9 Christmas Decorating Ideas If You Don't Have a Tree This Year

No tree? No problem. As fun and festive as Christmas trees can be, not everyone has the space for one or wants to put up with all the fuss. (Tree needles can leave a mess, and keeping it watered is just another to-do to add to the list.) Fortunately, there are many stylish ways to decorate for Christmas without a tree.

When interior designers are tasked with how to decorate for Christmas without a tree, they focus on walls, ceilings, doors, and window frames for places to add holiday cheer. Their advice below will prove that you can create a festive atmosphere sans evergreen.

Scroll on for how to deck the halls with the holiday spirit without a traditional tree.

Hang Ornaments Everywhere

Never underestimate the impact of a room filled with dazzling holiday ornaments. "Decide on a color palette and string up some beautiful ornaments in that color scheme throughout a room," says John McClain of John McClain Design. "You can hang them at different lengths from doorways and light fixtures throughout your home, or from the ceiling with a festive ribbon and a thumbtack."

Create a Spirited Window Display

Decorating your windows is a beautiful alternative to having a Christmas tree in your home, especially if you're short on space.

"Adorning your windows with bows, wreaths, twinkle lights, and even strings of ornaments can make your space feel festive, but not crowded," says interior designer Kate Taylor. Additionally, consider integrating some holiday foliage into your window scene, like faux garland.

Dress Up a Fireplace

If you have a fireplace at home, use it as a focal point for your holiday décor. "We love to use evergreen layered with juniper, eucalyptus, and dried florals," says Becky Shea, an interior designer and lifestyle entrepreneur. "To give it even more character, pair wooden or ceramic elements to create a layered effect that gives volume to the mantel."

If you don't have any organic items available, group candles in warm, neutral colorways to add a bit of oomph to the scene, says Breegan Jane, a Los Angeles-based designer.

Set a Festive Tablescape

Your dining room table is brimming with holiday design potential. "DIY a spirited centerpiece by filling a bowl with sparkly ornaments or fresh seasonal fruit like pomegranates, oranges, and pears," says Lauren Ramirez of Lauren Ramirez Interiors.

Alternatively, you can arrange branches or ornaments in a glass vase with firefly lights for a twinkling tablescape display, says Cagney Krzywosinski of Hyphen & Co.

Burn Tree-Scented Candles

When you can't fill your home with the scent of a real Christmas tree, consider recreating the fragrance with candles instead. "Sprinkle your side tables with candles in scents specific to the holiday season," says Lily Lanahan, designer and founder of Elizabeth Lake. "Candles with notes of pine, cedarwood, or fir evoke the holiday spirit because of their woody fragrance."

Get Creative With Foliage

Garlands can go a long way if you're skipping a Christmas tree. "For most urban dwellers, there simply isn't enough space to add a Christmas tree into the mix," says Molly Torres Portnof of DATE Interiors. With this in mind, opt for swags of greenery, like pine or eucalyptus. "We love eucalyptus because the real stuff smells great—but the faux looks just as good and is less delicate, so it will be easier to reuse year after year," says Anna Kroesser of Kroesser + Strat Design. Add seasonal items like pomegranates, pine cones, nuts, and berries to your greenery for an extra festive touch.

As for the best places to hang foliage? Utilize areas of your home with prominent ledges, such as a fireplace mantel, window frames, doorways, and stair rails, says Mark Lavender of M. Lavender Interiors.

DIY a Christmas "Tree"

If an evergreen isn't an option, you can still host a holiday tree in your home by DIY'ing an alternative. Get creative with craft materials like wooden dowels or PVC pipe, stack piles of books in a tree formation, or mount garland on a wall. You'll find plenty of ideas here.

Jingle All the Way

To create a festive atmosphere, focus on igniting each of the five senses. For the sounds of the season, decorate with jingle bells. You can hang shiny bunches from doorknobs, add them to wreaths, or include them in your mantle display.

Paper Snowflake Galore

This easy craft is great for the getting the kids involved in decorating. Follow the instructions and find templates here, and then hang them from the ceiling in clusters or display in windows for some easy and inexpensive holiday cheer.