sangria looks so festive and pretty when served in crystal jugs.

Get flowery

The sky is the limit when it comes to flowers. For a truly impressive display, combine different colours and textures - a modern take on the traditional red-and-green theme is a good starting point. "Wrap big lush leaves around lime-green orchids, purple vanda and cerise roses in a tall, elegant vase," says flower stylist Melissa Phillips. "This sort of display does well in the heat."

Minimal is good, too, says Phillips. Float bowls (to display floating candles and flowers) and spaghetti jars (to hold a single Christmas bell stem, for example) are excellent choices for tabletops, and masses of variegated flat leaves such as anthurium and philodendron for larger displays. "Hydrangeas are also very Christmassy," she says. Another great idea is to place a rustic, twisted willow wreath studded with orchids and silver leaves on the table. Create a smaller version for the front door.

Traditions to borrow and make your own

A personalised place setting makes everyone feel special. Bake sugar cookies and ice each one with the name of a guest; these also make cute Christmas tree decorations, hung on silver or gold ribbon. Invite guests to bring a bauble for your tree and then place a bauble or pretty white doily angel at each plate as their little gift. Have the bauble monogrammed if you are feeling extravagant. This makes a lovely keepsake, especially for collectors.

For an intimate supper, slip a little velvet pouch filled with chocolates beside the champagne glasses. Individual banana breads wrapped in cellophane or pots of homemade jam are a great way to personalise the Christmas brunch table. Guests should note that the host likes to feel appreciated, too. Fill a decorative box with homemade White Christmas or another favourite treat and attach a thank-you card.

Put out the welcome mat

Whether you are entertaining indoors or out, for lasting memories, set out to enchant your guests from the moment they set foot in your house. Wreath the door and light the candles (go for cinnamon and cider smells - berries are too sweet in our summer air). Garnish outdoor tables with fresh green leaves from the garden. Hang homemade paper garlands or colourful lanterns from the trees and string fairy lights around the deck.

Think outside the square for a truly unique entertaining experience. You are setting the scene and if this is done and you burn the turkey, no one will mind. There is a sense of occasion and it's friendships and family that matter the most, after all. Enjoy!