Small Christmas Tree: How to Choose the Size That Fits Your Apartment
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A small christmas tree can look tiny in the shop and fill half your living room at home. Sometimes it goes the other way, and a tree that looked almost too small is exactly right.
The fix is to measure the floor circle before the height. Width decides whether a tree fits a small apartment, and most people only check how tall it is.
In my family home, the ceilings are 11 feet 10 inches (3.6 m) high. It is an old house, built for the life of another era, with big rooms.
Only two kinds of tree ever looked right there. One was a full tree about 10 feet (3 m) tall that filled the space, and the other was a small one placed on an antique table like a houseplant.
While my siblings and I were little, we had the big tree. Now that we are grown, the tree at my parents’ house has become the small one.
In a small apartment, that choice narrows even further. Does a small tree fit at all, and if it does, where and how?
What Size Small Christmas Tree Fits? Measure the Footprint First
A tree takes up a circle of floor, and that circle is far wider than most people expect. Check the width, then the height, then the extra room around it.
How Wide Is a Small Christmas Tree?
A full tree is usually 55 to 65% as wide as it is tall, according to the sizing guide from King of Christmas. That makes a 6 foot (1.8 m) full tree about 40 to 47 inches (101 to 119 cm) wide at the base.
Slim trees run about 18 to 35 inches (46 to 89 cm) wide, according to a roundup of slim trees from Mayfair Farms. A pencil tree is the narrowest, at about 18 to 22 inches (46 to 56 cm).
The table below shows which shape suits which room.
| Shape | Base width | Choose when |
|---|---|---|
| Full tree, 6 ft (1.8 m) | 40–47 in (101–119 cm) | You have a free corner at least 4 ft (1.2 m) deep |
| Slim tree | 18–35 in (46–89 cm) | You want full height but only have a narrow wall |
| Pencil tree | 18–22 in (46–56 cm) | The tree has to stand beside a door or between two pieces of furniture |
| Tabletop tree | Fits the table it stands on | You have no free floor at all |
Height: Ceiling, Stand and Topper
Pick a tree 1 to 2 feet (30 to 60 cm) shorter than your ceiling. In an apartment with an 8 foot (2.4 m) ceiling, that means a tree of about 6 to 7 feet (1.8 to 2.1 m).
Count the stand as part of the height. A stand adds about 6 to 12 inches (15 to 30 cm), and a living tree in a pot often adds more.
Under a sloped ceiling, measure at the spot where the tree will stand. My post on small attic bedroom ideas shows how to read a slanted ceiling before placing anything tall.
Leave Room for What Goes Under and Beside It
Almost everyone puts something under or next to the tree, whether it is gifts, a basket or a candle. Plan for that space as well as for the branches.
If you really can not imagine the new christmas tree in space, I have a good option for that that always works. Mark the circle on the floor with painter’s tape before you buy. Live with the tape for a day, and walk past it a few times with a cup in your hand.
Where Should a Small Christmas Tree Go?
Placement in a small room comes down to safety first, then to the paths you walk every day.
Keep It 3 Feet From Heat and Out of the Exit
Keep the tree at least 3 feet (91 cm) from any heat source, including radiators, space heaters and heat vents. The NFPA also says a tree should never block an exit.
In many older apartments, the radiator sits right under the window. That rules out the window spot unless the radiator is off or far enough away.
Corner, Window or Furniture
A corner is the safest choice, because the tree loses only a quarter of its circle to traffic. Choose the corner farthest from the door you use most.
Raising a small tree on a side table or a chest saves floor and brings it to eye level. My guide to furniture for small spaces explains how a piece that sits off the floor keeps a room feeling open.
A Worked Example in an 11 by 13 Foot Room
Take a living room of 11 by 13 feet (3.35 by 4 m), with a sofa on the long wall and the door near one corner. A full 6 foot tree would need about a 4 foot (1.2 m) square in the far corner, which usually means moving an armchair out for the season.
With a slim tree at 30 inches (76 cm), the tree fits beside the sofa and the armchair stays. If your room also has a bed in it, my post on the living room and bedroom combo shows where the walking routes run in a single room.
For more plans with real dimensions, my studio apartment layout ideas post maps out several versions of the same small footprint.
Real or Artificial? Why I Choose a Real Tree
I like a real tree, and in my family it has always been a real one. A living tree with its root ball is my favorite of all.
Part of the magic of Christmas is the change in the room. A fresh, fragrant fir brings that in, and even a few pine branches do.
Cut Tree, Root-Ball Tree or Branches
Each real option asks something different of a small apartment.
| Option | What it asks of you | Choose when |
|---|---|---|
| Cut tree | Fresh water in the stand every day | You want a full tree for the whole season |
| Root-ball tree | A cooler room for a few weeks | You can turn the heating down and plant or return it afterward |
| Branches in a vase | A heavy vase and some water | You have no free floor or very little time |
What a Root-Ball Tree Needs
A living tree in a pot needs a cool room to survive its weeks indoors. In our home that means turning the heating down while it is inside.
How long greenery stays fresh depends on how long ago it was cut, the gap between outdoor and indoor temperatures, and the humidity. As a general rule, the cooler, steadier and less dry the air, the longer it lasts.
Keep it away from heat and direct sun, as Farm and Dairy recommends for all fresh greenery.
The Case Against Plastic
Cut trees are a hard question too. Every one of them was grown on a farm for this single purpose, and you can argue about the life of the tree.
Still, plastic does not break down, and a factory had to be built to make it. We are surrounded by so many artificial materials already that one more seems unnecessary to me.
If you already own an artificial tree, keep using it. Research from Virginia Tech found an artificial tree has to be used for 7 to 10 years before it has a lower impact than buying a real tree every year.
Needles, Water and Pets
Fallen needles are a matter of patience. You can vacuum them up from anywhere, including between floorboards.
Vacuum every few days rather than once at the end, and the job stays small.
Use plain fresh water in the stand if you have a cat or a dog. Penn State Extension notes that tree water becomes a risk only when freshness additives go into it.
Tiny Christmas Tree Ideas When There Is No Floor Space
When no corner is free, the tree moves up onto furniture or turns into something smaller. These are the options I would try first.
A Tree on a Table, Like a Houseplant
At my parents’ house, the small tree stands on an antique table, and it looks like a houseplant that dressed up for December. A raised tree reads as part of the furniture and keeps the floor clear.
Branches in a Vase and Other Mini Christmas Tree Ideas
Fir or pine branches in a heavy vase give you the scent and the green with almost no footprint. In our home there is always at least one decoration made of pine branches, even when the tree is somewhere else.
Once, we decorated our monstera with Christmas lights instead of a tree. It was fun, but the fir is the real thing for me.
Christmas tree ideas simple enough for a desk or a windowsill work the same way. Keep one material for the container and let the greenery do the rest.
Christmas Tree Decorations for a Small Tree
A small tree carries less, so every ornament on it shows. Decorate it with fewer, better pieces.
Christmas Tree Color Schemes for a Small Tree
Most tree decorating ideas add more, but a small tree looks better with a narrower palette.
Keep the ornaments in one material family and one color family, and let the shapes vary. It is the same rule I use for tableware, and it calms a tree just as it calms a table.
My place setting guide explains how this rule lets you collect pieces slowly without the result looking random.
What Hangs on Our Tree
I love old glass ornaments in the classic shapes. They are very fragile, so I handle them carefully.
The rest changes from year to year. Dried orange slices, straw ornaments and little crocheted angels usually find a place.
If you like making your own decorations, my white cement DIY craft post shows a simple handmade project from my own December.
Lights First, and the Base Last
Put the lights on before anything else, and choose a warm white.
My post on ambient lighting ideas explains why warm, low light makes a small room feel larger in the evening. My lighting rules for small spaces cover where the other lamps in the room should go.
A full tree skirt adds width at the base, which is the last thing a small tree needs. Fold a piece of linen around the stand instead.
When you look through slim Christmas tree ideas decorating boards, notice that the best ones keep the smallest ornaments near the tip. A minimal Christmas tree with only lights and a few glass pieces can feel as warm as a traditional Christmas tree.
Stand, Candlelight and Linen: The Only Things to Buy
With a real tree, almost nothing is left to store in January. The tree goes to compost or collection, and only the stand goes back in the cupboard.
That matters in a small apartment. My post on living room storage ideas explains why owning less is the most effective storage strategy of all.
Starter Kit for a Small Christmas Tree
You probably own half of this already, so check first.
- A tree stand with a water reservoir and a clamp that fits your trunk diameter, with a base wide enough that the tree cannot tip. I like this cast iron tree stand. (paid link)
- Heavy candle holders in glass or metal for the table nearby, never for the tree itself. (paid link)
- A piece of natural linen tablecloth, or a linen throw, to fold around the stand. (paid links)
Important: Never put lit candles on or under the tree, and keep them at least 3 feet (91 cm) away from it.
If the candles end up on the dining table, my Christmas table setup post covers how tall a centerpiece can be before it blocks the view across a small table. These thin, wrought iron candle holders look amazing on the dining table. (paid link)
Final Thoughts before Christmas
Choosing a small christmas tree starts with the floor circle. Measure the width first, keep it 3 feet (91 cm) from heat, and leave room for what goes beside it.
If there is no free corner at all, raise the tree onto a table or bring in a few branches. Even a single pine branch changes how the room feels in December.
For the rest of the room, my post on living room ideas for small apartments shows how one considered object can carry a whole space.
Frequently Asked Questions About a Small Christmas Tree
What size tree fits an 8 foot ceiling?
A tree of about 6 to 7 feet (1.8 to 2.1 m), including the stand. Leave 1 to 2 feet (30 to 60 cm) between the top and the ceiling.
How wide is a pencil tree?
About 18 to 22 inches (46 to 56 cm) at the base. That is less than half the width of a full tree of the same height.
What is the difference between a slim and a pencil tree?
Slim trees range from about 18 to 35 inches (46 to 89 cm) wide. Pencil trees are the narrowest end of that range.
How far should a tree be from a radiator?
At least 3 feet (91 cm). The same distance applies to space heaters, heat vents and candles.
Can a tree stand in front of a window?
Yes, if there is no radiator under it and the tree does not block the way out. Check that curtains can still close.
How long does a real tree stay fresh indoors?
It depends on when it was cut, the room temperature and the humidity. A cooler, steadier and less dry room keeps it fresh much longer.
How do you clean up pine needles?
Vacuum them regularly while the tree is up and once more after it leaves. They come out of every corner with a little patience.
What can you use instead of a tree in a small apartment?
Fir or pine branches in a heavy vase, or a small tree raised on a table. Both give you the scent with almost no floor space.
