Break out the eggnog and crank up the carols. ‘Tis the season for holiday decorating! Since most of us will be home for the holidays this year, making your apartment merry and bright can help you get into the holiday spirit!

No doubt, decorating a small apartment for the holidays can be a challenge. But just because your cozy studio won’t fit a 12-foot spruce doesn’t mean you can’t come up with some festive holiday decorations for small places.

There are plenty of ways to safely add holiday cheer to your compact apartment without taking up valuable floor space or blowing a fuse. Here, we’ve gathered some tricks and tips for decorating a small apartment for the holiday season.

Christmas Tree Ideas for Small Spaces

Of course, the first thing that comes to mind when decorating for Christmas is the tree. For safety and convenience, an artificial tree is the way to go in an apartment. Luckily, there are a ton of great faux options out there. To really conserve space, opt for a compact tabletop version that can be displayed on any available surface.

If having that real evergreen smell is a must, there are some alternative Christmas tree ideas for small spaces. For example, you can get creative with greenery instead. Try reusing the Command hooks from your temporary window coverings and drape live garland around door frames, windows, or mirrors.

You can also make your own tabletop centerpiece using sprigs of pine, eucalyptus, holly, and pine cones. Just add the flameless tea light candles from your fall decorating to create that beautiful holiday glow. Or fill decorative vases with fragrant greenery and place them throughout your apartment. If you need more inspiration, Pinterest is brimming with holiday centerpiece suggestions and ideas.

Additional Christmas tree ideas for small spaces include hanging sprigs of mistletoe in a doorway or hanging a real wreath on the front door. One note: opt for an over-the-door wreath hanger to avoid damaging your door.

More Holiday Decorations for Small Spaces

Twinkle Lights: Twinkly lights are a staple for holiday decorating. For a festive, bright touch that takes up virtually no space, hang lights from the ceiling or drape them around doorways. Line your cabinets, TV stand, balcony or patio, or anywhere else that could use an extra holiday glow.

Cards: Put all those holiday cards to use and display them throughout your apartment. Attach them to the garland or lights around your doorway with clothespins and tuck them into mirrors or picture frames.

Holiday Doors: Secure a couple of strips of wide holiday ribbon to your kitchen or bathroom cabinet doors so the outside of the cabinet doors look like wrapped packages. Tuck your holiday cards into the ribbon to mimic gifts tags for a jolly display.

Small Space Stockings: No mantle? No problem! Create instant holiday decorations for small spaces by hanging stockings from a curtain rod, drawer or cabinet knobs, a bedpost or bed frame, side or console tables, a bar cart, or even from that bookshelf that’s part of your functional studio layout. For a simple, rustic holiday look, loosely hang string or twine and attach stockings using clothespins.

Deck the Walls: Switch out your everyday wall art for some holiday-inspired prints, movie quotes, or carol lyrics to create a holiday gallery display that will give you all the cheer without additional hardware. You can also print out letters that spell “Happy Holidays” or “Merry & Bright” to make your own holiday string banner for the living room, bedroom, or in front of your windows. If you prefer not to hang letters, make a festive garland by stringing up brass jingle bells on your wall or furniture.

Find Your Home for the Holidays at Southern Management

From the music to the food and the decor, there’s nothing like the festive holiday season. But if the thought of cramming a towering tree into your apartment makes you feel like Scrooge, hopefully this list of holiday decorations for small spaces has helped you get into the merry spirit. 

If you love decorating for the holidays, Southern Management has the perfect apartment community for you to call home. Whether you prefer something small and cozy or large and open, we have apartment communities across Maryland and Virginia that offer a variety of floor plans with awesome amenities.

Contact us today with any questions about leasing, pricing, or just to chat about your options. We can’t wait to help you find the perfect place to create new holiday traditions.