How to host Christmas in a Small Home

Posted 9th December, 2025

Hosting friends and family for meals over the holidays can be such a fun and beautiful opportunity to connect, but can without doubts, bring on certain stresses. Don’t let a small space be one them! Here a some tips to make December in your rental memorable, that align with the waste-free granny-flat living mind-set.

Decorate an indoor house plant as an alternative and modern Christmas tree

We don’t all have the storage available to hide big Christmas tree and ornaments until the holiday season rolls around each year, so consider subbing in a house plant you already have as an alternate this Christmas. You can decorate with any fairy lights you have, and a lantern garland that won’t weigh the leaves down whilst giving the appearance of Christmas ball balls. Place it in a feature location and in the right basket, then once surrounded by gifts you’ll all be feeling the holiday spirit.

This one is a rental-friendly plastic fiddle-leaf fig tree.

Encourage your guests and loved ones to buy edible gifts

If you already find your small space efficiently decorated and stocked up, to save from collecting more gifts that need storing, you could let everyone know that decadent treats, or high-end cooking ingredients are on your wish-list this year

Consider organising Sustainable Secret Santa

If you have a big family or large friend group visiting, you may like to try Secret Santa, so you’ll still enjoy the gifting and unwrapping experience together, with only one gift per-person at the event to reduce the clutter.

You can also encourage guests to buy gifts from op-shops to enjoy some guilt free shopping that discourages landfill and puts money towards those in need.

Draw Names is great way to virtually assign Secret Santas prior to your event by email, including the feature to add exclusions so guests that don’t know one another won’t be stuck guessing what to buy a stranger.

Alternatively, Secret Santa Hat will assign giftees via a unique link, without anyone needing to provide an email address, and has a similar exclusions feature referred to as ‘conflicts’.

Up-cycle packaging and shopping bags into wrapping paper

In line with GrannyFlat Rental’s sustainable values, all the gifts wrapped here were done so with reused paper from previous gifts, flowers, or the packaging they were shipped in. Even if you don’t have a collection of used wrapping paper and ribbons, up-cycle paper shopping bags into decorative gift wrapping.

Once topped with reusable crochet Christmas ribbons, the cozy Christmassy feel is undeniable.

Decorate your food and beverages rather than the house

Without the room or materials to deck your studio into a Winter/Summer wonderland, you can still enhance the festive feel by decorating your food and beverages. There a plenty of creative, and easily achieved Christmassy looking treats out there to try, such as a Christmas tree shaped charcuterie board, rosemary Christmas tree icy drinks, or shaping these healthy pistachio chocolate balls into little cones like Christmas trees.

Consider scouting out a great picnic spot

If you’re fortunate enough to have a group to celebrate with that just won’t fit in your courtyard, find a public picnic table, grassed area or beach and set up some eskies for a gorgeous Aussie Summer picnic. Check your local council’s website to chose a place with whatever you might need like bathrooms, barbecues or a park, and make sure you get there nice and early to reserve your place.

Throw a potluck

Some kitchenettes doesn’t have quite enough amenities and space to host a huge Christmas feast, so you can consider preparing something simple yourself and encouraging friends and family to bring their favourite Christmas recipes, cooked at home. People love being able to contribute and will just be grateful to celebrate together.

Try some of these no-board games for entertainment

You don’t need a big collection of board games and toys to play! To keep your guests having fun, you might like to play one of these games that require no physical set-up.

How to host Christmas in a Small Home

Decorate an indoor house plant as an alternative and modern Christmas tree

Encourage your guests and loved ones to buy edible gifts

Consider organising Sustainable Secret Santa

Up-cycle packaging and shopping bags into wrapping paper

Decorate your food and beverages rather than the house

Consider scouting out a great picnic spot

Throw a potluck

Try some of these no-board games for entertainment

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