Decorating a small space for Christmas may feel like a challenge. But you can transform the tiniest of spaces into a holiday wonderland by finding creative ways to do more with less.
There are endless ways to achieve a big impact with a few simple gestures: choosing small trees, corner decor, adding wreaths, ambient light, decorating with ornaments, and building on your existing color schemes and decor.
Learn how to decorate a small living room for Christmas with these charming and festive ideas.
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01
of 42Focus on Cozy Lighting
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Add warm lighting around the room and create a coffee table vignette with candles to set the holiday mood all season. This trick works even if your small living room doesn’t come with a fireplace.
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02
of 42Decorate Above the Sofa
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Decorate the wall above the sofa to make your small living room feel extra-festive. Home and Spirit highlighted a floating shelf with garlands, candles, and house-shaped votives.
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03
of 42Style the Coffee Table
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Create a focal point in a small Christmas living room without a mantel by decorating your coffee table. Finding Lovely kept it simple with a vase of white flowers and a pair of bottle brush trees for a modern farmhouse look.
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04
of 42Decorate the Corners
Credit: From The Christmas Season: Created By Scandinavian Artists by Katrine Martensen-Larsen, published by ACC Art Books / Photo © Mikkel Adsbøl
In a small living room, it’s not always easy to find a logical focal point for your holiday decor without rearranging the layout. Decorate empty corners, like this whimsical Scandinavian home styled with natural greenery and eclectic decor like a stuffed swan perched on a piano stand with a star hung around its neck.
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05
of 42Dress Up a Peg Rail
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Coco Lapine Design added paper snowflakes and star ornaments to a wall-mounted peg rail to ring in the season without sacrificing any floor space. This is an easy solution if you live in a small place. It’s also ideal if you’re traveling for the holidays but want to add a little festivity until you leave.
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06
of 42Use Multifunctional Decor
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Favor multipurpose decor in a small living room. This mini Christmas tree from Maison de Cinq doubles as an advent calendar. Displayed on a wooden cutting board over a stack of baskets, it conveys a vintage farmhouse look.
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07
of 42Hang Bells on Doorknobs
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Hang jingle bells from doorknobs, cabinet pulls, or a wall hook to add holiday cheer to a small living room. A set of gold bells wrapped around a door knob from Bria Hammel Interiors adds metallic brightness and a jingly reminder that it’s the holidays every time you open or close the door.
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08
of 42Try a Windowsill Vignette
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A simple way to add Christmas cheer to your small space without sacrificing entertaining space is to decorate the windowsill. The Merrythought combined plenty of greens, gold-toned accents, and a DIY cotton wreath that is neutral enough to be repurposed from year to year.
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09
of 42Decorate the Furniture
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In a small space, you can achieve a cozy holiday feel by adding layers of decor to an existing piece of furniture. Inspired By Charm styled a vintage glass-front china cabinet with cold-weather blankets on the inside, a collection of Christmas trees on top, and a DIY gingerbread wreath hanging on the front.
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10
of 42Arrange a Holiday Shelfie
Credit: Design by Bria Hammel Interiors
Many small space dwellers choose neutral tones to keep visual clutter at bay. If your home is decorated in shades of gray and white, try choosing neutral-toned Christmas decorations for a cohesive look, and add some subtle holiday sparkle with bronze- or gold-toned accessories, like this little trio of bells from Bria Hammel Interiors.
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11
of 42Choose a Small Tree
Credit: Design and Photo by Sandra Foster
Choose a Christmas tree that won’t overwhelm a small living room-dining room combo. Sandra Foster decorated her whitewashed Victorian-style tiny house in the Catskills of New York with classic Christmas decor like a diminutive Christmas tree with real candles (keep an eye on open flames for safety reasons, obviously).
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12
of 42Style a Christmas Bar Cart
Credit: Styled by Emily Bowser and Erik Kenneth Staalberg for Emily Henderson Design / Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp
The bar cart is a multipurpose small space staple. Emily Henderson Design styled this one with Christmas spirits, a mini tree, and a gold bell wreath tied with a black ribbon.
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13
of 42Edge the Room With Garlands
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Inject mood-boosting greenery in a small living room by running a garland around the edges of the room. This small space solution can be used in place of, or as a complement to, a traditional tree.
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14
of 42Embellish the Entry
Credit: Styled by Emily Bowser and Erik Kenneth Staalberg for Emily Henderson Design / Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp
In a small space, it’s likely that your front entry leads directly into your living room. All the more reason to set a holiday tone as soon as you step in the front door. In this landing area from Emily Henderson Design, whimsical objects and wreaths decorate the door and wall.
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15
of 42Hang Bookcase Stockings
Credit: Emily Henderson Design / Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp
Hang stockings from a bookcase in a small living room without a fireplace mantel. Emily Henderson Design turned the built-ins into a makeshift mantelpiece, then turned the books around and added neutral accessories in shades of white and green to complete the easy Christmas makeover.
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16
of 42Make Some DIY Decor
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Set a tabletop tree on a side table to create a focal point in a small living room. Frichic made an understated DIY wood dowel tree hung with simple modern ornaments to complement the minimalist contemporary style of the room.
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17
of 42Spruce Up the Bathroom
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In a small home or apartment, look for opportunities to decorate unexpected corners. The Merrythought gave this Christmas bathroom an understated holiday refresh with a DIY orange slice garland hung from the top of the mirror over the sink.
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18
of 42Try a Corner Tabletop Tree
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Set up your tree in a corner to save space, be it a standalone tree or a tabletop tree. Liz Marie Blog dressed up a miniature vintage-style Christmas tree with neutral-toned decor, and perched it on a tabletop in the corner.
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19
of 42DIY a Mirror Garland
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Decorating with mirrors is a small space trick that helps to reflect light and double views. The Merrythought embellished this living room mirror with a DIY metal tree garland to add an extra layer of shine and sparkle.
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20
of 42Add Christmas Throw Pillows
Credit: Design by Emily Henderson Design / Styling by Emily Bowser / Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp
If you live in a tiny space, the smallest accessories can make a statement. Keep it simple with a Christmas tree pillow cover that you can trot out every December, like this one from Emily Henderson Design, with its embroidery, tassels, and little golden bell tree topper.
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21
of 42Set a Mini Tree on a Stool
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Create a pint-sized Christmas vignette with a rustic wood stool. The Merrythought perched a mini tree on top wrapped in kraft paper from a paper grocery bag, and decorated with simple DIY wooden bead ornaments strung up with jute.
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22
of 42Decorate the Nightstand
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Decorate a small Christmas bedroom with whimsical decor that means something to you. Lobster and Swan was inspired by the Nutcracker’s Sugar Plum Fairy, decorating with purple-toned flowers, floral prints, and twinkle lights.
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23
of 42Refresh a Reading Corner
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Decorating a reading corner will encourage you to take some time for yourself to relax and recharge between social events. Inspired By Charm added Christmas flair with a small wreath on the gallery wall, a faux fur pillow on the armchair, a plaid throw, and a mini tree and scented candle on the tiny side table.
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24
of 42Choose a Tree Alternative
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If you don’t have the floor space for a tree, get creative and claim some blank wall space to hang an alternative Christmas tree instead. This DIY advent calendar from Most Lovely Things is made from driftwood, greens, and drawstring bags hung with clay tags that is neutral enough to work in any small space.
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25
of 42Decorate With String Lights
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A gilded antique-style mirror looks instantly Christmassy come December. Blogger Ursula Carmona of Home Made By Carmona styled hers with a simple holiday wreath and jars of LED string lights on the floor to up the ante.
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26
of 42Style Holiday Bookshelves
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If you live in a small space and don’t have room or inclination for a tree, try decorating a tall free-standing bookcase instead. Inspired by Charm styled this one with an assortment of vintage Christmas tree figurines, woodland creatures, and a Merry Christmas sign.
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27
of 42Make a DIY Garland
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Decorate a shelf above the sofa to create a holiday focal point in a small living room without a fireplace. This Christmas banner from The Merrythought takes up no room at all but sends a loud and clear message.
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28
of 42Favor Metallic Finishes
Credit: Design by Emily Henderson / Styling by Emily Bowser / Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp
Adding a metallic wreath to the wall in the corner of a small living room will add shine and reflect light. Emily Henderson Design paired gold with red and plenty of natural greens for a classic combination.
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29
of 42Light Up the Built-Ins
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Dedicate a shelf in a wall of built-ins to create a Christmas altar. Blogger Ursula Carmona of Home Made by Carmona likes to decorate her living room built-ins with holiday flair, adding greenery, ornaments, candles, and stacks of books.
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30
of 42Hang a Window Garland
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Decorate bare windows for Christmas with a lighted preserved flower garland. Let it drape down one side for an asymmetrical look.
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31
of 42Layer in Ambient Light
Credit: Design by Emily Henderson / Styling by Emily Bowser / Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp
You can never have too many points of ambient light in a small Christmas living room. Emily Henderson Design included a lighted garland on the built-ins, a scented candle on the side table, and a pair of illuminated Christmas tree figurines on the coffee table.
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32
of 42Create a Cozy Centerpiece
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If your kitchen table is your sole dining table, add a holiday centerpiece that can stay up all season. This cozy corner banquette from Most Lovely Things features a simple centerpiece of foraged bare branches strung with simple ornaments.
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33
of 42Decorate the Kitchen
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If your small kitchen has open shelving, you can turn it into a Christmas-themed display by adding a few choice accessories that work with the style of your space. A Beautiful Mess added bottle brush trees, a green-striped teacup, and some red beaded garlands to chunky wood shelving.
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34
of 42DIY Some Holiday Wall Decor
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Hang holiday-themed wall art to maximize vertical space in a small living room. Liz Marie Blog made a lighthearted DIY wall sign memorializing the names of Santa’s reindeer in this casual space.
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35
of 42Adorn the Curtain Rods
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Take advantage of vertical space in a small living room by hanging garlands from the curtain rods. This will give your small living room an extra dose of Christmas cheer without taking up any space.
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36
of 42Hang Wall Stockings
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Save space by hanging Christmas stockings on the wall. The Merrythought created an easy and budget-friendly DIY stocking holder with a branch decorated with greens and berries in this minimalist neutral living room.
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37
of 42Create a Rustic Feel
Credit: Design by Kibler & Kirch / Photo by Audrey Hall
Layer a seating area in a small living room with red and green textiles for a festive feel. Kibler & Kirch used plaid accessories and rustic accents to warm up this Montana cabin for the holidays.
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38
of 42Hang a Window Wreath
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Save space in a small Christmas living room by hanging a wreath in the window. O’Hara Interiors chose a minimalist hoop wreath to complement this white-walled space for an uncluttered look.
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39
of 42Use a Rustic Tree Planter
Credit: Ursula Carmona of Home Made By Carmona
Place a small tree in a large planter to give it extra height and presence. Blogger Ursula Carmona of Home Made By Carmona placed an evergreen in a rustic planter and decorated it simply with flowers for an understated look.
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40
of 42Drape the Headboard
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If you live in a studio with the bed on display, consider it a holiday decorating opportunity rather than an eyesore. Brexton Cole Interiors gave this space a seasonal refresh with a garland draped across the headboard, a Christmas pillow, and a scented candle on the nightstand.
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41
of 42Set Up a Side Table Display
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Display seasonal characters like Santa or the Nutcracker on a side table for a festive look that doesn’t take up lots of space. O’Hara Interiors paired vintage-style Santa figurines with a bowl of nuts and a nutcracker for this whimsical display.
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42
of 42Decorate the Kitchen Table
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Turn your apartment kitchen table into a focal point with a holiday centerpiece. Inspired By Charm filled a tray with miniature trees and houses under glass cloches.