The short version: in a small apartment, pick a slim or pencil tree instead of a full one. Under an 8 ft ceiling, a 7.5 ft pencil tree is only about 27 inches wide (a full tree of the same height is about 56 inches). Then decorate up and on walls and windows instead of on tables and floors, use removable hooks instead of nails, and choose a few big pieces over lots of small ones.
Our Top Picks
- 1See on Amazon
Best for Tight Spaces: Pre-Lit Pencil Christmas Tree, 7.5 ft by National Tree Company
A pencil tree gives you full height in under 30 inches of floor space.
- 2See on Amazon
Renter-Friendly: Clear Decorating Hooks by Command
Hang lights, garland and wreaths without nails, then peel them off in January.
- 3See on Amazon
Warm White Fairy Lights, Battery Operated
Battery lights go on shelves, mirrors and windows far from an outlet, with no cords across the floor.
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Find the tree that fits your ceiling and floor space
Tree height for your ceiling, plus lights, ornaments and garland.
How Big a Tree Fits a Small Apartment?
Height is rarely the problem in an apartment; width is. These numbers come from our Christmas tree calculator for an 8 ft ceiling, a 6 inch topper and an artificial tree, decorated in a classic look.
| Tree shape | Tallest tree that fits | Width at the bottom | Mini lights | Ornaments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full | 7.5 ft | About 56 in | 750 (8 strands of 100) | About 115 |
| Slim | 7.5 ft | About 41 in | 600 (6 strands of 100) | About 85 |
| Pencil | 7.5 ft | About 27 in | 400 (4 strands of 100) | About 60 |
A pencil tree saves more than two feet of floor width compared with a full tree, and it needs about half the lights and ornaments, which also saves money and storage space. For more on light counts, see how many lights for a Christmas tree.
13 Small Apartment Christmas Decor Ideas
1. A Slim Tree in the Corner
A slim tree fits the corner most apartments already have free. Place it where it doesn't block a walkway or the TV, and leave a little room to reach the outlet.
2. A Pencil Tree by the Door or Window
A pre-lit pencil tree is barely wider than a floor lamp, so it fits beside a door, between a sofa and a wall, or next to a window. Pre-lit models also skip the most frustrating part of decorating.
3. A Tabletop Tree
No floor space at all? Put a 2 to 4 foot tree on a console, a sturdy side table or a dresser. Set it on a small tray or in a basket so it looks intentional.
4. A Wall Tree
A wall tree takes zero floor space: greenery branches, wooden dowels, a garland in a tree shape, or even a string of lights taped into a triangle. Hang it with removable hooks and add a few light ornaments.
5. Decorate the Window
Windows are free real estate. Hang a wreath on a ribbon from a tension rod or a removable hook on the frame, add string lights around the edge and a small potted rosemary tree on the sill. It's also what neighbors see from outside.
6. Garland on Shelves Instead of a Mantel
No mantel? A bookshelf, floating shelf or the top of a dresser works the same way. Run a garland along it, add a few candles and a small framed print. Our Christmas mantel ideas translate well to any shelf.
7. Lights That Do the Heavy Lifting
Warm white lights make a small space feel cozy with almost no footprint. Drape them over a curtain rod, along a headboard or around a mirror. Battery lights with a timer avoid extension cords across a small room.
8. One Big Wreath Instead of Ten Small Things
A single large wreath on the front door or above the sofa makes more impact than a dozen tiny decorations scattered across tables you need to use.
9. Renter-Friendly Hanging
Skip nails. Use clear removable hooks for lights and garland, over-the-door hooks for wreaths, tension rods for windows and weighted holders for stockings. Press adhesive hooks on a day before you hang anything heavy and check the weight rating.
10. Stockings Without a Fireplace
Hang stockings from a garland-wrapped ladder, a row of hooks by the door, the end of a bookcase or weighted holders on a dresser. Two or three stockings look better than squeezing in more.
11. A Cozy Textile Swap
Switch to a plaid or knit throw, a couple of festive pillow covers and a small seasonal rug by the door. They take no extra floor space and store flat in a drawer afterward.
12. A Scent Instead of Stuff
A simmer pot, a pine-scented candle or fresh eucalyptus in the shower adds a holiday feeling without anything to find a place for.
13. Decorate the Entry
Even a narrow entry can hold a small wreath on the inside of the door, a mini garland on a coat hook and a basket for gloves and hats. It's the first thing you see when you get home.
Keep It Feeling Spacious
- Choose a palette of two or three colors. In a small room, too many colors reads as clutter.
- Decorate high. Shelves, windows and walls keep the floor and tables clear for daily life.
- Edit your everyday decor. Pack away a few regular pieces while the holiday decor is out, so surfaces don't double up.
- Mind the walkways. Leave clear paths around the tree and the sofa.
For year-round small space tips, see small space living room ideas and how to decorate a small apartment.
Storage After the Holidays
Storage is the real challenge of small space Christmas decor, so plan for it before you buy.
- Pick decor that flattens or nests: a pre-lit tree that folds into a slim bag, fabric stockings, paper stars.
- Use one labeled bin for each area (tree, windows, textiles) so packing up takes minutes.
- Wrap lights around a piece of cardboard so they don't tangle.
- Store under the bed or on a closet top shelf in flat, lidded bins.
- Keep the total to what fits in one or two bins. Before buying something new, decide what it replaces.
National Tree Company
Pre-Lit Pencil Christmas Tree, 7.5 ft
Full height in a footprint under 30 inches wide, with the lights already on.
- ✓Pre-lit
- ✓Narrow footprint
- ✓Folding stand
Command
Clear Decorating Hooks
Hang lights and garland on walls and window frames without nails.
- ✓Damage-free removal
- ✓Clear finish
- ✓Several sizes
Warm White Fairy Lights, Battery Operated
Lights for shelves, mirrors and windows with no cords across the floor.
- ✓Timer setting
- ✓Thin copper wire
- ✓Indoor use
ZOBER
Christmas Tree Storage Bag
A zippered bag keeps an artificial tree compact under a bed or in a closet until next year.
- ✓Fits trees up to 7.5 ft
- ✓Carry handles
- ✓Zippered
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Common Questions
What size Christmas tree is best for a small apartment?
A slim or pencil tree. Under an 8 ft ceiling with a 6 inch topper, a 7.5 ft pencil tree is about 27 inches wide and a slim one about 41 inches, compared with about 56 inches for a full tree of the same height.
How can I decorate my apartment for Christmas without a tree?
Try a wall tree, a large wreath, garland and lights on shelves and windows, and a few textile swaps like a plaid throw and pillow covers.
How do I hang Christmas decorations in a rental without damage?
Use removable adhesive hooks, over-the-door hooks, tension rods in windows and weighted stocking holders. Check each hook's weight rating and remove them slowly, pulling the tab straight down.
How many lights does a pencil Christmas tree need?
For a 7.5 ft pencil tree with a classic look, plan on about 400 mini lights, or 4 strands of 100. A slim tree of the same height takes about 600.
The Bottom Line
Choose a slim or pencil tree (or a wall tree), decorate up on shelves, walls and windows, hang everything with removable hooks, and keep the decor to what fits in a bin or two. Use our Christmas Tree Size & Lights Calculator to check what fits under your ceiling, and see farmhouse Christmas decor ideas for styling inspiration.
