Everyone wants a giant, New-York-City-sized Christmas tree… until you realize that you’d have to get rid of all your furniture. It’s okay! You can still have plenty of Christmas spirit with these 18 Christmas trees for small spaces.
Post updated November 2022
I gathered this list of space saving Christmas tree ideas from scouring the internet. There are actually many more, but I skipped the overwhelmingly tacky ones and the ones that would require a team of professional carpenters.
I kept this list of Christmas tree alternatives to the best simple and beautiful Christmas trees for small spaces. I’m DYING to try some of these (in 2022), so reach out if there’s anything you’d love some tips on!
For more unique Christmas crafts and decor ideas, check out these posts:
27 Christmas Letterboard Quotes
The Best Outdoor Christmas Decor
The Best Unique Christmas Decor on Etsy (Support Small Businesses)
8 Easy Christmas Crafts To Do in Under and Hour
1. Wall Christmas Tree with Branches
If you love the typical look of a green Christmas tree, but you don’t have the horizontal space to have one in your home, this is the solution. I love that you can decorate this in exactly the same way you normally would.
Since the original posting, I’ve found that you can actually buy a flat tree like this from Walmart. Perfect if you’re not big on DIYing!
2. Flat Triangle Christmas Tree
This one is similar, but a little bit easier to actually create. You just need a garland, which you can get on Amazon or just at the Dollar Tree! You can even be extra if you want and get a multicolored garland or bead garland.
But seriously, you have to look at the tutorial and finished result on Hildurko. I honestly wouldn’t have noticed it was flat–it’s stunning!
3. Corner Shelf Tree
This exact shelf is sold on Etsy and could be used year-round, not just for Christmas. But by adding garland to it (again, could be purchased from the Dollar Tree) adding some ornaments–you have a space saving Christmas tree! If this were me, I would probably fill the entire shelves with lights and bright-colored ornaments–you can make it unique to you!
4. Wooden Triangles
This is definitely the most simple Christmas tree idea–and one of the most ideal small Christmas tree ideas. Even in an extremely limited space, these slim Christmas trees can fit almost anywhere.
You could also make it a little more exciting by wrapping some simple lights around this. In fact, I’ve been using a few sets of Dollar Tree lights in one of my favorite Christmas decorations for the last four years straight! Check out my favorite Christmas garland (and probably the easiest project EVER) in my post: 8 Easy Christmas Crafts.
If you DIY these small Christmas tree triangles, you could make a mini tree, a tabletop tree, or even make a few to sit on your mantle or window ledge. SO many possibilities.
If you don’t want to DIY these trees, you can get these from Etsy.
There are also many plain, unfinished wooden triangles you can purchase from EtsERy f/or about $15-20, and you can paint or decorate them yourself!
5. Wooden Pallet Christmas Tree
This is another slim tree option that has the potential to be completely free if you find pallets on the side of the road and have just a few basic tools. Cut a pallet into pieces, screw some boards on as shelves… and bam! An extremely unique and easy-to-build Christmas tree alternative.
You can see that the maker of the tree below placed it in a small corner. This could fit in a tiny apartment, a kid’s bedroom, or by a fireplace for some extra holiday cheer.
6. Large Wooden Triangle Christmas Tree
I’M OBSESSED with this! Does anyone want a tutorial for this? Dare me… I just need one reason to do this because I WANT IT.
I mean, it’s just a big triangle with some wooden dowels, right?! Of course, the combination of lights, ornaments, and even the faux “branches” on the sides really make this particular one especially stunning.
You could even add greenery or other kind of Christmas foliage to it, or more colorful ornaments–another idea that is unique and easy to customize for your style.
I’M OBSESSED WITH IT.
7. Mini Wooden Triangle Christmas Trees
WOODEN TRIANGLE TREES FILLED WITH ORNAMENTS, GUYS? I MUST MAKE THEM.
How do you think they made these? I’m guessing they used fishing line or some kind of wire to make the strings invisible. This one just FILLS me with inspiration, and I’ve been eyeing it up for over two years. I think 2022 may be my year to try it…. make sure you follow me on TikTok and Instagram to see if I actually make it happen. š
****EDIT December 2022: GUESS WHAT! I finally did it! Here’s my wooden triangle ornament tree:
I am COMPLETELY obsessed with it. I’m working on a full tutorial, but you can see a quick video walkthrough of the process by clicking on this photo or visiting my TikTok:
8. Christmas Trees from Sticks or Twigs
If you want to spend ZERO money, and still have something totally unique and awesome, go get some twigs from your backyard. Or a random park. You be you, girl.
And then just stick them on your wall and add some lights, colored strings, and tiny ornaments! I love that you can make this as big as you want or as small–perfect for even the tightest of tight spaces or small rooms. It doesn’t take up even an inch of floor space.
Another fun bonus idea: HANG the twig trees! So the tree would SPIN. This one even has silver glitter on the branches so the whole thing has a sparkle. (Can you hear my excitement?! You should!)
If I saw this in your house, I’d start drooling. A lot of drool. It wouldn’t be super attractive.
FUN BONUS IDEA NUMBER 2: Another unique spin on the already-freaking-unique twig idea is to stick bigger twigs and ornaments on your wall in a non-traditional shape like this one. I mean, you can make your holiday decorations much more unique than this.
Doesn’t it kind of feel like a modern Charlie Brown tree?
9. Christmas Tree on a Corner
This is a super cool and GENIUS idea. Instead of using an inside corner, you use an outside one and some evergreen pine garland. I love the way they added a few nativity-like pieces on the floor, too.
It’s almost like a half Christmas tree, great for all small living spaces.
10. Ornament Cone Christmas Tree
This is one of my favorites! I have both bought and made these trees. Get the instructions to make a DIY ornament cone tree here. It’s honestly one of the easiest Christmas tree ideas out there!
*Cough cough* these go for $60-90 online–or you can use my tutorial and make them with one trip to the craft store.
Plus, yours will be totally unique to you because you can any colors and sizes of ornaments you want. I’ve made mini trees out of ornaments and bigger ones. I use them on my dining room table or fireplace mantle, and I used them when I lived in MUCH smaller spaces. These are a no-brainer.
11. PVC Pipe and Ornament Tree
If you are as obsessed with ornaments in fun colors as I am, then I know you’ll love this. It’s a very cool and modern take on holiday decor, and can be made into unique shapes or with unique color schemes.
This is definitely a DIY Christmas tree. You would need a PVC pipe like this one, or a few in different sizes. You also need a miter saw, circular saw, or an affordable PVC pipe cutter.
12. Hanging Ornament Tree
Yeah, I’m still on the ornament thing, okay? š
This is one of my favorites, though admittedly not the simplest or most space-saving tree idea. But it creates a pretty undeniably stunning effect! It’s a standout piece–probably fitting for my collection of the best Unique Christmas Decorations.
However, if you have young children or cats, like me, they would demolish this in a matter of milliseconds. Let’s just admire the picture anyway, okay?
13. Ladder Ornament Tree
Another hanging ornament idea, but using a ladder or putting two wooden ladders together would make this DIY much easier to create!
14. Lights on a Board
If you’re looking for a flat or slim tree that you can do with ZERO actual decorations, here you go. Get a small piece of plywood, one or two strings of lights, and a staple gun (linked to the one I have).
And then just LOOK at that glow.
Would you ever have thought you could create something SO incredibly beautiful with those supplies?
15. Tomato Cage Exterior Christmas Tree
This one is one of the most affordable space-saving Christmas tree ideas on this whole list, AND one of the easiest. It would be especially great as an outdoor Christmas decoration!
It’s just a tomato cage tied together with Christmas lights! Beautiful.
In fact, here’s a terrible photo of mine from last year. The photo is low quality, but the amount that I love these simple, CHEAP AS HECK little guys is not.
16. Post-It Notes Christmas Tree
You’re probably thinking, “I read that wrong.” But NOPE, you didn’t! This is literally a Christmas tree made out of post-it notes.
I mean, if you were looking for budget Christmas trees or SUPER CHEAP CHRISTMAS TREE ideas…. you got it, sister.
I could imagine this in a dorm room. It would have fit my tiny little non-existent college student budget. Adorn those beige walls with office supplies for the holidays and be CUUUTE.
17. Washi Tape Christmas Tree
Ahh, another INSANELY cheap Christmas tree idea. I would honestly do this one in addition to another small Christmas tree idea here.
It’s super cute–and I mean, looking for slim Christmas trees? It doesn’t get any slimmer.
Get some washi tape and stick it on your wall–is it possible to find an easier idea? I love that they stuck some string with a few small ornaments up there, too. You could use different colors and types of washi tape, and even use Christmas washi tape for ornaments! You could even make a tiny tree or a giant one. So many options.
18. Pom Pom Garland Christmas Tree
This one takes a simple pom pom garland and turns it into a tree. With that idea, you could take any kind of garland and turn it into a tree by putting it on your wall! Again, an EXTREMELY affordable way to have a Christmas tree in a small space.
I’m pretty partial to felt balls and these colors, though. You can order customizable felt ball garlands from Etsy!
19. Yarn Christmas Tree
Am I the only one who has a serious thing for yarn? I don’t know, it just speaks to me.
These yarn trees look like they’re small (and under $20!). Or you could make a flat yarn tree! Cut a triangle of plywood and glue the yarn to it.
I would come drool over it! (I’m sure that’s what you all want.)
20. Succulent Mini Christmas Tree
You’d probably be the only one to have succulents on your Christmas tree! I absolutley love the colors in these trees. This would be another DIY-able tree with a hot glue gun and some faux succulents from Dollar Tree!
So would you use these Christmas trees for small spaces? Which one do you want the most?
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