The Best of Christmas Decorating: Bringing Holiday Cheer to a Small Space
Our humble abode is, among a myriad of wonderful things, humble. We decided early on that competing with a lot of space was just not on our priority list, and we’d like to live as simply as possible (save for our obsessively large book collection).
With that in mind, however, comes a few challenges. I am a big lover of holidays. It is a family tradition to completely deck-the-halls the day after Thanksgiving. We have an annual competition to see just how big of a Christmas tree my parents can fit in their living room without it toppling over (as Christmas 1990 knows all too well). Quite possibly my favorite Friday night of the year is the night of a post-decorating frenzy, where we sit in the glow of Christmas fairy lights and sip tea and listen to carols on the radio.
I want to replicate this in my own home, for my own family. But our simple space means decorating needs to be imaginative and meaningful, not the scatter that I’m accustomed to (“Oh, where’d we get that? Well, just put it in the upstairs hallway behind the child-sized snowman. No, not that one, the one wearing blue.”). So, for this, I’m turning to the pros, who have some great ideas in keeping things merry and bright in a small space.
Decorating Around Your Art
As someone who doesn’t believe art in your home should be holiday-specific (you should be investing in pieces that inspire you all year round), holiday decorating with art is still a possibility. Sometimes it takes a bit of refreshing (removing paper works from frames– or giving the frames a new paint job, changing a gallery-style wall into a linear arrangement, moving a large statement piece from room to room). Other times, you’re stuck with what you’ve got (case in point, we have a large, nine-foot abstract canvas that really can only work on one wall in our home). If the latter is the case, matching decor that complements your art will help your space look balanced. The aforementioned canvas has a lot of pink (ugh), but also had golden undertones, ivory, and sage green in it. I plan on using those tones to inspire the majority of our decoration.
If your walls are relatively bare, however, there are other things you can re-purpose as art. I love a holiday card collage (as seen here, here, and here) to get your home into the Christmas spirit. My favorite cards for this sort of project are the ones from Rifle Paper Company.
Tabletops
from Elle Decor via Home Goods
from Martha Stewart via Home Goods
A small table or bureau (think multi-purpose) can be a great scape for a mini tree, instead of trying to squeeze in a six-footer, taking up precious floor space. Head on over to your local tree farm to see if they have any “imperfect” ones up for grabs at a discount. Revitalize that Charlie Brown tree into a stunner with a theme: all gold, dusty pinks, icy snowflake, silver bells. But try to limit the number of kitschy ornaments to keep the sophistication going. Also, wrap your presents neatly in solid colors and bows, so that when they’re under the tree they accentuate it, not overwhelm it.
Wall Space
from Poppytalk
from Julie Carlson at Remodelista
via Style Files
Simple fern wreaths, pine tree art prints (like this vintage one), or red-white-and-green flag banners can bring a touch of Christmas to your walls. It’s a way to decorate your space without using, well, space. Play up your wall colors, accent that crisp white, or (if you’re a renter) invest in some temporary wallpaper to elevate your space.
Cozy Corners
via Elle Sappelle
via Enjoy Your Home
A few festive sprigs or cluster of vintage Santas can enliven that inexplicable corner counter, a random window ledge, a butcher’s block, or a radiator shelf (just be careful with the heat! Nothing flammable, kids).
Lighting
When in doubt, go for lighting. Cluster candles on a tray. Hang white fairy lights from every corner (avoid the ones with green wires… try to get something that will blend well with your wall color and get wire kits to hide the excess). Mix up ball shapes and sizes. Turn your small space into a twinkling wonderland.
Here’s another list of holiday decor alternatives that has a lot of varied, great ideas that can be adapted for a small space. May your days be merry!
