How to have the perfect ‘uni-mas’ with your flatmates

Heading home for the holidays doesn’t mean you can’t celebrate the festivities with your newly adopted family- aka, your flatmates. A ‘Uni-mas’ is your chance to enjoy all the Christmas chaos before everyone goes home, and it's all on your own terms. Spread festive cheer student-style with budget-friendly feasts, Secret Santa surprises and your flat’s take on festive décor. Whether you go all-out with matching jumpers or keep it low-key with a film night and fairy lights, here’s how to make your student Christmas one to remember.
 

Secret Santa ideas

Secret Santa is a must for any student Christmas celebration. Set a small budget, draw names using a simple app like Elfster and get cosy for a night of laughter, snacks and questionable wrapping skills. If you’re stuck for ideas, here are some budget-friendly gifts that always go down well:
 

• A funny mug or festive socks
• A mini houseplant
• A framed photo of your flat’s best night out
• A sweet treat or hot chocolate set

The key to a great Secret Santa isn’t the price tag, it’s the thought. Add a personal touch, and you’ll make someone’s Uni-mas extra special.
 

Deck the halls (and the flat)

You don’t need a big budget to make your student flat look the part. Pound shops, supermarkets and second-hand stores are goldmines for fairy lights, tinsel and small artificial trees.

If you’re in the mood to get creative, try making paper snowflakes, DIY wreaths, or upcycling jars into candle holders. Turn it into an evening activity with snacks and Christmas music while you decorate together. It’s cheap, cheerful and guaranteed to get everyone in the spirit.
 

The Christmas dinner

No Christmas celebration is complete without a feast. Cooking together is half the fun, but making a full Christmas dinner with all the trimmings in your student kitchen can be hard work, so try these tips and tricks to keep things simple:
 

Take the supermarket shortcuts: There’s no shame in pre-made stuffing, frozen roast potatoes, or ready-to-cook pigs in blankets. Most supermarkets do brilliant festive deals in December, so you can still serve up a spread that looks homemade without the stress- or the washing up!

Prepare as much as you can: If you’re going all in with a roast, get the prep done early. Chop veg the night before, set your table in advance and split tasks between flatmates so it’s not all on one person. One cooks, one washes up, one tops up the drinks, after all, teamwork makes for the best dinner parties.

‘Bring a board’ night: If you’re short on space or time, try a ‘bring a board’ night, where each person creates a themed sharing board. Think pigs in blankets, cheese and crackers, or desserts stacked high with mince pies and chocolate truffles. It’s a great way to mix variety with budget-friendly bites, and you’ll end up with a table full of everyone’s favourites.

Add a playlist of festive tunes, a few fairy lights and a Christmas film playing quietly in the background, and you’ve got yourself a cosy, student-style Christmas dinner worth remembering.
 

Bring on the festive games and crafts

Once the dinner’s done, it’s time for games. Dust off some Christmas classics like Monopoly, Scrabble and Pictionary or put your own twist on party favourites like ‘Festive Charades’ or ‘Name That Christmas Tune.’

If you’re feeling creative, try a craft night instead with some bauble decorating, DIY cards or gingerbread house building. It’s a fun way to wind down after lectures and fill your flat with homemade festive décor.
 

Have a Christmas film night

Having a movie marathon in your flat is standard student practice, so grab blankets, snacks and hot chocolates in the lounge for a festive edition. Classics like Elf, Love Actually and The Holiday never disappoint, or throw in a wildcard (Die Hard counts, and we won’t be debating it).

For extra fun, make it feel like a mini cinema night. Dim the lights, bring out the fairy lights, and set up a snack station with popcorn, chocolate coins and candy canes. You could even turn it into a friendly competition, where everyone picks their favourite Christmas film and the group votes on the winner. In selected Fresh locations, you can enjoy an on-site, bookable cinema room, perfect for nights like these.
 

Organise a Christmas night out

If your flatmates are up for it, swap slippers for sequins and experience all the thrills and spills of your university city to mark the end of term. To mix things up, try a themed pub crawl, a coordinated Christmas jumper outing, or a live music venue playing all the festive classics. Just remember: plan ahead, stay safe and make sure you’ve got snacks waiting for the morning after.
 

Wrap up your uni-mas in style

However you choose to celebrate, the best part of a Uni-mas is making memories with the people who’ve become your home away from home. From festive film nights to full-blown feasts, it’s all about laughter, connection and a bit of organised chaos.

Plus, when you’re living somewhere that already feels like home, spreading that festive cheer comes naturally. At Fresh, discover student homes that come complete with dedicated social spaces, community events and everything you need to make every season one to remember.