Christmas decorating tips for tiny spaces (2024)

So, this year, I thought I may be a little bummed about the lack of Christmas decor.

If you know me at all, you know I luuuuuuurve decorating for Christmas. I have dozens and dozens and dozens of totes of Christmas decorations. I have at least 8 or 10 trees of all sizes (including several full-size trees). I love themes, I love cheesiness, I love glitter. I love lights, I love trees, I love villages.

But you know what? I really don’t mind having less this year.

I ventured over to my parents’ barn, where all my boxes of holiday decor were stored. I climbed on top of pallets and tried to find the few boxes I wanted to use this year. My very, very, very favorite things that I thought would actually fit.

No full size tree. No bins of ornaments. No village.

I love all these things, but they just wouldn’t fit into our lives right now.

Believe it or not, I feel every bit as merry and festive in the barn than I did in past houses with a dozen trees.

So what made the cut? That’s what I’m sharing today.

The stockings. Because Santa needs something to fill. Duh. And the hooks I bought (from Urban Farmhouse, of course) have exactly five spots. Fate. Clearly.

I also couldn’t imagine a Christmas without at least one holiday pillow. (This one is from Target and I adore it.)

I pulled out a little ribbon– to decorate cows and tuck throughout the apartment. You know, important, life-changing things.

And I filled in the gap with a LOT of vinyl. My Silhouette got a workout this Christmas. Because all of my wall art wanted to feel extra merry. So I decked the canvases and cows.

I think it’s rather fabulous, don’t you?

I mean, I may leave it festive all year. But the best part is that it’s really easy to remove.

Here’s a peek at my DIY wall hanging I shared on Monday for Dare to DIY. Who needs a Christmas tree? Not this girl.

On our media wall, I had two small nooks to Christmas-ify.

Ryan’s grandma made this tree and we were able tokeep it whenshe passed this year. It’s pretty much my favorite thing ever and very very special to me. I scrubbed it down, replaced some of the lights, and now it’s as good as new. Actually, better than new.

On the other side, we have a Christmas shrine to Henry. As expected.Moving into the kitchen, I created this really simple sign with a vinyl deer head. It’s perfect for the plank wall.

And I picked up a “Very Merry” banner in the $1 Spot at Target. It’s rustic feeling and fun for the pocket doors.

I was excited to decorate the open shelf in the kitchen, so my Fiestaware holiday dishes made the cut.

I actually put away some of our everyday dishes to use these for the month.

A few of my favorite ornaments and berry garlands also get the special treatment.

I wanted to display all the beautiful Christmas cards we’ve been receiving, so I created these “vintage Christmas lights” to serve as garland. They have moved around the apartment, but for now they are in the kitchen. If I get my act together, I’ll share more about how I made them at some point. They are everywhere.

Oh, and I also moved this cow from the living room wall into the kitchen. Because he told me he wanted to be here. (This guy was a gift from my awesome friend Kellie.) On the other side of the kitchen, we have alittle IKEA island and I added a few little holiday touches – our train advent, a sign I made, and our Woodward snowman. And above the wardrobe, I pulled out a bit of garland, berries and ornaments for a display.

That’s our cozy little space for the holidays. It makes me feel like busting out a “fa la la” or two.

It really reminds me that it’s more about the people and the memories than the stuff.