I didn't grow up with toy trains running under the Christmas tree. That didn't start for me until we came back to the States in '91 after being stationed in Germany for nine years. I had been into HO for decades prior and once we got here I switched to 3-rail O-gauge. Here's a photo of the very first train I had running under a tree back in '91 - the Lionel Iron Horse Freight set - which we still have.
With that in mind, I was really debating whether or not to do a layout this year. My energy levels were low and my Give-A-Shit-O'Meter was pegged at 'zero'. BUT, the granddaughter asked me to put up a display so I did. We have a 4'x6' board which is used for multiple displays during the year (the most recent being the Halloween layout - which I also almost didn't do this year) and that was pressed into service yet again for the Christmas layout.
The 4x6 train board is a permanent construct and when not being used for display, is stored. It has no legs, just a board made up of three 2'x4' pieces of particle board with 1"x2" bracing and permanently covered with a grass mat. When we drag out the 4' tall tree, the board is placed up on sawhorses and the presents go underneath. This year, the 4' tree ended up in the granddaughter's bedroom and our 7' tree was used for the living room display. When the larger tree is used, the train board goes right on the floor. This year, the granddaughter insisted the presents go underneath the tree which meant I had to shoehorn the Christmas village into quite a small space, but it still worked out well though and, using the few large buildings and accessories I have, a decent enough display was cobbled together. The advantage to that of course is - the less stuff you put on a layout, the less you have to put away after the holidays! What makes the village 'pop' visually are the many color-changing LED lit acrylic Christmas trees. While I try to buy one or two more every year the only thing new for this years' layout was the Schreiber playhouse I posted the past couple of days.
Ed
Here's a couple of Y'allTube videos of the layout I posted. One is a 'night' running video and the other is daylight
Even a small layout can produce a few snapshot worthy pics. The board is permanently covered with a grass mat but is covered with a white 'snow' surface (disposable white plastic tablecloth). I do like the look of fiber fill material for snow but it's next to impossible to stand figures up on it and it tends to get into places you don't want it to go - like the wheels and running gear of the engine!
What's on the layout.
Train
RMT 'North Pole and Snow Flake Express' bought many years ago. Engine and four cars.
Buildings
-Customized Marx Girard tin-litho station (also bought many years ago)
-Schreiber Spielhaus (new for this year)
-Ferrero Kinder Chocolate Advent Calendar cardboard house (new for last year)
-Cardboard German Advent Calendar bought while stationed in Germany and used or displayed multiple times
-LOD Enterprises foam Santa's Workshop with plastic Santa, Sleigh, Mrs. Clause, and Elves
Trees
A mix of brightly colored trees from Target
Color-changing LED acrylic trees from a variety of sources bought over many years