Knees up, literally: how to host a big Christmas get-together when you’re short on space

In a small space, consider where your guests are likely to congregate. Photograph: ByLorena/Stocksy United

You’ve sent the invitations – or, realistically, made the WhatsApp group – and your Christmas shindig is pencilled into December diaries everywhere. It’s just a shame that your home didn’t get the memo.

Time for some clever rebranding: your festive bash is now an “open house”, where guests can trickle in for a mince pie and a glass of fizz, and back out again. The bigger the invitation window, the bigger the time commitment on your part – but the fewer chairs you’ll need simultaneously. Remember to turn the heating down (we suspect you won’t need much motivation here), as you’ll be surprised by just how much is generated by 20 or so minglers.