Fun time: Get the party started

Teenagers’ party

For fussy teenagers try a mix of pop, R&B, rock and dance music to keep each one happy.

Hit compilations such as Now 65 and Pop Party 4 should provide all the latest chart tunes, while there’s a slew of R&B compilations such as The R&B Yearbook 2006 and Massive R&B: Winter Collection 2006.

Rock music has overshadowed most other genres over the past year and there’s plenty of rock compilations to soundtrack a rock lover’s party – try NME Presents The Essential Bands, The Anthems and The Ultimate Bands: The Classic Anthems.

Office party

For all those classic tracks from the ’80s and ’90s that’ll have party-goers bellowing along try The Very Best Of School Reunion, which contains classics from the likes of Queen, Kylie and Billy Idol, or Now That’s What I Call No 1s for No 1 hits from the ’80s, ’90s and 00s.

Dinner party

Traditionally, more mellow music is cited as best for the more relaxed dinner party – you don’t want the music overwhelming the conversation.

Releases from new singers-songwriters on the block such as James Morrison and Scott Matthews should provide such a non-invasive soundtrack, as would the latest album from the more established Damien Rice.

Recent compilation The Definitive Burt Bacharach Songbook should provide some classic easy listening, the old favourites jogging memories, while the more modern Rhythms Del Mundo Cuba should provide talking points.

Family party

The most tricky party of all to soundtrack, thanks to the different generations and potential arguments the music can cause.

Best bets are those compilations that cover hits from different decades, or the fail-safe Christmas album. There’s a load of them available this year.

Try The Best Christmas Album In The World, which lives up to its title with classics such as John Lennon’s Happy Xmas (War Is Over), Cliff Richard’s Mistletoe & Wine and Slade’s Merry Christmas Everybody.

Christmas Hits does much the same thing, with the likes of The Pogues’ Fairytale Of New York and Band Aid’s original Do They Know It’s Christmas, while Now That’s What I Call Xmas has Elton John’s Step Into Christmas and Bing Crosby’s White Christmas.

Partywear Pizzazz: Dressing tips for women

• Chat to friends or colleagues about what they will be wearing to your big festive bash. This way, you’ll avoid being over- or under-dressed and may also make sure you shine brighter than the others!
• Dress code dilemmas can be diverted, even the dreaded ‘smart or casual’. A knee-length cocktail dress always works, especially if you decide to ‘party hop’.
• Wow the Christmas crowds in metallics, midnight blues and rich purples in silks, satin or velvet — this season’s fabulous trends.
• Don’t wear a new pair of high heels, or that rogue garment that rides up or down. Hobbling and constantly adjusting your outfit will spoil your evening.

Tackle the Christmas space invaders

It’s time to pack all that clutter away to prepare for the invasion of friends and family over Christmas. We sort out storage solutions to transform rooms

Even if you’re looking forward to the invasion of friends and family at Christmas, you’re lucky if their imminent arrival doesn’t trigger a panic attack of ‘Where am I going to put everyone and all the extra stuff they’ll bring with them?’

The reality is that few people can claim to have enough space in their home, and the pressures on it just grow as our lives move on - whether it’s a growing family, entertaining or the need for a home office.

But during the holiday season the walls can really start closing in, as every surface seems covered by decorations, and there are all those extra gifts, and possibly toys, to accommodate.

Julie Savill, former editor of Good Homes magazine, recommends getting sorted out now: "A good tidy up is the starting point and it’s quite eye-opening just how much more roomy a place can seem if the floor and furniture are clear of clutter."

Julie’s gathered some top tips for her book, Good Homes 101 Ways To Make More Space, that could leave you feeling as if your house has expanded and make Christmas much more comfortable.

Be Santa’s little helper: Avoid unwanted gifts by telling people exactly what you may like

How many times do we open a parcel from a friend or relation, to find our heart sinking at its contents? And while our mouth says, ‘Oh, how lovely...’, we actually plan to consign the unwanted gift to a dark and dusty cupboard, adding to piles of waste all over the globe.

Consumer experts and authors of a new shopping guide, Maggie Davis and Charlotte Williamson have a solution – write your own letter to Santa.

"Tell people exactly what you may like," suggests Maggie. "I really don’t think there is a problem with that these days and it certainly makes sense." You can avoid that horrible situation in January where you are returning unwanted gifts, giving them to charity shops or just hiding them away in a ‘guilt cupboard’ only to be brought out when the giver comes to visit – if you remember," she adds.