10 Small Spaces with the Best Holiday Displays

‘Tis the season for holiday decorating! Year after year, I find myself wanting to spend a small fortune on mini trees, lights, and all things festive. But after the first year of going all out in my apartment, I had to pull back. Because there are only so many places you can add cheer to in 600-square-foot apartment, that is, without stumbling over faux reindeer or worse, blowing a fuse. That said, I’ve been legit impressed with what I’ve seen tiny house and small space dwellers do to get their homes in the spirit. Creative things are happening, folks, and we’re rounding up the best of the best display ideas here so you can steal them and wow all your guests this December.

Let’s kick things off with Rebekah Carey of A & B Creative, who turned her #bittyberkeleybungalow into a winter wonderland last year for Lonny. There are a couple of key takeaways in this vignette. First, white’s a great seasonal color for a small space because it’s light and airy. Furry or fuzzy textiles add a layer of cozy, and if you’re going to spring for a tree, it’s probably best to shop for something tabletop like this white version. Garlands are also a good idea since they work the walls and can occupy dead space near your ceiling line.

Here’s another wall display from the same space that proves you don’t need a fireplace for stockings. Hang a pair on the wall over a console or bar cart. Heck, you can even hang them from a bookshelf.

Even if you do have a fireplace for your stockings, you can still add more festive flair to the equation. It’s always a good idea to think about your rugs this time of year. A sheepskin or flokati rug ups the winter ante and is a big part of this charming mantel display in this tiny home.

You can always find room for an advent calendar if you want one, and it doesn’t have to be hanging. This small style, which is in the same tiny home as the fireplace above, looks like it’s on its own shelf. But you could make this a functional holiday centerpiece on your all-purpose dining table if you don’t have a dedicated spot.

This tiny house dweller knows the power of fresh greens and channeled holiday vibes that way. It looks like a mixture of eucalyptus and pine, but I can’t be sure. The little LED fairy lights add an extra dose of festiveness, and again, you’re not really sacrificing space since you’re just mounting garlands and a wreath or two on the architectural features that are already there—shelves, walls, doors, and window frames. Display done!

Speaking of greenery, try adding this small-space-friendly holiday card ladder display to your decorating bag of tricks. Just find a super thin metal or wood ladder, lean (or mount) it against the wall and then use clothespins to hang your cards up.

Or “make” a tree on a wall and call it a day. This one uses twine, birch logs, cut greens, and lights. The beauty is that it’s super shallow and won’t get in anyone’s way.

For a fresh spin on this tree idea, you can take it overhead. Buy a “damaged” tree, cut a limb off and then suspend that from a broom or garden stake via zip ties. Then decorate! Use fishing line or ribbons to deck it out with ornaments.

You can also add pine cones to the mix like these tiny house owners did. Talk about space-saving and easy. All they had to do was sacrifice a little bit of vertical space below the beam.

Small-space kitchens can get in on the fun too. I love this card and holiday ephemera display idea that utilizes cabinet door space. Just secure a strip of ribbon to the doors (maybe painter’s tape on the backside of each cabinet door to avoid damaging the finish) and use that to post cards and announcements.

What are you waiting for? If these small spaces can bring the holiday displays, you can too. Pick your favorite (or two) and get to it!