Our Best Christmas Tree Ideas for Small Spaces

Traditional holiday symbols get a glossy makeover with simple shapes and loads of bright red and white.

Start with the Base
A medium-size woven basket (etuhome.com) provides a tidier footing than a tree skirt.

Go for Garland
First hang the strands of lights, and then dangle a garland made from felt balls along the branches.

Adorn with Ornaments
Dress branches with large red Gobstopper-like globes mixed with favorite holiday images. For an extra-sweet touch, suspend candy canes from the frosted boughs.

Top It Off
Try a homespun take on stars with a large matte wooden version.

The Details
Stick to solid wrapping papers except for one standout polka-dot pattern.

Get the Look
Wooden Star in White, $47; waterfallmountainart.etsy.com
Putz House Ornaments with LED Lights, $30/set of two; theholidaybarn.com
Felt Ball Garland in Red, from $12; therainbowbarn.etsy.com
For a similar look, try Red & White Gingham Ribbon, $4; hobbylobby.com
Jim Marvin Candy Apple Red Bubblegum Ornaments, $50/set of six; theholidaybarn.com
Christmas Dots by Charlotte Winter, $15; spoonflower.com
Silver Santa Head Ornament, $8; hobbylobby.com

A ladylike palette of teal and pink reflects the pastel hues of these retro ornaments.

Tiny Tree
At only 4 feet tall, this tree (set in a sturdy planter) is just the right size for a table in a foyer.

Reflective Ornaments
Here's proof that a small suite of pink, gold, and aqua ornaments is all you need to trim a tabletop tree.

Snowball Garland
Skip the lights, and adorn branches with a distinctive white foam garland that resembles a strand of pearls.

Traditional Topper
Finish the look with a giant bow, nearly 1 foot tall, that trails the length of the tree. Tip: Wired ribbon is the secret to a pert bow.

Get the Look
For a similar look, try Light Pastel Pink Taffeta Wired Edge Ribbon, $10; cottagecraftsonline.etsy.com
For a similar look, try White Shatterproof Ball Garland, $30; christmascentral.com
For a similar look, try Moonstone Satin Ribbon, $3; hobbylobby.com
China Seas Bali Hai Turquoise on Tint; quadrillefabrics.com
Shiny Brite Striped Ornaments, from $40; shoplaneyleigh.etsy.com

Twirl up a tree fit for any mountain cabin with a menagerie of woodland-inspired pieces.

Bucket Base
Choose a small- or medium-size galvanized bucket as your vessel.

Hunt for Ornaments
Think of the pheasants as the headliners, and add a supporting cast of woodsy oak leaf, acorn, and feather pieces all around. Fill empty spots with shiny blue globes.

Glowing Garland
Stick with simple string lights. The shimmery ornaments will accentuate the glow from the bulbs.

A Woodsy Topper
Create a unique crown of pinecones. Spray-paint three to five of them gold, and then secure each one to a flexible wire stem with pieces of florist wire. Finally, twist the florist wire around at the top of the tree until it's secure.

Get the Look
Cody Foster & Co. Ornament: Golden Oak & Acorn, $16; ellingtonandfrench.com
For a similar look, try Braided Burlap Tape Ribbon in Natural, $4; shopofembellishments.etsy.com
Green Mist Solid Color Wrapping Paper, from $29; papermart.com
Cody Foster & Co. Floating Feather Ornaments in White & Gold; codyfoster.com for retailers
Cody Foster & Co. Frost Field Pheasant Ornaments; codyfoster.com for retailers
Small Marbled Ball Ornaments, $30/set of six; glitterville.com

Break from the traditional decorating mold by using geometric shapes and lots of sparkle.

Tinsel Tree
Ideal for small-space dwellers (it folds up flat for off-season storage), this tree stands proud at just 3 feet tall.

Mod Ornaments
The tree has character on its own, so all the trim you'll need is a combination of sharp pink shapes and shining pineapples.

Sparkle Topper
The secret to this sparkling style is adding a small star with a silver finish.

Shiny Details
Wrap presents with iridescent paper, pink and silver ribbons, and metallic gift tags.

Get the Look
For a similar look, try Glitter Star Tree Topper, $17; wayfair.com
For a similar look, try Solid Fabric Satin Ribbon, $9; ribbons.com
Happy Holidays Tags, $10/set of 8; papersource.com
For a similar look, try 3' Tinsel Twig Tree, $40; christmascentral.com
Silver Glitter Wrapping Paper, $10; papersource.com
Cody Foster & Co. Tiny Pineapple Ornaments; codyfoster.com for retailers
Cody Foster & Co. Geometric Ornaments; codyfoster.com for retailers

Update a classic tabletop accent with a mix of shapely ornaments and festive flocked branches

Materials:

• Gingerbread dough
• cookie cutters in assorted shapes
• chartreuse and aqua ribbons
• 36-inch artificial cypress tree
• two to three cans of spray snow (we used Santa Sno Blower)
• concrete planter
• reindeer moss
• ornaments
• gold twine

Method:

1. Shape 24 cookies with cutters.
2. Before baking the gingerbread dough, use a straw to poke a hole in each cookie for the ribbon.
3. Bake and let cool.
4. Thread loop of ribbon through each cookie, and tie.
5. Cover tree with spray snow; let dry for one hour.
6. Place tree in concrete planter, and cover base with reindeer moss.
7. Hang cookies from tree. Add ornaments.
8. Trail chartreuse and aqua ribbons and gold twine down from top of tree.

This citrus combo provides a fresh dose of sunshine

Materials:

• Five (2-pound) bags of lemons
• florist picks
• 24-inch plastic foam cone
• sprigs of fresh rosemary and cypress
• urn
• five oranges
• reindeer moss
• ribbon

Method:

1. Stick lemons with florist picks (one per lemon).
2. Starting toward the bottom of the cone, insert lemons in circular diagonal rows, working your way up and leaving about 1 inch of space between each row until the cone is covered.
3. Fill in the empty spaces between the lemon rows with rosemary and cypress sprigs.
4. Set the decorated cone securely inside the urn.
5. Place leftover lemons and oranges around the base of the cone; cover up any gaps with reindeer moss.
6. Trail ribbon from the top of the arrangement.

We turned the beloved holiday calendar custom into wonderful wall décor. We hung our presents in random order to give the look a playful treasure hunt effect.

Materials:

• Small saw
• seven wooden dowels
• 14 wooden dowel caps
• 15 clear adhesive hooks
• ribbon
• branches
• 25 small gifts
• 25 number tags
• ornaments
• greenery
• tree topper
• beaded garland

Method:

1. With a small saw, cut seven dowels in graduated lengths to form a tree shape. Attach caps to the ends of dowels, and secure dowels to wall with adhesive hooks (two per dowel).
2. Using ribbon, tie a branch to every other dowel.
3. Assemble 25 small gifts, and label them with number tags, 1 through 25. With ribbon, tie each gift to the tree.
4. Fill gaps with colorful ornaments and sprigs of greenery.
5. Place tree topper above the top branch with an adhesive hook.
6. Zigzag ribbon and garland across and down levels of tree.