One thing I have always found to be an issue when it comes to decorating for the holidays is that there can be a serious lack of small space for Christmas decor posts whether on blogs or just on social media. I live in a city that has a lot of highrises so house decorating just isn’t the same.

Just because some of us don’t have stairs or yards or 3,000 square foot houses, doesn’t mean we can’t make our homes look super festive.

To put this in perspective, we live in a 700 square foot condo. I know some of you reading this just about fell over, and I’m sorry for that 🙂 We don’t have room for multiple trees or lots of knick-knacks, but we still want that festive feeling.

Trust me; when the tree and decor come down we feel like we’ve gained at least 100 square feet and the condo feels so light and airy.

Small Space Decor Tips

These tips come from my experience living in condos over the last 17 years myself. Gosh, that makes me sound old. In any case, I’ve done it all from large trees to overstuffing my small space with knick-knacks. When you live in a small space, less is more.

And always make sure to store your Christmas decor boxes in your storage locker or garage so that you don’t feel even more cluttered or tempted to put out more things.

Christmas Tree

Obviously, the most used item at Christmas time is the tree. I grew up with fake trees in my parents’ houses, but my aunt and uncle have always had a real tree, so I get the best of both worlds every year. Except for last year. But last year doesn’t count now, does it?

I have long since moved out of my parent’s house, but I do put up a fake tree as I live in a high-rise condo.

Remember, my husband is Jewish and he never had a tree growing up so he doesn’t know the struggle of fake vs real 🙂

We have a narrow-ish tree, and it is pre-lit because who wants to deal with that nonsense of stringing the lights, am I right? The tree is very tall – I think 7 feet – because I struggle to get a star on top of the tree as it hits the ceiling.

But if you’re wanting to save on space, find a narrow tree so it takes up less room. It’s a game-changer, I promise you!

Knick-Knacks

Cluster knick-knacks. Sounds ridiculous, but hear me out. I don’t have a lot of Christmas decor knick-knacks, but keeping them grouped together, helps me feel like I’m not forcing decor throughout the condo.

At this exact moment, we have no cocktail table in front of our sofa, but I tend to put knick-knack things there, some elevated and some on the table itself. Again, I can be minimalistic which works out well with condo living.

I also put some decor on the dining room table, which tends to include the Menorah and Hanukkah sign, since Hanukkah tends to revolve around food. Well, all Jewish holidays really. It was kind of a no-brainer.

Garland

If you have any shelves in your place, this can be a great place to put garland whether traditional or modern. Right outside of our bedroom door, we have a shelving unit that is screwed into the wall, and I have some non-traditional garland that I love to put along the top and drape over the sides.

By using the garland, it adds that festive feel without adding knick-knacks that can make your home feel cluttered especially if you’re under 1,000 square feet like we are 🙂 I am toying with the idea of adding garland in our bedroom along the base of the window, but who knows.

Wreath

Keep your wreath to your front door, so long as your by-laws allow it if you live in a highrise and have strata or HOA by-laws to adhere to. If you can’t have the front of your door, you can add to the inside of your door so that you get to see it every day.

We have a wooden wreath with white dusting on it to mimic snow that hangs on our door from December 1st to January 1st. Our neighbours have a more traditional green wreath, but theirs has lights on it. I think we’re the only two on the floor that hangs a wreath.

I love how when you have a bigger space, putting wreaths on other doors within the house can look super festive, but it can make your small space feel cluttered. Live vicariously through your friends that have homes large enough to pull this off.

Stockings

If you’re lucky enough to have a fireplace, even in a small space, obviously your stocking placement choice is fairly easy. I am fighting for a fireplace in the living room and getting rid of the original built-in, but in the meantime, I am stuck finding a different way to display our stockings.

My favourite way to do this is on the wall behind our dining table where our future bar cabinet will be, adjacent to our kitchen. If it’s just the three of us, I hang our three stockings. However, if my sister and Brett are coming out, I make sure to hang their stockings as well.

And yes, when I say the three of us, obviously the dog has her own stocking. Duh.

I use the removable hooks and layer some green garland over top to hide the hooks, and I add a string of star lights to give a little light. The stockings hang there until Christmas Eve when they get filled and then they usually sit on the dining table to keep from falling.

The bonus here is that it’s a spot the dog can’t really get to, so there’s no pulling off her stocking. Brie has an alter-ego that comes out at Christmas that wants to open and destroy everything. It’s the Wheaten in her, what can I say. She may be turning 9 next month, but Christmas brings out the puppy in her.

Miscellaneous

Throw pillows, blankets, Christmas lights are all things I love to add. I have my husband deal with the string of Christmas lights on our balcony railing as we’re allowed to in the month of December and inside I add festive throw pillows.

I also put out Christmas hand towels in the kitchen, even though sometimes the husband tends to forget and puts out a standard towel when he goes to swap one out. It’s a work in progress.

Sometimes I hang decor, but not very often. We have a very open living space so there’s not a lot of space to do so, and can make the condo feel cluttered. But if you have the space, definitely give this a whirl.

If you have Christmas-specific bedding you like to put out, it’s a great way to make your bedroom feel festive without adding too much. Even just Winter themed such as a red and black plaid brings in that cozy and uncluttered feeling in a small space. There certainly isn’t any room in our bedroom to add a Christmas tree!

I do keep Christmas-type scented candles out in the living room and bathroom, as well as wax melts, and they add to the ambiance. I usually have a candle or two out throughout the entire year, so it doesn’t really affect the feeling of clutter in a small space.

Wrapping up presents as I get them helps keep the house feel less cluttered as well as they immediately go under the tree once wrapped. Except Brie’s …that stuff stays hidden until Christmas Eve and then hidden at the back of the tree.

Wrap Up

I do find then when I keep the home festive but not overdone that I feel less anxious throughout the holidays. I hate clutter and while that is something I have to deal with at the moment while we wait for our closets to be repaired from the flood, and cluttered spaces can stress me out.

The holidays can already be stressful enough, so I hope that these tips can help you ease any decor anxiety and/or stress. If you live in a small space, what is something you’ve found to help when decorating for the holidays?

When you take everything down, put aside the stuff you no longer love or used this year. Donate the stuff you no longer need so you’re already in a better space for the following holiday season.

Whatever you celebrate, happy holidays!