There are just a few hours to go before we are released from work and we can get on with enjoying our blissful four-day weekend as we bask in British pride and celebrate the 60-year reign of our monarch.

And whether you've got a street party, garden barbeque or family picnic lined up, chances are a lot of the preparations for Jubilee celebrations will be centred around the kitchen.

Therefore, to avoid any cooking disasters or sudden breakages that could hinder you preparations, it's a good idea to spend some time over the next day or so making sure that your kitchen is in good working order.

A quick check will be sufficient for most homes - ensure that the oven is working, the fridge or freezer aren't going to blow out on you at any moment and that you don't have leaky kitchen taps or greasy stains on the walls.

But if you're planning on inviting guests into your home, you may want to go one step forward and deck your home out in Diamond Jubilee style.

Although you're likely to busy cutting up cucumber sandwiches, baking a Victoria sponge and spearing little sausages with cocktail sticks, if you have the time it may be worth giving the kitchen a fresh lick of paint - although make sure you leave plenty of time for it to dry before the celebrations kick off!

And since it's the Jubilee, make sure you choose a paint shade to fit the occasion.

"Colour trends are usually an expression of society's mood; I think what is being expressed right now is a wish for us all to 'lighten up'," says colour psychologist Angela Wright.

"Pastels capture that lightness and the celebratory spirit that has inspired the country, with the Queen giving us the perfect excuse to rebel against the grey of austerity over recent years."

But if that all sounds like too much work, simply hang out the bunting, spread a Union Jack tablecloth and dig out some Royal family face masks for an instant Jubilee revamp.