Unlocking the Magic of Holiday Decor: Small Spaces, Big Joy - Embracing Cozy and Creative Freedom with Practical Tips

Small spaces have big potential for coziness and charm. It's not about the size; it's about infusing love and intention into every detail.

I love decorating for the holidays! It brings me so much joy. I used to spend a lot of time on Pinterest, looking at large homes and people with tons of money, spending thousands of dollars on Christmas decor, and I always left those spaces feeling a little bit lacking. I don’t have the large dining room table to make it look like it’s straight out of a magazine. I don’t have the tall, vaulted ceilings to fit a 9-foot tree. I could go on, but it’s pointless. The truth is, I have a lot to be thankful for. Yes, our home is very small, but we are so blessed to have it and to have each other. I no longer look with envy towards others with bigger spaces and endless resources. Instead, I have fallen in love with our tiny space and have done what I can to make it cozy and welcoming. It’s perfect for us and our needs.

Use Cozy to Your Advantage!

When your home is small, you can capitalize on coziness. This is an asset that you have. You don’t have large rooms that feel airy and empty. Instead, you have a small space that is filled with intention and love. So, use it to your advantage! What I’ve done, since I love to be cozy, is focus on lights and little details. I’ll add a bow to a vase or a lamp (see below), have an accent light on the piano for ambiance, add hanging wreaths to a door with a little sparkly bow, add a throw blanket and some pillows, along with a Christmas tree, decorated by my children. There is a part of me that wants to change and fix the way that they decorated it, but I won’t. I love that they take ownership of this and have so much fun doing it. If I change what they’ve done, I’ll crush their spirits, and their spirits mean so much more to me than a perfect tree.

Involve the Kids!

And speaking of crushing spirits, my son (the only boy of 5 kids) probably loves decorating for Christmas the most. He decided to decorate our very tiny bathroom, and well, it’s not exactly magazine-worthy, but who cares? Why on earth do we do this to ourselves as mothers? Do I care more about the opinion of others when they use our bathroom, or the thrill of excitement on my son’s face when he showed me what he did? I have made the mistake in the past of overriding my children’s creativity for the sake of my insecurities and images of perfection. But I won’t do that anymore. Having him express his creative side and surprise me with his decor ideas is again more precious to me than perfection. Oh, and he did have the sweetest idea to do over the door to our kitchen that I absolutely LOVE! We always hang mistletoe above our kitchen doorway since my kids were small. He decided to add some garland and ornaments all on his own to this space, and it’s so sweet! He did a great job! I think when we learn to let our kids work out their creative side without our harsh critiques, they will continue to learn and grow and blossom in this area! Their young spirits will not be crushed, and they will continue to try new things.

Embrace Your Space: Love and appreciate the size of your home, whether it's large or small. Focus on the unique qualities of your space rather than comparing it to others.

Here are a list of things to remember when decorating your small home:

Gratitude Over Envy: Instead of feeling envious of those with larger spaces and more resources, be thankful for what you have. Gratitude enhances the joy of decorating.
Cozy Capitalization: If your home is small, capitalize on coziness. Small spaces can be filled with intention and love, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere.
Attention to Detail: Focus on lights and little details to bring warmth to your space. Consider adding bows to vases or lamps, incorporating accent lights for ambiance, hanging wreaths with sparkly bows, and placing throw blankets and pillows strategically.
Children's Creative Expression: Allow your children to take ownership of decorating, even if it doesn't meet traditional standards. Resist the urge to change or perfect their creations, as their spirits are more valuable than achieving a flawless holiday look.
Prioritize Excitement Over Perfection: Value the thrill of excitement on your children's faces over achieving a perfect holiday decor. Avoid imposing your own insecurities and pursuit of perfection on their creative expressions.
Encourage Creative Freedom: Especially with children, encourage their creative side without harsh critiques. Let them explore and express themselves, fostering a sense of creativity that allows them to learn, grow, and try new things.
Cherish Personal Touches: Appreciate and cherish personal touches in holiday decorations, even if they deviate from conventional norms. These unique elements can add more sentimental value to your festive decor.
Expressing Individuality: Allow family members, to express their individuality in decorating. Celebrate and encourage their creative ideas, even if they may not align with traditional holiday decor standards.
Focus on Moments, Not Impressions: Prioritize the joy and excitement experienced by your family members over creating a magazine-worthy impression. The memories and moments created during the holiday season are more significant than achieving a flawless aesthetic.