Small Space Christmas Decorating {an attempt toward a minimalist Christmas}

Glowing white lights. Familiar reusable tree. Sweetly sombering nativity. Spicy cinnamon aroma.

Ahhh... Christmas decorations seem to make the season, don't they? It's how everyone from mom to Wal-mart to main street U.S.A. let's us know it's about that time. (Although, they're starting to give us the cue a little too soon, if you ask me.)

{This photo from Christmas in Florida makes me smile :) }

This is also the season that the green minimalist in me starts getting antsy. Sure, the consumerism--the giving and receiving of "stuff"--probably makes most people at least a little stressed at some point. But ever since learning more about minimalism, it's the excessive decorations that I've started questioning. During Project Eliminate, I tried convincing Daniel we should sell most of our Christmas decorations including our tree and try a more minimalist approach to Christmas decorating. The idea didn't take. Now our 3 tubs of Christmas (tree, nativity, and decor) take up half of the kids' closet year round. Three tubs used roughly one month out of the year.

Then, a dream come true: Daniel said we don't have to put up a tree! Is that something to be excited about? Probably not to most people. (Well, except for Scrooge and my Dad. I love you, Dad!) But I love the idea of test-driving what the season is like without our massive tree. I'll miss it. It's big and beautiful and relatively real looking. But it's excessive for our small space. And ridiculous how much storage it takes when we don't have the storage to spare. But could we really go without a tree at all? Maybe, but I'd like to do something, so here are some tree alternatives I found. Perfect for small spaces, less storage, low finances or for a minimalist Christmas.

{table top Christmas tree}

This table top Christmas tree from HGTV is a great solution. Just replace a decoration or picture frame with a miniature tree or use as a centerpiece.

{Christmas tree ornament mobile}

This Christmas tree ornament mobile from not martha would be a fun option. And if you're doing the present-thing, stack them up and the tree hangs beautifully over.

{string-light wall Christmas tree}

This string-light wall Christmas tree from Martha Stewart is the idea I'd like to implement. I think the space beside our TV would be great for this, and the shelf below would be perfect for holding a couple presents or our nativity. We'll see what Daniel thinks, and I'll let you know if it turns out.

{Decorated branches in a vase}

Decorated branches in a vase like these from Centsational Girl are so minimliast and very attractive. The rest of her house is also decked out (including a full size tree), but I think this by itself is enough for a small space / minimalist Christmas solution.

{tomato cage turned Christmas tree}

I love the tomato cage turned Christmas tree idea. My sister did this for their front porch and it looks great! Daniel said "no" on using this idea in our living room.

{Christmas topiary}

This Christmas topiary is my favorite and ultimately something I'd like for us to do. Maybe a little because it's from The Zero Waste Family and I love just about everything they do. This tree is one they have in their house year round, and decided to bring it inside and decorate it as their main Christmas tree.