Why the festive kitchen is the new dining room

Christmas Day is possibly the best test of whether your kitchen really works for your home

Festive tablescaping and settings will always enliven a space, as with this kitchen island laid with decorations. Picture: Alamy/PA

With all the effort and thought that goes into hosting over the holiday season, come showtime, Christmas Day is probably the best test of whether a kitchen really works.

Looeeze Grossman, founder of The Used Kitchen Company, says:  “For all the beautifully laid dining tables and comfortable lounges, somehow everyone still ends up standing around the kitchen island at Christmas.