How to Decorate for Christmas in an Apartment
I’ve been teaching my daughter about home decor for years, and it’s been so fun to see her style evolve. This is her third Christmas married, and this year she wanted to make a real statement with her Christmas decor.
All of the inspiration photos she sent me were layered, colorful, and full of personality, so we set out to bring that same feeling into her place. Learning how to decorate for Christmas in an apartment is just the same as any home. You just have to be specific about your choices.
This post is sponsored by Wayfair.
How to Decorate Your Apartment for Christmas
Since she doesn’t have a fireplace or mantel, we decided to make her TV cabinet the main focal point. That’s where they hang their stockings, so it was the perfect place to create a cozy, festive moment.
Instead of sprinkling pieces of decor throughout the apartment, we focused on making a big impact in specific spaces, which is a great approach for smaller homes where every inch counts.
When shopping for pieces from Wayfair, our goal was to find timeless basics that she could use year after year and mix in a few special touches to make it feel personal. I love Wayfair finds because the shipping and customer service is so great.
Step 1: Choose a Color Palette
My advice for changing the look of your Christmas decor is to always focus on color first.
She already had lots of red Christmas ornaments and ribbon, so we built on that by adding warmth and depth with orange and pink accents. The mix feels cheerful, modern, and unexpected while still feeling classic and festive.
Creating a new look year after year can be as simple as changing the color of your base ornament sets. I like to organize my basic ball ornaments by color. The color palette you choose sets the tone for the overall style.
Shop this garland look on my LTK profile.
Step 2: Start with a Strong Base
We began with a classic, realistic-looking garland that can be reused and styled in different ways each year. To give it more texture and fullness, we layered in a garland of faux berries. The strand we chose had a great shape and paired beautifully with the greenery.
The trick to a strong base is to add great layers to it. Tuck and fold garland stems around all of the layers to keep everything intertwined. This gives a designer look.
Step 3: Add Personality
My daughter loves pieces that feel fancy and fun, so we added metallic stems throughout the garland for a bit of shine. They catch the light beautifully and make the space feel special.
Next came the ornaments. She found the most adorable paper mâché ornaments that were slightly smaller in size but fit perfectly with the theme and in the garland. They added that handmade, collected touch that makes holiday decor feel personal. The kinds of piece you want to pass down.
Her stockings are handmade by me, and the vintage stocking charms make them even more meaningful. She has been hanging the SB on her tree since she was a little girl. Her name is Sarah Beth. Perfectly fitting, she married Brandon. So the SB gets to have new meaning.
Classic red stockings and orange slices are always timeless. We added these large crimson red ornaments to the mix for the tree.
In the end, her apartment feels warm, festive, and full of character without feeling cluttered. By focusing on one main area and choosing a cohesive color palette, we were able to create a Christmas look that feels both elevated and inviting.
