Holiday décor for the space challenged

Christmas is a time of presents, lovely decorations and joyous atmosphere. Don’t let the fact that you’re not living in a fancy mansion drag you down. You can still have your merry little Christmas in your small apartment, without spending your entire household budget on it. Maybe even start a tradition with a do-it-yourself project.

The best part about it: you get to pour your soul into your work, bring in unique elements and make your place vibrate with positive feelings.

Worried that you don’t have room for a Christmas tree in your LA apartment? Well, don’t be! There are endless options to set up an even more appealing substitute. If you have access to driftwood pieces, get a few of those inside, clean them thoroughly and let them dry. Then you may either arrange them nicely in a tall vase for a most enchanting sight…

…or glue all the pieces together with a hot glue gun in a Christmas tree shape and then hang the resulting ensemble on the living room wall. You can decorate it with lights, ornaments or even family pictures. Bonus: no watering needed.

City apartments may have a lot of advantages but a fireplace and mantle is not always part of the amenity package. A DIY arrangement can make a perfect substitute, as long as you put a passion into it. Add a touch of nature to your décor by hanging stockings from a suspended spring or branch from your backyard. How about a fresh, modern twist with this pinecone garland? Both creative and fun.

Or use a vintage dresser as a faux mantel to retain your antique decorations. Add your favorite evergreen garland and complement the arrangement with white and green flowers, such as paperwhites and amaryllis for a plus of aroma and freshness. Finally add color and texture with scented candles, fruits such as oranges and limes, and bundles of cinnamon sticks.

Great for a small home and totally inexpensive, these original touches will be responsible for a lot of “oohs” and “ahhs” at your holiday dinner party.