7 rental friendly ways to decorate your apartment for Christmas

Classic ways to decorate

Now that we’ve stepped into December and it’s totally acceptable to turn your apartment into Santa’s Christmas Grotto, here’s our ultimate list of how best to start the process.

Soft furnishings

One of the simplest and safest ways to transform your apartment into a Christmas paradise is by simply replacing your decorative cushions and blankets with Christmas themed ones. To make matters even easier, Manchester is full of incredible independent homeware stores, so you have a range of options to shop from. You’ll be surprised how much of a difference a snowflake patterned pillow and red cosy blanket can make.

Ornaments

Another sure way to add some festive cheer to your apartment is to fill every nook and cranny with Christmas ornaments. Whether you have an empty looking shelf or a corner that needs a bit of sprucing up, find some ornaments that you like and fill in the gaps. We recommend checking out Søstrene Grene for some seriously stunning gems.

Tabletop Christmas tree

Of course, no Christmas decorations would be complete without a dazzled-out Christmas tree, but when you’re renting, chances are you might not have the space for a full-size tree. Luckily, we know a way to make a mini tree look just as festive. Once you have your mini tree picked out, head down to one of Manchester’s many home stores and buy a basket which will fit your tree inside, and then once you’re home, place the tree in the basket on a side table (you can even go a step further and cover the table with Christmas tablecloth) before decorating your tree as usual. Voila!

A snowy window

If you’re lucky enough to have stunning large windows in your apartment then this hack will totally transform your place, and it’s really easy. Just grab some snow spray from any local shop and get creative! If you’re a minimalist then you can keep it classy with a simple snowflake design, or if big and bold is more you, you can go all out and spray a whole Christmas scene on your window, reindeers and all! And don’t worry if you can’t do it free hand, there are many templates online that you can print off and use for guidance.

Decorating on a budget with DIY

We get that times are tough right now and you may not want to splurge loads of money on new decorations but still want your home to feel festive. Here are some easy ways to give your home a Christmas makeover on a budget, without it feeling any less special.

Encase it in glass

If you’re anything like us and the dark afternoons make you want to put on ambient lighting and cosy up on the sofa all night, then we have a hack just for you. Simply grab some mason jars or a large vase (you can find some great ones in charity shops if you don’t already own some) and fill it with baubles and battery-operated fairy lights. It’s so simple and yet it works so perfectly at giving your living room or bedroom a warm glow and the perfect Christmas vibe.

Christmas cookies in a jar

We don’t know about you, but there’s something about the festive season that just makes us want to bake. The smell, the taste, the warm atmosphere, it just doesn’t get more Christmassy than that, so why not turn this much-loved activity in a decoration? Next time you’re baking your favourite festive treats, make an additional batch, decorate it with red and green icing, whack it in a jar with a red ribbon around it, and display your creation on a shelf or the windowsill. Trust us, it’ll add a very Christmassy feel to any room.

Embrace the colour palette

If you really don’t want to splash any cash this year then we have you covered too. It’s pretty undeniable that the colours of Christmas are red, green, and white, right? So, if you're looking for a subtle way to decorate this festive season, then embracing this colour palette is a great option. Have a rummage through your things and bring out anything you might have in these colours – it can be green books, white blankets, red frames, or anything else you might have, then place these around your living areas and voila – an easy way to emulate festive vibes without splurging on new decorations.

However you choose to decorate your apartment this year, we want to see it! Show off your decorations on socials and be sure to tag us.