Small Christmas Tree Ideas for Tiny Spaces (Plus Tree Alternatives)
Small Christmas tree ideas for apartments and tiny rooms: pencil trees, tabletop trees, living trees, wall trees and no-tree alternatives that fit.
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In this guide · 21 sections
The best small Christmas tree ideas start with how much floor you can spare. A slim pencil tree fits a narrow corner, a tabletop tree needs no floor at all, and a tree made of garland on the wall takes up nothing but a few inches of paint. Choose the type first, then decorate it so it looks deliberate rather than like a compromise.
Below are 14 ideas sorted by space: trees that take a little floor, trees that sit on a surface, and alternatives for rooms with no room at all. Planning the rest of the apartment around the holidays? Start with our guide to zoning a studio apartment, so the tree gets the right spot.
How to Choose a Small Christmas Tree
Measure the spot before you shop: width, depth and the ceiling height minus room for a topper. Then use these rough sizes to narrow it down:
- Tabletop trees are usually 18 inches to 2 feet tall.
- Pencil trees are full height but narrow, with a base often around 20 to 30 inches across.
- Four-foot trees are short but can still be wide; one popular 4-foot model is listed at about 35 inches across, so check the diameter, not just the height.
Keep the tree out of the main walkway and near an outlet so no cord crosses the room.
Small Christmas Tree Ideas That Take a Little Floor
1A pencil tree in a narrow corner
Pencil trees give you full height in a fraction of the width. They suit the awkward corner nothing else fits in, and a pre-lit one means fewer cords to manage.
2A 4-foot tree in a basket
Set a short tree inside a large woven basket or a galvanized tub instead of on a stand with a skirt. The basket hides the stand, adds height and looks finished from every side.
3A flocked slim tree
A frosted or flocked tree reads lighter than dark green, which helps in a small room. Keep the ornaments simple (white, wood, brass) so it doesn't look busy.
4A living Norfolk Island pine
Norfolk Island pines are sold every December as small living Christmas trees. Decorate one with light ornaments and a string of mini lights, then keep it as a houseplant for the rest of the year. Growers like Costa Farms recommend bright, indirect light and watering when the top couple of inches of soil are dry.
5A small tree raised on a stool or crate
A 3- or 4-foot tree on a sturdy stool, a wooden crate or a stack of books looks taller and takes up only the footprint of what it stands on. Wrap the crate in linen or a blanket to hide it. A storage stool works too, and keeps working after the holidays; see our double-duty furniture for small apartments.
Tabletop Christmas Tree Ideas
6A trio of bottle brush trees
Three bottle brush trees in different heights on a shelf or windowsill make a little forest. They're cheap, store flat in a shoebox and work in any color scheme.
7A rosemary tree
Rosemary trimmed into a cone is sold as a mini Christmas tree in many grocery and garden stores. It smells great, sits on the kitchen counter, and you can cook with it after the holidays.
8A tabletop tree on a console
A 2-foot tree on a console, dresser or side table becomes a focal point when you give it room: clear the rest of the surface except for a candle or two.
9A tiny tree under a cloche
Put a mini tree under a glass cloche or inside a large glass jar for a snow-globe look on a bookshelf.
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Christmas Tree Alternatives for Small Spaces
10A wall tree of garland and lights
Shape pine garland and a string of lights into a tree outline on the wall with removable clips. It takes no floor, and you can stack wrapped gifts underneath.
11Branches in a tall vase
A few tall branches in a heavy vase, hung with small ornaments and fairy lights, give height with almost no footprint. Pine, birch or bare twigs all work.
12A ladder tree
Lean a wooden ladder against the wall and drape it with garland and lights, then hang ornaments from the rungs. It folds away afterward.
13Ornaments from a curtain rod or the ceiling
Hang glass ornaments at different heights from a curtain rod, or from the ceiling with removable hooks, to create a floating tree shape in front of a window.
14A garland shelf
Skip the tree and dress one shelf with garland, lights and your favorite ornaments in a bowl. It's the lowest-effort option and still feels like Christmas. Our small apartment decorating guide has more ways to decorate without adding clutter.
How to Decorate a Small Tree So It Looks Full
- Lights first. More lights make a small tree glow; wrap them deep into the branches, not just around the tips.
- Scale ornaments down. Big ornaments swamp a small tree. Use many small ones instead.
- Stick to one palette. Two or three colors keep a small tree from looking busy.
- Fill gaps. Tuck ribbon, picks or small pine cones into sparse spots.
- Finish the base. A basket, crate or folded blanket looks better than a bare stand.
If your apartment has no overhead lights, a lit tree can become one of the main light sources in the room; our guide to lighting a small apartment without ceiling lights covers the rest.
Our Picks for Small Christmas Trees
We picked one tree for each type of small space by comparing listed dimensions and features. Holiday stock changes quickly, so check the size and finish on the retailer's page before ordering.
A pre-lit pencil tree with a simple three-step setup, sold in green, flocked and white versions.
- Footprint
- Fullness
- Ease of setup
- Slim base
- Pre-lit
- Several finishes, including flocked
- Less room for big ornaments
- Base width varies by finish
A full-looking short tree that sits well in a basket or on a sturdy crate for extra height.
- Footprint
- Fullness
- Ease of setup
- Hinged branches for quick setup
- Pre-lit with 200 clear lights
- Metal stand included
- About 35 inches wide, so not slim
- Short for a floor tree without a riser
A living mini Christmas tree that becomes a year-round houseplant after the holidays.
- Footprint
- Fullness
- Ease of setup
- Living plant you keep all year
- Sold decorated for the holidays
- Sits on a table or desk
- Needs bright, indirect light and regular watering
- Only light ornaments on its branches
FAQ
What size Christmas tree is best for a small room?
Measure the spot first. Tabletop trees (usually 18 inches to 2 feet) suit rooms with no free floor; pencil trees give full height with a base often around 20 to 30 inches across. Check the diameter on the listing, not just the height.
What can I use instead of a Christmas tree in a small space?
A wall tree made of garland and lights, branches in a tall vase, a ladder draped with garland, ornaments hung from a curtain rod, or one shelf decorated with garland and ornaments.
How do you make a small Christmas tree look fuller?
Wrap the lights deep into the branches, use lots of small ornaments instead of a few big ones, tuck ribbon or picks into gaps, and raise the tree on a crate or stool.
Can a Norfolk Island pine be used as a Christmas tree?
Yes. They're widely sold as small living Christmas trees. Keep ornaments light, give it bright, indirect light, and water when the top of the soil dries out. After the holidays it stays on as a houseplant.
Where should I put a small Christmas tree?
In a corner out of the walkway, near an outlet, and ideally near a window so the lights reflect in the glass. A tabletop tree works on a console or dresser with the rest of the surface kept clear.
