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From stress-reducing scents to “no-clutter zones”, the expert-approved ways to bring serenity back to December.
With Christmas calendars filling up fast and homes turning into wrapping stations, hosting spaces and family hubs, December is officially the most chaotic month of the year for many households. But according to Beauty & Wellness expert Danielle Louise on the Fresha platform, a calmer home isn’t about perfection — it’s about sensory cues, clever zoning and simple rituals that lower stress levels.
“Christmas should feel warm, grounding and restorative, not frantic,” says Danielle. “You can create a calmer environment in minutes by using smells, sounds and small resets that signal the body to slow down.”
Start with scent, it’s the fastest way to change your mood
Certain scents have a measurable impact on stress levels, and Danielle recommends rotating them through the season to match different parts of the day.
Best scents for calm:
• Cedarwood – lowers heart rate and makes rooms feel instantly cosier
• Frankincense – grounding, warm and subtly festive without being overpowering
• Orange & clove – boosts mood and gives that “classic Christmas but grown-up” feel
• Peppermint – energising for busy mornings or hosting prep
“Wax melts, diffusers and simmer pots all work — just avoid mixing too many scents at once,” she adds.
Create a ‘no-clutter zone’ in the room you use most
Christmas clutter builds slowly — gift bags, shopping, decorations, wrapping — and it overstimulates the brain. Danielle suggests choosing one room or corner to keep intentionally calm.
“This becomes your reset space: clear surfaces, warm lighting, a blanket, no devices charging, no shopping bags piled up. Use it when you need grounding.”
Switch the lighting strategy after 4pm
As daylight disappears, harsh overhead lighting increases stress and makes homes feel busy.
Danielle’s festive lighting rules:
• Use warm white lighting only – never blue-toned.
• Switch to lamps, candles or tree lights after 4pm to mimic dusk.
• Add a soft glow zone in the hallway or landing to keep the home feeling peaceful.
Keep the kitchen calm with a two-tray rule
Danielle Louise, wellbeing expert on the Fresha app, says the kitchen becomes the highest-stress room at Christmas because “it turns into a conveyor belt of food”.
Her solution: a two-tray rule.
• One tray for “use today” items
• One tray for “hosting day” items
“Everything else stays in cupboards. It stops the surfaces from becoming a stress trigger.”
Add ‘micro spa moments’ with simple home rituals
Danielle’s at-home rituals that replicate spa calm during December:
• Magnesium bath before bed
• Hot oil hair mask while wrapping presents
• 15-minute phone blackout for nervous system reset
• Warm robe + peppermint tea immediately after coming in from the cold
• Steam bowl with eucalyptus for winter congestion
“These small resets regulate the nervous system in the same way spa rituals do – warmth, moisture, and sensory stillness.”
Choose décor that calms, not overwhelms
“People go overboard with colours and sparkle,” says Danielle.
Her calmer alternatives:
• Stick to one colour palette
• Add natural textures, pine, eucalyptus, dried oranges, wood
• Choose matte finishes over glitter
• Use garlands instead of lots of small, visual clutter
“Your festive décor should feel soft, not shouty.”
Danielle Louise, on the Fresha platform says:
“Creating a calm Christmas isn’t about having the neatest, most perfect home — it’s about the cues that tell your body it’s safe to slow down. A warm scent, a clear corner, soft lighting and a small ritual can change the emotional temperature of your whole household.”
