5 Ways to have a Tiny House Holiday That’s *Actually* Simple

1) “Wrap” gifts differently.

Fact: presents look pretty when wrapped. 

Also, a fact: it’s a little crazy that we take an item (that’s probably packaged) and then wrap it in more packaging only to enjoy it for ten seconds and throw it all in the garbage. This year, I suggest we forego this scenario in lieu of one that makes more sense.

Personally, I’ll be tying an otherwise unwrapped gift with a ribbon and cinnamon stick and calling it good. Either that or I’ll use swaths of velvet as ultra-luxurious, reusable wrapping paper. 

Who’s in?

2) Ask your family what they want and get them that.

Before my tiny house life, I used to rush around for a month straight, trying to find gifts, stocking stuffers, and other trinkets for every single person I’ve ever known.

Never mind that I was using a credit card to make it happen.

Never mind that receiving gifts wasn’t their love language.

Never mind that they had enough ‘stuff’ and the chaos, clutter, and cost were killing the holiday joy.

I thought if I didn’t buy a ton of gifts, I’d be a terrible person. Realistically, though, I was spending money I didn’t have to buy people things they didn’t want and trashing the planet and my financial future in the process.

My tiny house lifestyle has since introduced me to a new perspective: I’m not just giving people gifts; I’m giving them responsibility. They will have to store, maintain, and ultimately dispose of the thing I give them.

So this year I’m just going to buy gifts for my immediate family. I will ask them what they want and get them that.

What if it was that simple?

3) Do cocktail hour instead of dinner.

I’m about to tell you one of my family secrets, are you ready? 

My family doesn’t have a Christmas eve dinner. Or at least not a big, complicated one.

Instead, we make a huge platter of smoked salmon, cheese, crackers, olives, and veggies with dip. Then we break open the champagne, and the whole thing ends with eating chocolates out of the box. This tradition is great because no one has to cook, there’s minimal cleanup, and everyone loves it.

Technically, we have a Christmas Day dinner, but believe me when I tell you that Christmas Eve is everyone’s favorite. So this year, I’m vying to turn our Christmas eve cocktail hour into a two-day event. 

What do you think? Would your family go for smoked salmon, champagne, and no one on kitchen duty?

4) Decorate your tiny house with biodegradable holiday decor.

Once upon a time, in my holidays before tiny house living, I used to choose a different theme every year and buy new decor to match. This practice made Target richer, me poorer, and the world filled with more plastic. Oh, and it made my garage filled with more boxes!

Last year, I learned the glory of biodegradable holiday decor. Here’s why it’s great:

• It makes the house smell good (without chemicals)
• It brings life to the house 
• It doesn’t create waste
• It feels super luxurious and fancy
• You don’t have to store it. Everything goes in the composting bin when the holiday is over. Easiest. Cleanup. Ever. 

If you need ideas, I like to use juniper or pine boughs, color-appropriate fresh flowers, pears, persimmons, pinecones, essential oils, old-fashioned candy canes, sugar crystal sticks, cinnamon sticks, and candles.