When there’s lots of holiday spirit but not much space, how to deck the (small) halls

34

In the midst of the holiday season, the challenge arises when you find yourself in a cozy but limited living space. The allure of “holiday cheer” permeates everything, from your social media feed to the local stores. ‘Tis the season to adorn your surroundings with festive decor.

Yet, if you reside in a small apartment, space constraints can be a significant hurdle. A full-sized artificial Christmas tree might occupy nearly half of your living room, and the available shelving might not be ample for showcasing your holiday trinkets. How can you infuse your living space with holiday spirit when room is a precious commodity?

Here are some creative ideas for holiday styling that maximize the festive ambiance without encroaching on your living space, all while being easy to store.

Setting the Scene

Todd Carr, proprietor of the botanicals and homewares shop Hort & Pott in Freehold, New York, suggests starting with a monochromatic color scheme. This approach helps maintain cohesiveness in your holiday decor and complements the existing elements in your space. Carr recommends exploring shades like green-on-green, drawing inspiration from your surroundings. If space is limited, adding bows and ribbon streamers in your chosen colors can instill a festive atmosphere without clutter.

Bringing in Sparkle

Brynn Whitfield, known for her appearances on Bravo’s “The Real Housewives of New York City” and her one-bedroom Manhattan apartment, emphasizes the importance of clever surface decoration. The size of your table or tree is less important to guests than the presentation of your decorative pieces. CB2 offers a new collection of glass and metallic ornaments that add a contemporary twist to traditional holiday motifs, including glass balls resembling champagne bubbles and modern pines in smoky hues. Slim-profile artificial trees, such as those from Balsam Hill and CB2, work well in apartments, especially when pre-lit to eliminate the need for bulky light strings.

Getting Off the Floor

Utilize your walls and ceiling to infuse a festive spirit into your space. Carr recommends draping garlands on bookshelves or chandeliers, while wreaths can find a home beyond your front door. Suspend a pine branch above the dining table, decorate it as you would a tree, or use a hanging planter for a magical arrangement featuring a potted amaryllis and evergreens. Tempaper offers Scandinavian Holiday tree decals and other removable decals to add a holiday touch without taking up valuable floor space.

Decor that Stores Efficiently

Consider flat-pack ornaments that require no specialized storage. Loll Designs offers minimalist, contemporary Christmas trees and reindeer that assemble with simple slots and can be conveniently stashed away. Magic Ornaments provides sets of glitter- and mirror-finish ornaments that collapse for easy storage in a cardboard envelope when the holiday season concludes.

Enhancing Sensory Ambience

Creating a warm and inviting atmosphere is essential for a cozy winter mood. Switching to lamp bulbs with a softer, golden glow can make even the simplest holiday decor feel homier. Additionally, scents play a vital role in evoking a nostalgic holiday ambiance. Nest New York’s Holiday wall diffuser refill combines delightful fragrances like pomegranate, mandarin, pine, cloves, cinnamon, and vanilla. Pura’s Winter Noir diffuser refill offers a blend of spices, musk, and golden amber, perfect for setting the holiday vibe in your compact living space.

In summary, while a small living space may present challenges during the holiday season, these creative ideas for decor and ambiance can help you infuse festive cheer without overwhelming your environment. Happy decorating!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Holiday Decorating in Small Spaces

More about Holiday Decorating in Small Spaces

• Apartment Therapy: How to Decorate a Small Space for the Holidays
• CB2: Holiday Ornaments
• Balsam Hill: Slim Artificial Christmas Trees
• Tempaper: Scandinavian Holiday Tree Decal
• Nest New York: Holiday Wall Diffuser
• Pura: Winter Noir Diffuser Refill
• Loll Designs: Minimalist Christmas Trees and Reindeer