You imagined Christmas with a tree in the corner of the living room, decorations from decades of Christmases pulled from storage, and at least a little sense of “home.” Instead, you’re staring at suitcases, hotel furniture, or borrowed space — celebrating the holidays in temporary housing while either closing out one duty station or trying to land on your feet at the next.

It’s not that you want a minimalist Christmas. It’s that this season doesn’t leave much room for anything else. This year isn’t the year for a 9-foot tree and your 40 bins of décor. Your household goods aren’t with you. Your new home might not be ready. And emotionally? You’re already carrying a lot.

Christmas in temporary housing may look simpler than you imagined, without the big tree or layered décor. Still, the Christmas magic isn’t missing — it’s just found in moments you weren’t expecting.

Christmas in Temporary Housing Just Hits Different

Celebrating Christmas while you're in temporary housing can be really tough. It often feels confusing because your space is unstable, your usual routine is all messed up, and your emotions might be everywhere. You’re celebrating in the middle of a big life change – one chapter closing or another not quite starting yet.

For those in temporary housing during the holidays, it often looks and feels like:

• Decorations you don’t have access to (or didn’t unpack on purpose)
• Household goods that are already gone or still missing
• Rules about what you can bring into the space
• Limited room for gifts or holiday setup
• A mix of “last time” and “first time” emotions happening all at once

None of this means you’re doing Christmas wrong. You’re celebrating in temporary housing, in the middle of transition, during a season that usually depends on feeling settled, and that’s not easy.

Nobody Prepared You for Military Life

But we can help. Join over 100k spouses already getting the advice, resources, and military tea they need to thrive.

​

Subscribe

Always free. Unsubscribe anytime.

A Smaller Christmas Doesn’t Mean a Less Meaningful One

Military families often feel pressure to “make it magical,” even when circumstances are working against them, especially if kids are involved.

But remember what matters most:

This Christmas is “smaller” because it has to be — not because you didn’t try hard enough.

A scaled-down Christmas in temporary housing can still be full of magic when the focus shifts from how much to how intentional.

That magic might look like:

• Fewer gifts, chosen thoughtfully
• Traditions that don’t require unpacking boxes
• More time together because there’s simply less to manage

And for families in transition, simplicity can actually be grounding.

Christmas in Temporary Housing: Leaving Your Current Duty Station

Spending Christmas in temporary housing while leaving a base can feel heavy. You’re saying goodbye to neighbors, routines, and a version of life that’s ending — sometimes sooner than you expected.

For many, this season includes:

• Emotional goodbyes layered on top of holiday expectations
• Kids processing change while still wanting normalcy
• Parents who are feeling pressure to “make up for” everything that feels unsettled

While saying good-bye to home, a minimalist-style Christmas can offer relief — not because it’s “less,” but because it creates breathing room to focus on what really matters: presence, connection, and memory-making.

What might a minimalist Christmas look like for those leaving their duty station and staying in temporary housing? Consider trying the following:

• Choosing one or two traditions to carry through the move – maybe it’s reading the same holiday story on Christmas Eve or baking a simple batch of cookies together, even if it’s in a tiny microwave or borrowed oven.
• Letting go of decorating expectations tied to the old house – a small tabletop tree, string lights along the window, or even just a wreath on the door can create that festive feeling without taking up half your temporary space.
• Creating closure rituals – writing letters to neighbors, making a quick photo memory book, or visiting your favorite local spots one last time can help kids (and adults) mark the season meaningfully, even if you’re leaving your “usual” holiday home behind.

Arriving at a New Duty Station

Celebrating Christmas in temporary housing while arriving at a new base can feel disorienting. Everything is unfamiliar — from the walls and furniture to the routine of your days — and you’re waiting on household goods, keys, or even the feeling of “home” to return.

You may be:

• Learning the area
• Waiting on housing assignments
• Navigating a new unit or schedule
• Feeling far from extended family

Even in the chaos of a move, a smaller, scaled-down Christmas can still be full of wonder. In fact, the limitations can inspire creativity and meaningful moments that a fully decorated home might overshadow.

Instead of focusing on these unknowns or “missing” moments, consider doing some of the following to keep the holiday wonder in full gear:

• Creating quick, joyful traditions in your temporary space – a small tabletop tree, a string of battery-operated lights, or a simple holiday craft can give your space a festive glow without taking over the room.
• Focusing on experiences rather than objects – a hot cocoa night while watching a holiday movie, a walk to see neighborhood lights, or a family story time can create lasting memories that don’t require unpacking a single box.
• Introducing new “first-time” traditions – letting each family member choose a new ornament for the temporary home, making a holiday playlist to mark this station, or baking cookies in a microwave or toaster oven — small acts that feel magical and personal.
• Connecting with local resources or community events – visiting the base’s holiday tree lighting, attending a service member's family event, or joining a volunteer opportunity can help anchor the season and bring a sense of belonging even in a temporary setting.

Additional Ideas for a Magical, Scaled-Down Christmas

Even with limited space and resources, there are countless ways to bring Christmas magic into your temporary home. Here are some ideas to inspire joy without stress:

• DIY tabletop tree or miniature décor – a small tree, felt tree on the wall, or even a branch in a vase can feel festive without taking over the room.
• Paper or printable decorations – snowflakes, garlands, and holiday crafts made with kids add personality and are easy to pack up later.
• Holiday music and movies at home – create a playlist of favorite Christmas songs or schedule a daily holiday movie night to fill the space with festive energy.
• Experience gifts and outings – tickets to a local show, zoo, skating rink, or even a Christmas movie in a theater (we did this once during a PCS and the kids loved it!) bring excitement without adding clutter.
• Advent or countdown activities – a simple printable Advent calendar or a jar with daily holiday prompts can help kids look forward to each day.
• Special holiday treats – baking in a small kitchen, making cocoa or popcorn garlands, or decorating cookies together creates fun and sensory memories.
• Memory-making rituals – write a quick note about the year, take a family photo in your temporary space, or create a small “holiday jar” with notes of gratitude and wishes for the new year.
• Outdoor or community traditions – seeing neighborhood lights, visiting a base tree lighting, volunteering together, or exploring a local holiday event that spreads joy beyond your walls.

Finding Christmas Magic in Temporary Housing

Living in temporary housing during the holidays can be exhausting, emotional, and, let’s be honest, sometimes downright discouraging.

Between unpacked boxes, half-settled routines, and kids asking the same “THIS is it? ” question for the hundredth time, it’s easy to feel like the season has passed you by – no matter how much you tell yourself “...there will be no sad faces on Christmas,” it’s still hard.

Even in the middle of all that moving madness, the Christmas magic is still there — it’s just showing up differently this year.

Embrace what is possible, rather than stressing about what’s missing. Simple decorations, small traditions, intentional gifts, and shared experiences (even in a hotel room or temporary housing) can fill your days with warmth and joy. Your family doesn’t need a nine-foot tree, bins of ornaments, or perfectly arranged décor to feel the wonder of the season.

Whether you’re saying goodbye to the home and neighbors you love or finding your footing in a new place, this Christmas can still be full of laughter, connection, and memory-making moments that stick. Watch your kids’ eyes light up at a tiny tabletop tree, take a spontaneous walk to see lights in the neighborhood, or cozy up for a movie night in a room that isn’t “yours” yet.

Take a breath. Laugh at the chaos. Lean into the moments that matter. Celebrate the love, resilience, and togetherness that make the holidays magical — because even during a PCS, in a temporary home, and with a few things missing, home will always be where the military sends you … with your family.

Suggested reads:

• Why Many Military Families Avoid On-Base Support Programs
• DoD Moves to Standardize PCS Housing Inspections by 2026
• 2025 Favorites & Finds: Must-Have Holiday Gifts For Military Families