Christmas in Small Spaces: 4 DIY Christmas Trees

By Megan Patiry on December 5, 2013

The carolers are a-caroling, the sleigh bells are a-ringing, and you’re nursing a glass of rum (hold the nog) as you stare down a dorm room or apartment too small to hold a couple of presents, much less a Christmas tree. Well, it’s time to regather your spirits (no, I don’t mean more rum just yet) because having a tree in a seemingly too small space is possible, with a little creativity. Here are a few DIY ideas to get you started:

Duly Noted:

Photo courtesy of brightbazaar.blogspot.com

That’s right, you can make a tree out of post-it notes. Pick up a color-coordinated pack of these versatile goodies (green if you want to stay traditional) and arrange them virtually anywhere in your apartment or dorm in the shape of a tree and add a sticky star at the tip. You can even add in a few extra touches, such as candles, like the photo above. If you’re feeling extra crafty, you can even try dabbing glitter glue on the post-it notes before hanging them, which would lend a shimmery effect to your tree, similar to that of Christmas lights.

Put a Cork In It:

Photo courtesy of media-cache-lt0.pinterest.com

Maybe you aren’t a rum drinker, but prefer wine or champagne; or maybe you have a roommate who collects corks. Anyhow if you have fallen in love with this tree, know that many restaurants toss their corks, so stop in and ask the bartender if they would put a few in a separate bag for you.
This tree is nearly as easy as its post-it note counterpart, requiring only that you glue the corks in a tree formation and add a bow to the top. Additionally, you can scavenge for pine cones around campus, or pick them up for a relatively cheap price at your local craft store.

Simplicity Reigns:

 

Photo courtesy of vonblum.blogspot.com.

This tree wins out in terms of simplicity: merely tape paper plates in the shape of a tree on the wall, and top it with a paper, cut-out star sprinkled with glitter.

String Theory:

 

Photo courtesy of 79ideas.org.

This tree takes a few more tools to create, namely nails, some string, a hammer and ornaments. Simply place the nails in a triangle formation and lace a piece of string (tightly to hold the weight of the ornaments) around and tie at the nail. Finish by adding a few more nails along the line of the triangle and connect them in a crisscross fashion with more string.  Attach your favorite ornaments, and you’re finished!

Whether you choose to create one of these trees or one of your own, know that DIY trees come in all ranges, along with minimalist decor and design. Even if you don’t want to create a tree, studies have shown that most types of Christmas decor (not just trees) have the ability to lift celebrators moods in the workplace (study by Schmitt et al, 2010). So tackle the season and bring some holiday decor into your small space – if anything, it might bring some cheer into your study time!

 

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