The Christmas trees that fit a small space are a tabletop tree, a slim pencil tree, a half tree with a flat back, a tree made on the wall, a small potted evergreen, a branch tree and a row of mini trees. Width decides whether a tree fits, not height. A full-size tree is about 55 to 65 percent as wide as it is tall, which puts a 7.5-foot tree at 52 to 60 inches across, according to King of Christmas. Slim trees run 29 to 40 inches at the base, and pencil trees start narrower. A six-foot tree can live in a corner as long as its bottom branches stay around 30 inches across.
7 Small Space Christmas Tree Ideas That Actually Fit
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Below are seven Christmas tree ideas for small spaces, plus how tall to go, how to decorate a small tree so it looks full instead of crowded, and what to put around the bottom.
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How do you know a small Christmas tree will fit?
Start with width. A full 7.5-foot tree is 52 to 60 inches across at the bottom, a slim tree is 29 to 40 inches according to Easy Treezy, and the two pencil trees on this page list 30.7 and 34 inches at 6 and 7.5 feet. Every artificial Christmas tree lists its base width, so read that number, because the lowest branches are always the widest part.
Then do the tape test. Put painter’s tape on the floor in the circle you plan to give the tree, open the nearest door, pull out a chair, and walk through it for a day. You want about two feet of clear floor in front of the tree. Last, find the outlet. Pick the spot near power, or plan a flat plug and a timer, and run the cord along the baseboard instead of across the walkway.
How tall should a Christmas tree be for a small room?
King of Christmas says to choose a tree one to two feet shorter than the ceiling, because the stand adds 6 to 12 inches and the topper needs room to sit without touching. That works out to a 6 to 7 foot tree under an 8-foot ceiling. If you love a tall topper, stay at 6 to 6.5 feet, because a 7-foot tree plus its stand and a star can touch the ceiling. With a lower ceiling, go for 5 to 5.5 feet.
| Ceiling | Tree height that fits | Full-size base | Slim base | Pencil tree on this page |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 feet | 6 to 7 feet | About 40 to 55 inches | 29 to 40 inches | SHareconn 6-foot, 30.7 inches |
| 9 feet | 7.5 to 8 feet | About 52 to 62 inches | 29 to 40 inches | Hykolity 7.5-foot, 34 inches |
| 10 feet | 8 to 9 feet | About 53 to 70 inches | 29 to 40 inches | None here, so read the listing |
The full-size column is 55 to 65 percent of the height, the same rule as above. Measure your own ceiling, because older apartments often run lower than 8 feet.
Is a 4-foot Christmas tree too small?
Not on a table. A 4-foot tree on a console, dresser or side table puts the top near eye level and keeps the floor open, and putting a shorter tree on a side table is an easy way to add height. On the floor it takes up space and still looks small, so give it a surface. If your ceiling is low, a 5-foot slim tree is the better floor choice.
What is the difference between a pencil tree and a slim tree?
Base width. Easy Treezy puts slim trees at 29 to 40 inches across the bottom and its narrow trees at 44 to 54 inches for a 7.5-foot tree. Pencil trees are narrower than slim ones, and the pencil trees on this page list 30.7 and 34 inches. Nobody enforces the names, so a brand may call a fairly full tree slim, and the listing’s base width is the number to trust.
Do small Christmas trees need to be pre-lit?
No, but a pre-lit tree means one plug and no strands to wrap in a tight spot. King of Christmas suggests about 100 lights per foot for a soft glow, so a 6-foot tree with 200 LEDs, like the SHareconn below, is a light glow. Add a plain strand if you want it brighter, or choose the 400-LED Hykolity.
Christmas trees for small spaces at a glance
| Tree | Floor space | Best for | The tradeoff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tabletop tree | None beyond the furniture | Studios, consoles, nightstands | Needs a steady surface |
| Pencil tree | A small round base | An empty corner | Room for only small ornaments |
| Half tree | A shallow half circle | A flat wall or doorway gap | One-sided, so it can’t stand mid-room |
| Wall tree | Almost none | Very tight rooms | Looks flat from the side |
| Small potted tree | One pot | Plant lovers | Needs light and watering |
| Branch tree | A heavy vase or crock | Calm, minimal rooms | Sparse by design |
| Three mini trees | One shelf or console | A mantel or long table | Three things to set up |
Product details can change, so check the listing before you buy. The room photos on this page show sizes and placement, not the exact models sold on Amazon.
1. Put a tabletop tree at eye level
A 2- to 4-foot tree on a console, dresser, kitchen counter or nightstand gives you a tree and keeps the floor clear. Battery lights with a built-in timer mean no cord running across the room. The National Tree Company 24-inch tree (opens Amazon in a new tab)As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Full disclosure. above is a good size for it. Look for a weighted base, or a pot or burlap wrap, so a bump of the table doesn’t tip it.
Keep the widest branches inside the furniture edge. A branch that sticks out past a narrow console catches sleeves and bags.
2. Stand a pencil tree in the corner
A pencil tree gives you full height in a narrow footprint. It fits between a sofa and a window, beside a TV stand or in an entry nook, because the ceiling does the visual work. The SHareconn 6-foot tree (opens Amazon in a new tab)As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Full disclosure. lists a 30.7-inch base, and the Hykolity 7.5-foot tree (opens Amazon in a new tab)As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Full disclosure. lists 34 inches. That extra 3.3 inches matters next to a chair or a door.
A slim silhouette suits small ornaments better than big balls, so the tree looks planned instead of stuffed.
3. Lean a half tree against a flat wall
A half tree has branches across the front and a flat back, so it sits flush to a wall or tucks into the awkward corner every rental has. It has no back half, so it needs far less depth than a round tree, and from the front it looks full. The Home Heritage 7-foot pre-lit half tree (opens Amazon in a new tab)As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Full disclosure. ($$$) lists 84 inches tall and 19 inches wide, with 150 warm white LEDs and a 16-inch metal stand.
A tall, shallow tree tips more easily than a round one, so tie it back to the wall with a bit of wire if you have kids or a dog.
4. Hang a tree on the wall
When the floor must stay clear, build the tree on the wall. Start at the floor or the top of a cabinet with a short trunk, then run the garland out in a flat base line and angle each side up, getting shorter toward the top. Hold it with double-sided tape or adhesive strips, and use small, light ornaments so they don’t pull the garland down. Hanging things without nails is covered in its own guide.
A wall tree doesn’t have to be greenery. Zigzag tinsel pinned to the wall, a tree outline made of string lights, or metallic washi tape with a few sprigs of garland all give you the shape. Battery lights avoid a cord hanging down the wall.
5. Try a small living tree
A small Norfolk Island pine works indoors, takes light ornaments and can stay as a houseplant after the holidays. Keep it near a bright window, away from heaters, and set it on a saucer so it doesn’t leave water rings on the floor. A dwarf outdoor evergreen such as an Alberta spruce looks lovely but usually doesn’t last indoors past the season. A rosemary plant is another tiny living tree for a kitchen sill.
A living tree is a plant first, so only choose it if you will water it and give it light.
6. Make a branch tree in a heavy pot
Use one strong branch or a small group in a heavy, wide vessel. Add a short strand of warm white lights and a few light ornaments, such as paper or felt. A sparse tree like this doesn’t crowd a narrow dining area, and it leaves you free to drape matching garland around the room for the festive look.
Weight the vessel with clean gravel under the visible filler, and keep glass ornaments off any branch that sways when someone walks past.
7. Group three mini trees at different heights
Three small trees of different heights look like a little forest and use a single shelf, mantel or console. Put each in a different pot, crock or bucket, and leave one undecorated. A set of small trees also gives you holiday decorations in the places you can’t fit a full tree, like an entry or a kitchen counter.
How do you decorate a small Christmas tree?
A small tree looks best when it is decorated lightly. Do these in order:
- Fluff first. Start at the back and work toward the front, bending branches outward and lifting them upward, and separate each tip. This alone makes a small tree look fuller.
- Lights next. A pre-lit tree needs one plug, and a timer means you never reach behind it.
- Ornaments, small ones high. King of Christmas suggests about 40 ornaments per foot for a balanced look, which is about 240 on a 6-foot tree, so choose small ones. Hang smaller ornaments near the top and larger ones toward the bottom, and leave space between them. Oversized ornaments on a narrow tree look crowded.
- Ribbon for depth. Wrap a wide ribbon around the tree sideways and tuck sections in toward the trunk so it has movement.
- Pick one idea. Cream, wood and pinecones is an easy one. Family photos or handmade ornaments also work, because on a small tree every piece shows. Keep your other Christmas decorations simple too, so the tree is the one big decoration in the room.
How do you style a slim Christmas tree?
Keep the ornaments in proportion to its narrow frame, and let a few special pieces stand out rather than filling every branch. Wrap the gifts to match, with neutral paper if the tree is colorful. A slim tree is also easy to repeat, with one in the entry and one in the living room.
What goes around the bottom of a small tree?
A collar. It is a ring that wraps around the stand, and it gives a tidier base than a tree skirt spread across the floor. A woven basket or a galvanized bucket works the same way. Measure the stand rather than the branches before you buy.
The Glitzhome 22-inch wooden collar (opens Amazon in a new tab)As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Full disclosure. ($) is four dark walnut-stained panels, 22 inches square and about 10.5 inches tall, listed for stands under 31 inches across, and it ships flat. The Sweetcrispy 24-inch rattan collar (opens Amazon in a new tab)As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Full disclosure. ($) fits stands up to 23 inches, has a cutout for the cord and stores flat after Christmas.
Where do you put a Christmas tree in a small room?
A slender tree belongs in a corner, where it becomes an off-center focal point. A shorter, fuller tree works well in front of a window. A half tree goes flat to a wall, and a tabletop tree goes on any furniture that is already there. Whatever you choose, keep the tree out of the door swing and the walking path.
Can you have a real Christmas tree in a small apartment?
Yes, if you choose a small one. A Fraser fir has symmetrical branches that rise upward instead of out, so it fits spots where a wider tree won’t. A real tree doesn’t need storage the other eleven months, and it needs only a few small ornaments or some ribbon. Use a collar around the stand, and read your lease first, because some buildings don’t allow cut trees.
What can you use instead of a Christmas tree in a small space?
- A tree outline of metallic washi tape on the wall, with a few sprigs of garland or tinsel.
- Tinsel zigzagged into a tree shape and pinned up in a hallway or bedroom.
- Two wreaths hung one above the other from the ceiling, filled with greenery and a few lights.
- A tree outline made of string lights, with no greenery at all.
- A tree made of your favorite photos, set on a shelf.
How much does a small Christmas tree cost?
A tabletop tree and a collar are the cheapest way in ($). A 6-foot pre-lit pencil tree costs more ($$), and a 7.5-foot pre-lit pencil tree or a 7-foot half tree costs more again ($$$). Prices move all season, so check the current listing.
Does Hobby Lobby sell mini Christmas trees?
Yes. Its website has a Mini Christmas Trees page and a Tabletop Christmas Trees page, though stock changes, so check before you drive over.
Where does the tree go in January?
Think about it before you buy. A pop-up tree folds flat and stores in a box about the size of a large pizza box, though its branches are usually less full than a hinged tree’s. Most artificial trees fold down in sections, and a hinged pencil tree is one of them. If the honest answer is “nowhere,” choose a tabletop tree or a wall tree. The small-home Christmas decor storage plan makes the pack-up easier.
More Christmas ideas for a small home
- Small space Christmas decor ideas for the whole room once the tree is up.
- Christmas garland ideas for a small home for the wall tree and the branch tree.
- Christmas decor with no nails for hanging a tree on the wall.
- A Christmas bedroom with no room for a tree for the smallest rooms.
- Glowing Christmas trees for lit trees from tabletop to 8 feet.
