30 Brilliant Holiday Decorating Tricks for Small Spaces

You might not have a yard or even a bedroom (we see you, studio dwellers)—but everybody has a doorway. Jess Morris’s Scandinavian-inspired doorway, a dramatic enveloping of handmade garlands, offers all the holiday magic we need. “Less is more in creating a beautiful space in small quarters,” says Morris. “I like to use one main feature piece or material and add a few accents in.” We can almost smell the fresh pine needles from here.

This might go against everything you’ve been told, but hear us out on this: While small trees leave more room for walking around, tiny trees lack the bravado of a large tree. So rather than placing a pokey little Charlie Brown inspiration in your four-person sitting room, go ahead and opt for a midsize tree that still offers that dramatic moment that will have you vocalizing “How lovely are thy branches!”

Missing a mantle? While Santa has perfected the fire escape entrance into your apartment (fear not, city kids), he’s also an expert stocking detector—so be inventive with your stocking placement.

Consider this simple improvisation by Havenly vice president of creative and design Shelby Girard. With minimalist stockings, a stunning garland, and a simple string of lights, this corner is all decked out for old Saint Nick. Cookies and milk considered.

Your kitchen island doesn’t have to be an eight-seater to make an impact. Take a cue from My NYC Apartment’s Carly Fuller, whose minimal garland arrangement is just the statement piece for this festive 450-square-foot apartment in New York City. We’ll still be rocking this season, whether or not it’s around a tree!

As you gear up for the big day of eating and gifting (and more eating), think beyond the traditional table centerpiece by hanging ornaments and pendants from the ceiling, like this stunning setup from The Jungalow. Not only does this combination of oranges, garland, and twinkle lights add dimension, it also comes at no cost to foot traffic space. Feast mode: on.

Rule number one of small space decorating dictates that lighter colors make a room feel more spacious. And this delightful nautical vignette offers many lessons to be learned in the neutral-toned department. Cream-colored yarn stockings? Check. Festive chalky holiday “wreath”? Check. Ivory-colored candles? Check.

’Tis the season to sparkle! Christmas lights are the ultimate mood lighting, and the warm glow of this gleaming wreath will level up the festive cheer in any room. Whether your wreath is embellished with a touch of red or gold accents, or it channels neutral hues, this Christmas will be lit with the right plug-ins.

So the saying goes: If you’ve got it, flaunt it. Those words have never been more true than for those learning how to live large in a small space. Whether it’s a staircase, a media console, or even a floating wall shelf, add some impact in the vein of Inspired By Charm’s Michael Wurm Jr.’s dramatic garland. Styled with LED lights, a red ball garland, vintage Christmas cards, and two garlands for the “full” effect, this festive red-and-green scene will beat any bough of holly.

Mirrors are multitaskers. A tall mirror not only draws the eye upward, but it also reflects, creating the illusion of a much larger room. Hot tip: Place your tree in front of the mirror and you’ll have twice as much evergreen cheer!

When going glam on your petite domicile, every inch counts. Rather than struggle to make a traditional tree work in your apartment, settle for a Scandinavian woodland Christmas arrangement like this. On Jojotastic, Joanna Hawley-McBride explains how she foraged noble fir, blue ice cypress, ponderosa pine, and tallow berries—arranging it all in this faceted geometric vase. If we didn’t have a reason to hunker down indoors before, bringing the outside in will certainly give us one now!

You needn’t sacrifice personality for a few square inches of space. If a tree in your kitchen comes at the cost of sink access, we’d suggest instead embellishing the nooks and crannies that won’t inhibit your ability to function. Take a cue from this festive kitchen, complete with mini red tree cones, holiday mugs, and (the dramatic touch) evergreen garlands sprinkled with decorative snowflakes and baubles. The result? A culinary wonderland with floor-to-ceiling appeal.

Some people dream of a white Christmas, while others dream of a beautifully designed Christmas. Mission accomplished in this cozy bedroom with a few simple accents—an above-bed wreath, tartan pillows, and a bright red blanket (linens compliments of Lark & Linen)—that require no furniture rearranging. Whether or not there’s snow beyond the window, we’re channeling all the holiday cheer tonight.

If there’s one holiday vignette your guests will all gather around at a Christmas party, it’s the wine and spirits. Take inspiration from Hank and Hunt and add a little holiday flair to your favorite area in the apartment (we’d still say that if you lived in a mansion). With a few cranberry sprigs, a set of whimsical candlesticks, and a soft faux fur rug, you’ll be sure to impress your holiday guests. We’ll drink to that!

The best way to make a small room feel festive is to go big on color. Even if your home has a relatively neutral color palette, adding a few vibrant pieces will shock your design system...in the best way possible. Kelly Smith makes the case for a pink Christmas tree, which features black, white, and gold ornaments and a matching tree stand worth showing off in any apartment, big or small.

Jazz up your everyday furniture with Christmas flair without taking up any extra space. In this festive vignette, Burnett’s Boards adds a a sweet touch to wooden dining room chairs with a small wreath and neutral ribbon.

If you gravitate toward monochromatic design, just a few elements can transform your home decor from “everyday” to seasonally magical. In this cheery bookcase, a lineup of wooden houses, gold reindeer, and micro trees bring a winter wonderland to a basic shelf.

During wintertime, the fireplace is the focal point of your living room. Give your mantel a holiday makeover that will catch everyone’s attention by decking it out with a garland, candles, and chic mini trees, just like in this home featured on Craftberry Bush.

Overwhelmed with your holiday cards? Keep clutter to a minimum by using a few of your favorites to dress up your bookshelf for the season.

When your space lacks width, you can capitalize on any height by hanging these simple card-stock snowflakes from IHeart Organizing. You also don’t need to break out the nails for these lightweight snowflakes. Just hop on a ladder and grab the tape for easy installation and removal once the holiday passes.

If you’re looking for the perfect opportunity to express your creativity, get crafty with a candleholder. Simply wrap your candles in garland and pine cones to create an eye-catching holiday look that’s sure to impress your guests.

As much as you’d like to cover everything in baubles, you need your kitchen counter space clear to craft holiday dishes and cocktails. Keep things tidy and instead make use of your cabinets, like this setup from It All Started with Paint. Tie ribbon to small wreaths or ornaments, and secure them to the back of your cabinets for a festive touch that won’t interfere with your day-to-day life. You can repurpose the idea for bathroom or storage cabinets throughout the house.

While we typically think of wreaths as door or wall decorations, you can go low and use them to jazz up a side or end table. The red cranberries of this wreath from Hi Sugarplum add an unexpected dash of color to a mostly gold display.

With a few clear cones and a splash of confetti (or something metallic, you do you), you have a holiday tree that requires no more than an inch of space. This über-simple craft by Sugar & Cloth can be placed on a desk, a nightstand, or even a window sill—aka, it’s the perfect space saver.

Continue the minimalistic theme of your decor with a wreath that has just enough foliage. Freckle And Wulff created this wreath with a metal hanging ring, twine and an assortment of greenery and flowers such as eucalyptus, holly leaves, ivy, and baby’s breath.

You already have presents out, so let them double as decorations. Adding a few sprigs of festive foliage to brown paper wrapping with twine is a tasteful way to celebrate the season’s bounties indoors (and draw attention the holiday’s goodies), as proven by this approach to gift wrapping by These Four Walls.

Make use of those out-of-reach areas, and possibly get a holiday smooch in doing so. Rustic Wedding Chic arranged this romantic bundle from cedar, pine, holly, and, of course, mistletoe.

If you don’t have room to stagger wreaths throughout your home, situate them on place settings instead. These adorable place cards by Camille Styles are created simply by tying fresh rosemary sprigs to mini grapevine wreaths.

This sweet and rustic decoration can act as an ornament, or be a replacement for a large fir. The Lovely Drawer simply strung twigs together with copper wire to create a miniature holiday vignette — something that can be placed anywhere throughout a small space.

Really hurting for space? One thing we all have: a door. If there isn’t room for decorations, don’t be afraid to get cheery on your front door. You’ll be welcomed by holiday charm whenever you come home, and your guests (and neighbors) will never doubt your dedication to the season. We love Small Measure’s snowflake door for inspiration.