Apartment Decor Ideas
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Christmas

Christmas Decorating Ideas for Small Apartments

Decorate a small apartment for Christmas with one focal point, the surfaces you already use and hanging methods that leave no new holes. Below: where a tree fits, what to use instead of one, how to hang lights and garland in a rental, the safety rules for lights, and how to take it all down clean.

3D styler render of a vintage open-plan apartment with sage walls, a plaid-covered dining table, a rocking chair, a wooden daybed, a side table and a potted plant
Rendered in our 3D styler. The plant corner by the side table is the kind of spot a tabletop tree fits.

Where does a Christmas tree fit in a small apartment?

A Christmas tree fits where it blocks no door, no walkway and no heat source, which in most small apartments means a corner beside the sofa or a console by the window. Measure that spot, floor and ceiling, before you buy the tree.

  • Keep the tree away from radiators, heat vents and other heat sources. The CPSC notes that heated rooms dry trees out fast, and a dry tree is a fire hazard.
  • Keep it out of walkways and doorways, as the CPSC advises.
  • Pick a spot near an outlet, so no cord crosses the path to the door.
  • Leave clearance above the tree for the topper you plan to use.

Clearing a corner means moving furniture. Drag the sofa, chairs and side tables around a styled living room in the free 3D styler to see which corner opens up.

Open the 3D styler

Small Christmas tree alternatives

The best small-space alternatives are a tabletop tree, branches in a tall vase and a dressed-up houseplant you already own. Each one gives the room a Christmas focal point without giving up floor space.

  • Tabletop tree

    No trace

    A small tree on a console, side table or dresser takes no floor space and sits at eye level.

  • Branches in a tall vase

    No trace

    Evergreen or bare branches in a heavy vase, hung with a few light ornaments, fill a corner vertically.

  • Decorate a plant you own

    No trace

    Wrap a large houseplant in a single light set and hang the lightest ornaments on its sturdiest stems.

  • Garland ladder

    No trace

    Lean a blanket ladder against the wall and wrap it in garland and lights for a tree shape that folds away.

  • Wall tree of lights

    Comes off with care

    Shape a string of lights into a tree outline with small adhesive clips rated for the weight.

How to hang Christmas decorations in a rental

Hang Christmas decorations from fixtures already in place, from rods and over-the-door hooks, or from adhesive clips kept under their weight rating. Nails and screws are the methods that turn a holiday into a deposit deduction.

DecorationRenter-safe methodTag
String lightsAlong the curtain rod, behind sheer curtains, or wrapped around a bookcase or headboardNo trace
WreathOver-the-door hanger on the inside of the front doorNo trace
GarlandDraped over a shelf, mirror or curtain rod; held with adhesive hooks where it needs supportComes off with care
StockingsWeighted stocking holders on a console, shelf or bookcaseNo trace
Window ornamentsHung from a tension rod inside the window frameNo trace
Lights along the ceiling lineAdhesive light clips, removed with the method on the packComes off with care

Adhesive products come off clean only when you follow the maker's prep and removal steps. 3M's instructions for its Command picture-hanging strips say to wait 7 days after painting, skip wallpaper, and stretch the strip slowly down along the wall to remove it. More methods are in our renter-friendly wall decor guide.

Christmas lights safety in an apartment

Use lights with an independent testing laboratory label, check each set for damage, and turn them off when you go to bed or leave home. These rules come from the CPSC's holiday decoration safety sheet.

  • Check every set, new or old, for broken or cracked sockets, frayed or bare wires and loose connections. Throw out damaged sets or repair them before use.
  • Use no more than three standard-size light sets per extension cord.
  • Never put electric lights on a metallic tree. Light it with a spotlight from beside or above instead.
  • Keep a live tree's stand filled with water the whole time the tree is indoors.
  • Never use lit candles on a tree or near evergreens, and keep candles away from wrapping paper.

Candles anywhere else in the room stay at least 12 inches from anything that burns, per the US Fire Administration, which also suggests battery-operated flameless candles.

Use the surfaces you already have

Decorate the surfaces you already use: the window, the shelves, the coffee table, the kitchen counter and the bed. Small apartment Christmas decor belongs on surfaces, because a small apartment runs out of floor long before it runs out of surfaces.

  • Window

    No trace

    String lights on the curtain rod read from inside and from the street.

  • Coffee table

    No trace

    One tray with greenery, ornaments in a bowl and flameless candles. Lift the whole tray off when you need the table.

  • Open shelves

    No trace

    Garland along the front edge and a few ornaments between the books.

  • Bed

    No trace

    Red, green or plaid flannel bedding changes the bedroom without a single decoration.

In a studio, keep the display in the living zone and let bedding carry the season in the sleeping zone. More layout ideas are on our studio apartment ideas page.

How to take Christmas decor down without damage

Take Christmas decor down in reverse order: lights first, then hanging pieces, then adhesive clips and hooks last. Removing adhesive slowly with the pack's own method is what keeps the paint on the wall.

  1. Unplug and remove every light set, checking each one for damage as you wrap it.
  2. Lift off wreaths, garland and stockings.
  3. Remove adhesive clips and hooks by stretching the tab slowly down along the wall, never pulling toward you.
  4. Check the walls in daylight for residue or marks while you still have the cleaning supplies out.
  5. Pack everything into one labelled bin.

For storing the bin and the rest of the year's decor, see seasonal apartment decor. For move-out, see how to get your security deposit back.

Questions people ask

What size Christmas tree fits a small apartment?

The right size is the tree that fits the corner you measured, clears the ceiling with room for a topper and blocks no walkway. A tabletop tree on a console takes no floor space at all.

Can you have a real Christmas tree in an apartment?

Your lease and building rules decide whether a real tree is allowed, so read them first. Inside, keep the stand filled with water and the tree away from heat sources, as the CPSC advises.

How do you hang Christmas lights without nails?

Hang Christmas lights without nails along the curtain rod, around a bookcase or headboard, or with adhesive light clips kept under their weight rating. Remove the clips by stretching the tab slowly down along the wall.

How do you decorate a studio apartment for Christmas?

Decorate a studio for Christmas with one focal display in the living zone and lighter touches elsewhere, such as bedding and a wreath on the inside of the door. A tabletop tree keeps the floor free.

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