My living room: Couch | Mirror | Shelf Floor Lamp | Similar Coffee Table | Similar Throw Pillows | Counter Stools | Similar Rug
The holidays are my absolute favorite time of year. I love the lights, movies, music, treats, and the decor. Oh, the decor. There’s something about a fresh tree, string lights, stockings, and greenery that evokes warmth, comfort, and joy. I face a challenge here, however, as I live in a small one-bedroom apartment with no mantle and no room for a full tree. No matter – I’ve learned how to make the most of my space’s offerings and create a festive, cozy feel in my little home, and I am here to share how I do just that.
Make it Simple, but Significant
This is actually a line from Mad Men (my all-time favorite show), said by Don Draper as he pitches an idea. I’ve never forgotten this line because I think it applies to many facets of life – including the home! That is to say, I avoid buying too much and muddling the space. Because my living room is small, I want my pieces to be simple – like this white bottle brush tree – but significant. They should stand out, not get lost in a sea of clutter. And so, all that sits on my coffee table is this tree and this candle (and a few coasters). (Shop similar bottle brush trees here and my exact candle here.)
Choose an Effortless Color Scheme
I am not much of a red girl (although I do wear red just for the holidays!), and so I choose to avoid the color in my home. I already have whites and grays primarily in my apartment, so I pick decor for the holidays that builds off of that. This year, I decided to go for a white-and-gold theme. My little trees are white and gold, and this snow-covered one has a subtle green pop. I use a white blanket (this one is almost the exact one) at this time of year and white lights around the room. Notice the cream glow in the room as a result. (See similar desktop trees: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. See holiday essential oils here and shop tree candles here.)
Add a Little Greenery
Although I can’t have a big tree, having a bit of holiday greenery just adds cheer. Place pieces of green, pine cones, or red berries around the room – perhaps on a table or in a vase on the kitchen counter. (Shop greenery: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. Shop berries: 1, 2, 3, 4. Shop pinecones in your yard or here.)
Soft Lighting at Night
Hang enough string lights and candles so that you don’t need to turn on any other lights. With a small space, this is totally doable. I have 3 strands of white lights hung around the room (1 strand of 100 lights and 2 strands of 70 lights, draped over mirrors and window sills), and it’s perfect. Just relying on these lights makes the space a dream in the evening, so you can curl up and feel like you live in a Christmas movie yourself. (Pro tip for a night-in: add a peppermint tea bag to your hot cocoa. Boom, instant peppermint hot cocoa. Shop mugs here – on sale.)
My outfit: Blanket Scarf | Red Sweater | Super Soft Jegging | Over the Knee Stretch Boot
After intentionally decorating my apartment, I just love it. I could spend every moment of the holidays on my couch with all my lights plugged in and be happy and content. If you have a small space, how do you decorate for holidays? I would love to hear in the comments!
P.S. Some of my other favorite holiday home goods for you to shop:
