10 Clever Christmas Tree Ideas for Small Spaces

Display a Small Live Tree

Maybe you have the ceiling height to support a taller tree but you don’t feel like lugging a huge Christmas tree into your house or apartment. A great compromise is to buy a shorter tree and place it prominently on a side table to add height. Here, simple wooden ornaments and an etched wooden table paired with a cozy blanket to hide the tree stand or pot create a chic and understated vibe.

Flocked Tabletop Tree

Even if it's not snowing outside, you can celebrate a white Christmas with this frosty tree. This miniature flocked tree is simple but stunning in a neutral white basket that looks like an effortless extension of the felt ball garland. Don’t shy away from using what you have, either. An abstract piece of neutral art or framed family holiday photos provide the perfect backdrop when paired with a simple garland.

Garland Wall Christmas Tree

If you want a Christmas tree but have no floor space to spare, this DIY garland wall tree is the perfect substitute. First, pick a garland. You can get as wacky as you want with fun colors or go a more traditional route with pine garland. Start at the floor and attach the garland to the wall with double sided tape or adhesive strips. Make the trunk, then create a horizontal line for the base. After, continue at a slant, gradually getting smaller the higher up you go. Any excess as the end you can always snip off! Decorate the shimmery zigs and zags with ornaments same way you would a real tree. Finish it off, by adding a two dimensional star on top.

Editor's Tip: Use smaller or light weight ornaments so they won't pull the garland off of the wall.

Christmas Bedroom Decor

A smaller Christmas tree adds a festive touch to a guest or kids’ bedroom. Opting for a sparse tree (some lovingly call it a Charlie Brown tree) won’t overwhelm a small space. Wrap the tree stand in a chunky knit blanket and decorate it with colorful glass balls for a traditional touch.

Tabletop Christmas Tree

A smaller tree can make a big statement when placed on top of a table to give it extra height. (And, you can still use the space under the table for storage!) Garland, shiny glass ornaments, and plenty of ribbons make this frosty tree pop while presents wrapped in coordinating pinks and blue turn the space under the table into a winter wonderland.

A Stick Tree

If you're tight on space and budget, don't sweat it. You can make your own tree from found materials and scraps from your craft bin. This tiny Christmas tree has a simple and modern feel thanks to the fringed garland and pink pom-pom decor. Because this isn’t your classic evergreen look, it’s a good choice for households that celebrate more than one winter holiday.

White Tabletop Christmas Tree

This tabletop Christmas tree has a dash of holiday glam with a bit of rustic charm. To get the look, swap a pot or tree stand for a wicker basket. With its twinkling Christmas lights and simple ornaments, this small Christmas tree still manages to be the tallest thing in the room. Best of all, you can use it year after year.

Statement Christmas Tree Topper

If you love the idea of having multiple trees but can't swing the floor space for several large evergreens, consider displaying one big Christmas tree in the family area with a few smaller trees scattered around the house. This can be a fun way to incorporate themed trees without sacrificing the general holiday decor feel of your traditionally-decorated fir. Here the silver pot, gilded ornaments, and fantastic golden pinecone tree topper add a metallic element that makes this smaller tree the star of the room.

DIY Leaf Tree

Whether you use this as Christmas decor or in place of your main tree, this Christmas craft will steal the show. Cut a simple leaf-shaped pattern out of cardstock, then use it as a template to cut multiple leaves from felt. Glue the leaves to a cardboard cone, and finish with a spray of fake snow for an elegant and wintery tabletop tree. Make one large tree, or arrange a collection of smaller trees on your mantel or down the center of your holiday tabe as a festive centerpiece.

Potted Christmas Tree

Make a smaller tree stand out by incorporating it into a miniature winter display. Here a wooden sled gives the illusion that it is pulling a small potted Christmas tree strung with beaded garland and vintage ornaments. Mini presents in vintage-inspired Christmas wrapping paper (think retro blues and pinks) finish the look. One perk of using a small potted tree like this is that you can plant it outside once the holiday is over.