Nothing beats an eight-foot Christmas tree in your living room, right? Except, of course, when you live in an NYC apartment where a tree that size could easily eat up all the space (and then some). But just because you live in the city doesn’t mean you can’t deck your halls and make them look amazing. You just have to get creative and scale your holiday trimmings to match the size of your apartment. Here are some of the best ideas we’ve found to make your apartment look festive for the holidays this year, no matter its size.
Opt for space-saving Christmas trees
No holiday decorating is complete without a Christmas tree, but most NYC apartments can’t handle a normal-sized tree. But don’t worry – you have several options that will give you the same holiday feeling without sacrificing precious space. The most obvious choice is a small tabletop tree or rosemary bush that can be displayed on just about any surface. You can find them around the city in grocery stores or at tree vendors. With a little imagination, you can make a DIY tree from just about anything, including paper, popsicle sticks, or even Christmas lights strung in the shape of a tree on the wall.
Build a snowman
We know you don’t have a yard, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have a snowman. If you have a white refrigerator, then you can build your own indoor snowman. This super-easy project takes very little time and is great if you have kids. You can make your own shapes and stick them on with tape, or buy a kit with everything you need.
Hang window decorations
Share the holiday spirit with your neighbors by decorating your windows this season. There are tons of options for this. Obviously, you can hang string lights or paper lanterns inside the frames for a cozy look at night. Or you can hang fresh pine wreaths inside that can also be seen from the street – bonus, they’ll smell wonderful. Another idea is to hang pretty ornaments from ribbons at varying heights. You can even give your apartment a traditional look with battery-operated candles in the windows that turn on and off automatically.
Decorate with aromas
Christmas has a wonderful smell all its own, and you can make your apartment festive without a single decoration simply by making it smell good. While candles and oil diffusers are easy ways to get exactly the scent you want, you can get a little more old school. Try simmering potpourri on top of your stove for several hours while you wrap presents. Make a wreath with fresh sage or other lightly-scented herbs. Or hearken back to days of yore with some homemade citrus pomanders studded with whole cloves.
Display holiday cards
Finally, one of the easiest ways to give your apartment some holiday cheer is to creatively display any holiday cards that come in the mail. The Container Store has several great options for holiday card displays that will instantly give your home the warmth of the season.
Contact Platinum Properties
Are you ready to buy, sell, or rent real estate in New York City? Then click here or call 646-681-5272 to speak with an agent from Platinum Properties. We’re always here to answer your questions and help you through each step of the real estate process. Happy Holidays!
