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A Guide for Decorating Small Spaces

People who live in apartments, condos, and other small spaces shouldn’t feel left out when it comes to holiday décor.

A Guide for Decorating Small Spaces article hero

People who live in apartments, condos, and other small spaces shouldn’t feel left out when it comes to holiday décor. There’s so much you can do to make your home cozy, warm, and festive this holiday season – even if you only have a few hundred square feet to work with.

The best small space decorating ideas don’t try and recreate decorations pulled from larger homes. Instead, they work within a limited amount of space carefully to make sure they don’t overwhelm the smaller living area with huge art pieces or decorations.

Decorating small spaces may require a bit more consideration, but with careful planning and judicious editing, you can create a beautiful holiday home without overpowering your small space.

Our Best Small Space Decorating Ideas and Tips

Instead of focusing on the number of decorations, decorating a small space requires you to really think about the quality of what you’re displaying. If you’re moving into a smaller space with lots of holiday décor, edit carefully, and keep only what will work in your space, or what is meaningful to you.

Here are some more tips for making a cozy and festive atmosphere in your small space this winter.

A boy decorating a tree for the holidays

1. Pick a Smaller Tree

If you celebrate Christmas, make sure that your Christmas tree doesn’t overwhelm your living space. Having a large tree might be fun, but if it encroaches into your living space too much and leaves no flexibility to maneuver, it will make the room feel claustrophobic quickly.
Before you go tree shopping, measure your space, and find a tree that works within your parameters. Focus on finding a tall, narrow tree rather than one that's short and wide.

Festive holiday letters and greenery hang over a doorway

2. Maximize Underutilized Space

Living in a smaller space may mean that you don’t have a mantel, or a large dining room table to decorate. Instead, focus on finding creative ways to highlight underutilized spaces.

Some fun ideas include laying greenery swags over the lintels of your doors, creating seasonal coffee table vignettes, or hanging ribbons and ornaments from your bookshelves.

Homemade snowflake hangs in a window

3. Use Your Windows

Your windows are a prime decorating spot that often go unused. You can clip out beautiful snowflakes from white paper, or string up white snowball pompoms in a garland, then hang them from the windowpanes. This is a great way to share seasonal cheer with your neighbors, as well!

Rustic Christmas pillows in a space decorated for the holiday season

4. Swap, Don’t Add

If you have a limited amount of space, swap in seasonal items, rather than adding them to your existing décor. Store your everyday pillows, blankets, and towels, and replace them with seasonal alternatives. This goes for other household items like candles, artwork, and even clothing. Just make sure you store everything neatly, so you can find it after the holidays.

Three large canvas prints above a couch

5. Don’t Be Afraid of Larger Artwork and Photo Prints

If you’re in a small space, you can still invest in beautiful artwork like family photos printed on canvas. Just make sure that the size works with the space you have.

You don't have to be afraid of larger prints, as long as you’re careful to give them enough space on a large, blank wall. Grouping them with other photos can be a great choice, as long as it’s intentional.

Decorating Your Small Space with Art from Canvas on Demand

At Canvas on Demand, we love to bring your family photos and memories to life with our collection of photo prints. You can choose whether to frame your print, or have it transferred on to metal, acrylic board, or canvas. Our pieces make a great addition to any festive home, reminding you that friends and family are the most important part of this holiday season.


Since 2003, Canvas On Demand has been crafting affordable, high quality, personalized home goods that celebrate life's moments, both big and small, through the permanence of print.

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