12 Small Space Holiday Decorating Tips
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I have 12 small-space holiday decorating tips I want to share with you. Even if you don’t have lots of room for holiday decor, there are still ways to decorate your home!
Decorating Tip #1 – Use Table Top Size Trees:
If there’s no room for a Christmas tree on the floor, put one on a table or stool. This will give height to your space and guide the eye upward.
For years, I’ve stored a tabletop Christmas in a galvanized container. I have it in a beverage tub I found at the Tuesday Morning store years ago, but they’ve since closed.
I always like to add white netting to resemble snow by wrapping it loosely around the tree base.
When the holidays are over, I use this beverage tub to put house plants in.
Decorating Tip #2 – Go Vertical & Layer:
Utilize your vertical space. Below, I used vertical space and layered it at the same time. So there’s more to see, but it’s all arranged in one display.
I put a small table in front of the cupboard and decorated both surfaces for the Christmas holiday. It’s a step-by-step method.
You’ll be amazed at what you can fit in your home when decorating vertically and layering.
Decorating Tip #3 – Be Cohesive With Colors:
I typically choose up to 3 colors for my holiday space, and I like to carry them from one room to another to create a cohesive look. This makes the space feel less visually cluttered.
I’m using red, green, and white on my kitchen countertops.
The only thing that’s really Christmas-related is one of the tea towels. But the green, red, and white color scheme is Christmas-y.
Decorating Tip #4 – Corral Holiday Decor Together:
Corral your small holiday decor into a vignette on a tray or cutting board. Small holiday decor won’t look as cluttered if you combine the elements into a vignette.
Here, I created a Christmas vignette in a dough bowl. Putting decor in one space rather than sprinkling it around individually looks better.
Tip #4 – A Favorite Vintage Bowl:
I used an old vintage bowl to hold Christmas ornaments.
I don’t use this bowl often because I love it and don’t want it to break. So I bring it out mostly during the holidays.
I’ve used this same bowl and various Christmas ornament colors in it for years. I’ve also put a candle in the middle of it and wound bead garlands around it.
This bowl of ornaments is also being used as my table centerpiece.
Tip #5 – A Collection Of Bottle Brush Trees:
If you’re fortunate enough to have a fireplace in your small space home, you’ll likely have a mantel to decorate. Of course, you can do a myriad of things when it comes to decorating a mantel for the holidays.
I placed my collection of green bottlebrushes and wood trees on the mantel. Then, I strung tiny lights around and in between them.
Small bottle brush trees can replace larger Christmas trees. If you don’t have much space to store seasonal decor, this might be a better choice.
Tip #6 – Cookie Cutters:
Remember that there are some cookie cutters that are reminiscent of the holidays. I displayed mine inside a vintage coffee can.
Below, I used a dough bowl for a non-holiday vintage cookie-cutter collection. It feels like Christmas decor to me, so I used it.
Tip #7 – Vintage Jars:
You can use items like Dundee marmalade jars to display Christmas picks. I chose to create a vignette around it using bottle brush trees.
You could also put candy canes in the jar, red berry picks, or greenery from your yard.
Tip #8 – What To Do When You Only Have A Few:
I don’t have many Shiny Brite ornaments. A fellow blogger sent them to me years ago, and I cherish them. I’ve managed to break a few, but I still have some that I’m cautious with!
I added three Shiny Brite ornaments in the vignette above. There aren’t enough for a large display, but I would like to bring them out to look at them.
Tip #9 – Elevate Santa Mugs:
Bring your Santa mugs out and elevate them on a cake stand. I used one of my white pitchers in the background.
Red cardinals are often associated with Christmastime, so my two cardinals are arranged in front of the white cake stand holding Santa mugs.
Tip #10 – A Christmas Tablescape:
When space is tight in your home, there’s always room for a Christmas tablescape.
I like buying seasonal and holiday salad plates and mixing them with my everyday white dishes. It’s cheaper on the pocketbook that way.
Decorating Tip #11 – Switch Wall Paintings:
I switched the painting above the mantel for something more “Christmas-y.” Wall space is a great way to decorate vertically when you have a small home.
The artwork doesn’t have to be holiday decor. This painting with a snow scene reminds me of Christmas.
Tip #12: Use Non-Holiday Decor:
Red and white transferware pieces can be used as holiday decor.
If you have red transferware, you don’t need to buy anything if the holiday budget is tight. Just use what you already have.
Below, I’ve added a small mug, a red votive, and a garland of greenery. These are reminiscent of Christmas, even if what you’re decorating with isn’t traditional Christmas decor.
The addition of a miniature mug can be placed almost anywhere. Plus, the decor can also be used after Christmas.
I hope you found some inspiration with these 12 small space home decorating tips for the holiday season.
(This post was updated on May 20, 2024)
I really like your Christmas decorations. Your space looks very festive!
Can't get enough of those bottle brush trees!
Take care
Your little dining room is very pretty and festive looking! I love red, white and green at Christmas time. I've tried other things but I keep coming back to red, white and green. Those are all great tips, thank you!
Cindy
Very charming Brenda! I love your decorating ideas!
I love it too. It’s so spare and clean lined , a bit of Swedish cottage vibe too, maybe. It could easily go throughout the winter. A big difference from the lush decor of the little blue house but I think I like it even more. It can stay up during those dreary winter months rather than just a few weeks.
It looks wonderful and I love the theme!
That truck painting is seriously fabulous, Brenda. I'm so glad you decided to decorate for the holidays, even with the hassle of waiting for new electrical outlets. I always look forward to what you do.
Thank you for so generously sharing your life with all of us. I once read 10 or more blogs a day but in the last year or so I'm down to yours and one or two others. You are so honest and real….I admire how you do it all your way and it's unique and beautiful and simple and easy to relate to. Sending lots of good wishes for health and happiness to you and your babies this holiday season.
It looks really cute. Love the lambs in the truck.
Great tips! Your dining room looks lovely – enjoy the season!
Your dining space looks so pretty! Love the collection of trees in the dough bowl.
looks fabulous!! I agree with all those tips, too!
You have such a unique way of decorating, you never cease to amaze me. I love it all.
Oh,my gosh, I love that old toy truck! One of my other blogger friends, Kathy, at Sharing Shadymont has two old trucks and an old red toy tractor that she's decorating for Christmas with and I am so jealous! I've gotta find one of those old trucks!
I like the dining area vignette a lot. The truck painting is very nice. Especially combined with the other simple things on the wall and the little faux pine trees on the table. Grouping them together makes a nice addition to the decorated wall. Did you find the truck painting at Wayfair? If I remember correctly it was there that you found the yellow rose canvases. Wonder whether the truck paintings are still available. I have a family member that drives a red pickup. Was thinking of the painting for him for Christmas.
Thanks for sharing your Christmas decor. It always helps to see how others do things. Especially in small spaces. My house isn't as small as your apartment but I have some pieces of furniture that take up a lot of room–antiques from my family that I just can't get rid of. They do cut down on the space for a lot of decor though. In fact, I'm not sure where the Christmas tree is going this year! Maybe on top of the old upright piano! We'll see. (It is a small tree!)
Hope your ankle's not giving you too much grief and that Charlie has gotten over his fixation on the dot on the ceiling!
I love it!
How lovely! Thank you for your tips! Perfect ideas, all.
Brenda, that looks lovely! I adore the little red truck things. Really cute! I just drool whenever I see the little blue hutch, too! Have a WONDERful day!
You are one amazingly talented lady! What you've done is just perfect!!!!
Sandy in California
It looks perfect Brenda! I love the truck painting there. You are right the lighting is just right for it over the table. And of course your antique truck and small trees complete the look! I wish I had your talent at arranging things. I put Christmas items out but they never have the "look" that you get with your decorating. You are blessed with an eye for decorating!
I never put Santa's out only snowmen and holly and berries and angels. Its a winter scene and I leave it out till March.
Linda decoração. Amei o armário azul.
Feliz Natal.
great tips for any space, and I love the little trees in the doughbowl! your red/white dishes are perfect for Christmas!
I love your red and white, but what sets it apart is the lovely blue hutch. I really like the way it softens the red. Your Christmas decor is perfect!
This year I put up a little 24" lighted tree. I am doing a woodland theme. Then I added little miniature pine cones, deer antlers and red and gold and brown snow flakes.
I put it on my breakfast bar and added my Santa dressed in woodsman clothing sitting in his sleigh, two bronze reindeer and a fir tree. It is just enough for me for this year.
Oh yes, I forgot my door wreath embellished with pine cones, red berries, a burlap bow and some jingle bells tied with ribbon.
I am calling it my country rustic look LOL!
I like this Brenda, love the trees in the dough bowl, and the mail box is soooo Kool. it all goes together so perfectly, like everything you are able to do, without a "how to book" so to speak…Thanks for sharing some great ideas.
Brenda, I love the truck painting in it's new location. Add the red truck on the table, trees and you have the perfect vignette! I'm taking a big box of Christmas stuff to the thrift this year and big tote full of ornaments and other things to my church. It feels good to downsize.
Great tips, Brenda. I think what you have done in your dining room is just right. Very cozy and festive without an overload of stuff.
Perfect !!! Red and white is still my favorite for Christmas decor !!!!
It is just perfect for your small space, Brenda. I love that painting of the truck!!! And, because you didn't overdo "Christmas" you could probably keep it up well into the winter months. Love it and hope you are having a good week. xo Diana
Loved it Brenda, Always enjoy reading your blog.
I like your simple decorating. It shows a nice statement for Christmas decorating. Once again you have done a great job. Take care!
Love it Brenda. This decor will be able to stay up way past Christmas too. Awesome!
Kris
Looks so nice, Brenda!! Warm,cozy and festive!! Always enjoy reading your blog.
Merry Christmas, Janie
I love how the truck in the painting is off-center. It makes it seem like the truck is moving!
Your tips are good. I see you have a variety of items in the vignettes, but also two or three of the same item to make a kind of story, such as the Santas in the living room vignette and the trucks in the dining room. Then you have some similar colors in both vignettes, and similar items such as the red berries and the baskets. It's very pleasing and on a scale that is good for small dwellings.
Oh my, I love it! Even after Christmas it will look festive for wintertime!
Love your polka dot plates and that red and white combination is really cute. You have a good eye for interior design. And you are right, the simpler the better. Carol