Decorating for the holidays can be tough if you don’t have much space. However, even a small Christmas tree can look great if you decorate it well.
This season, be creative and make your decorations fit your space. Our best small Christmas tree ideas prove you don’t need high ceilings to make your home festive.
Think small
Save space and get creative with your holiday decorations by choosing a small Christmas tree. This is the best way to decorate a tiny space.
Mini Christmas trees are perfect because they are usually less than 4.5 feet tall. You can put them on a mantelpiece, a corner table, or a window sill without using any floor space. It’s the ultimate small Christmas tree idea!
To make it look even more festive, place small holiday figures around the tree’s base. You can also add lights, or choose a mini tree that already has lights. Then, all you need to do is hang some mini ornaments.
Display a small live tree
If you have enough ceiling height for a taller tree but don’t want to bring a large one into your home, consider a shorter tree. Place it on a side table to make it stand out.
Decorate with simple wooden ornaments. You can use a cozy blanket to cover the tree stand or pot, creating a stylish and simple look.
Introduce Christmas topiaries
Turn everyday boxwood topiaries into Christmas trees that fit well in small spaces. These topiaries have narrow stems, which help keep your room feeling airy.
Put a pair of these Christmas topiaries on your dining table or kitchen island as a beautiful centerpiece. Or, you can place them on both sides of your mantelpiece for a balanced look instead of a traditional Christmas tree.
Flocked tabletop tree
Even if it isn’t snowing outside, you can still enjoy a white Christmas with this frosty tree. This small flocked tree looks beautiful in a simple white basket. It matches well with decorations like a felt ball garland.
You can also use things you already have at home, like a piece of art or family holiday photos, to make a great display behind the tree.
Clear the coffee table
When thinking about Christmas tree ideas for small spaces, consider using your coffee table. It’s the perfect spot to place a miniature Christmas tree and show off presents without using extra floor space.
You can decorate it with a small tree skirt and other ornaments. If you prefer a clear table, just move your mini tree to an end table in the corner.
Garland wall Christmas tree
If you want a Christmas tree but don’t have any floor space, try making a garland wall tree. First, choose a garland.
You can pick fun colors or stick with traditional pine. Attach the garland to the wall starting at the floor, using double-sided tape or adhesive strips. Create a trunk at the bottom, then arrange the garland in slanted lines that get smaller as they go up.
If there’s extra garland at the top, you can cut it off. Decorate your garland tree with ornaments just like you would a regular tree. Finish by placing a flat star at the top.
Craft your own mini Christmas tree
This mini Christmas tree is fun, easy to make, and simple to store away after the holidays. Start by filling a large vase with evergreen branches. Then, decorate with ornaments of different sizes and colors.
You can put this small tree on window sills, shelves, or any tabletop. It’s a great way to add holiday spirit without taking up too much space.
Christmas bedroom decor
A small Christmas tree can make a guest or child’s bedroom feel festive. Choose a sparse tree, often called a “Charlie Brown tree,” so it won’t crowd the room. Wrap the tree stand in a knit blanket and hang colorful glass balls for a traditional look.
Choose a slender Christmas tree
If you have limited space, you don’t need to settle for a small tree. Slim Christmas trees are tall like traditional trees but not as wide, so they fit well in small spaces. These trees come in various heights, so you can find one that fits your ceiling.
For example, a slim tree works well in tight corners because its branches are evenly sized. You can place slim trees in entryways, dining rooms, or next to the living room sofa without it being in the way.
Tabletop Christmas tree
A smaller tree can really stand out when you place it on top of a table. This gives it extra height. You can also use the space under the table for storage. Decorate the tree with garland, shiny glass ornaments, and lots of ribbons to make it look great.
Wrap presents in pink and blue to create a winter wonderland under the table.
Try a half-sized Christmas tree
If you don’t have much room, consider a half Christmas tree.
These trees look like traditional trees but are flat on one side. This design lets them fit snugly into a corner without sticking out too much.
Try a “stick” tree
If space and budget are tight, you can make your own tree. Use materials you find or scraps from your craft supplies. Decorate a simple stick with fringed garland and pink pom-poms for a modern look.
This type of tree is great for homes that celebrate more than one winter holiday because it doesn’t look like the usual evergreen tree.
Reimagine your Christmas tree lights
Use the space on your walls for a Christmas tree made of lights. To make this tree, all you need are string lights, wall adhesives, and a little creativity.
Start by hanging one end of the lights at the top where you want the tree’s top to be. Then, arrange the lights in a zig-zag pattern down the wall, making the zig-zags wider as you go. Stick the lights to the wall at each zig-zag point to keep them in place. Finish your tree with a festive bow on top.
You can create this light tree above your fireplace, over your bed, or on any empty wall that needs some holiday cheer.
White tabletop Christmas tree
This small Christmas tree on a table combines holiday sparkle with a touch of rustic style. Instead of using a regular pot or tree stand, place the tree in a wicker basket.
Decorate it with twinkling lights and simple ornaments. It’s small but will still be the tallest decoration in the room. Plus, you can use it year after year.
Mini tabletop Christmas trees
Tabletop trees bring the idea of a mini Christmas tree to a new level. These small trees are very easy to set up (most don’t need to be put together), move, and store.
Decorate your TV stand with a fun mix of bottle brush and other small decorative trees. This setup saves space and gives you the bright Christmas look you want.
Statement Christmas tree topper
If you like the idea of having multiple trees but don’t have enough floor space for big ones, try this: put one large Christmas tree in the family area and a few smaller trees around the house. This way, you can enjoy different themed trees without giving up the traditional holiday look of your big tree.
For example, decorating a smaller tree with a silver pot, gold ornaments, and a shiny golden pinecone on top can make it the highlight of any room.
Pair small trees with full-size decor
Try something new this Christmas! Place several small bottle brush trees on your mantel. These trees look like classic Christmas trees. Then, use lighted evergreen garlands and wreaths to add the green, lush look of a traditional tree.
You can also hang large ornaments from the ceiling or walls near these decorations to create a full Christmas tree effect.
DIY leaf tree
This craft can be a fun part of your Christmas decorations or even replace your main tree. First, cut a leaf shape from cardstock to use as a template. Then, use this template to cut out many felt leaves. Glue these leaves onto a cardboard cone.
Spray some fake snow on it for a beautiful, wintery look. You can make one big tree or several small ones. Place them on your mantel or down the middle of your dinner table as a festive centerpiece.
Branch out
Think about Christmas tree ideas that fit well in small spaces. Instead of a traditional tree, you could hang an evergreen branch in the window and decorate it with Christmas ornaments. You might also use a Christmas garland instead.
Try this decor in each window of your chosen room. If you want to be extra creative, arrange some of these displays one above the other to form a Christmas tree shape.
Potted Christmas tree
You can make a small tree more interesting by setting up a mini winter scene. Place the tree in a pot on a wooden sled to look like it’s being pulled. Decorate the tree with beaded garland and old-fashioned ornaments.
Add mini presents wrapped in vintage-style Christmas paper, with colors like retro blues and pinks, to complete the scene. A good thing about using a small potted tree is that you can plant it outside after the holidays.
Hang a Christmas tree tapestry
If you have a small living room, consider hanging a festive Christmas tree tapestry on the wall. There are many sizes and styles of Christmas wall tapestries, so you can find one that fits your decor. Tapestries are easy to hang, they don’t take up floor space, and they’re simple to store away.
Try a sparse needle tree
For small living areas, a sparse Christmas tree is a great choice. These trees have fewer branches, so you can see through them.
This helps keep small rooms with few windows feel open and bright, as the tree allows natural light to pass through. Sparse trees are available in many sizes and styles, giving you lots of options for decorating.
Decorate the bedroom with green
Need a Christmas tree for a small bedroom? Use your nightstand as a stand for a tabletop Christmas tree or make your own display with branches. Hang a pre-lit evergreen garland across your headboard to add more holiday green.
If you don’t have a headboard, you can hang the garland from a wall shelf or straight on the wall. Keep the green look, or add more Christmas decorations to it.
Add a festive sheen to the mantel
Create a shiny holiday display with metallic Christmas decorations for small spaces. Start with a pre-decorated gold Christmas garland on your mantel. Then, hang metal artwork with Christmas tree designs that have a gold finish.
Add a couple of three-dimensional metal tabletop trees with gold details.
These golden decorations bring a warm, festive glow to the room without taking up much space. You can also set up this display on a dining room sideboard, a decorative cabinet, or a bedroom dresser.
Repurpose vertical swags
If you don’t have much room, vertical wall swags are a great choice.
These teardrop-shaped decorations are a fun alternative to garlands, wreaths, and Christmas trees. You can hang teardrop swags below wall sconces or above your sofa. Add a Christmas ribbon to each one to make it look even more festive.
Repurpose hanging planters
Get creative with this small-space Christmas tree idea! Start by choosing three small tabletop Christmas trees. This will help you figure out how big your hanging planters need to be. It’s best to use three matching planters.
You can hang them in windows or above your sofa. Fill the planters to keep the trees steady. Then, add mini string lights to the trees, hang them up, and enjoy!
Consider space-saving Alpines
Alpine Christmas trees are great for saving space and look cool. They have tall, slim trunks and are not too bushy, which makes them perfect for small rooms.
You can put a mini alpine tree on a side table in your living room or make a big statement with two mini alpines on either side of your fireplace or on the hearth.
If you have a tight corner, a large Alpine tree will fit perfectly because of its slim trunk and foliage that starts higher up.
Complement mini tree with plenty of lights
Brighten up your small living room this Christmas with lots of lights. Take your mini Christmas tree to the next level by decorating with lights on the walls and ceiling.
This adds a festive touch without using any floor space. It’s a great way to include more holiday cheer that doesn’t fit on the tree itself.
Keep things light and bright
Choose light and bright colors for your Christmas decorations. A white Christmas tree makes small rooms feel more open and appear larger.
If you’re not sure about a completely white tree, try a frosted tree with a slim shape. It can be a great alternative.
Turn things upside down
Who says small Christmas trees have to be traditional? Make a statement with an upside-down Christmas tree!
These trees look just like regular trees but they hang from the ceiling, saving floor space. You can easily fit an upside-down tree in a corner near your fireplace and side table because it has a narrow base.
Decorate it like you would any other tree for a unique holiday look.