After a year of living the digital nomad dream of hopping from city to city, I can confidently (confidently, gratefully, enthusiastically) say that I’ve settled down somewhere that feels like home. While many of us romanticize a mobile lifestyle, the reality can be much more challenging. But now, in a space I can truly call my own—I’m not pulling out my suitcase that could soon fit a big kid—it’s time to lean into all the pleasant things. And yes, that means you have to have the best Christmas decor for the occasion.
It can be difficult to know what to do with a small space. Sure, you don’t want to overwhelm it with too many pieces, but the opposite approach can leave a room feeling sparse. And of course there’s the whole storage component too – where the heck are you going to store that fake Christmas tree when January rolls around? There’s a lot to sort out when you’re looking for apartment Christmas decor. Fortunately, as someone who lives in a space that barely exceeds 1,000 square feet, I have a few answers.
Featured Image by Michelle Nash.
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Tips for Christmas decorations in a small room
It has always been my dream to decorate the halls of a large home with an unlimited budget. But over the years, as I’ve moved from apartment to (sometimes bigger, sometimes smaller) apartment, I’ve grown to enjoy the way a lack of space challenges my creativity. I’ve discovered that I like being forced to make design choices: instead of saying yes to everything on my Christmas decor wish list, I have to choose what I love most and what I think fits best in my room.
With this in mind, I have compiled a list of tips that have supported my quest to perfect my apartment’s Christmas decor. Step number one? Less is more.
Select a statement. If you’re decorating a small space, you don’t want to send the eye in a million directions as soon as someone walks through your door. Instead, I like to think of a single object around which I center my decor. For me it’s always been the wood – but you can let your tablescape shine, decorate your mantle or create a beautiful dried flower arrangement that sits on your coffee table. Whatever you choose, stick to the plan – and resist the temptation to go overboard.
Stick to a focused color palette. Similar to the first tip, it’s about creating a coordinated, cohesive interior design scheme. I like to choose three colors that will dominate the majority of what I choose to bring into my space. Typically, that means a neutral, which I pair with two colors that sit opposite the color wheel (which explains why white, green and red go so well together). Or I try to pick a theme and identify three colors that evoke what I’m trying to express – this year I’m all about brown, green and white.
Get creative with your tree. If you’re on the hunt for apartment Christmas decor, you might have a hard time figuring out the tree situation. Don’t worry, no one is forcing you to buy one! Yes, it may seem like a must-have, but with space constraints, feel free to ditch it. Or better yet – rethink it! There are plenty of countertop options to choose from as well as creative alternatives. Find all the inspiration you need here.
29 Christmas decorations for apartments to decorate a small space
For the tree (and the tree itself!)
Garlands, tree toppers and ornaments of every stripe. And if you’re Team Fake Tree, I’ve collected the cutest (and small space-friendly) Christmas trees.
