Holiday decorating in a Brooklyn apartment can be different than a larger home, but it can be just as festive and make your home feel cozy.
My husband Scott and I are lucky enough to have outdoor space. During the pandemic the porch has been a godsend. This past weekend I decorated our Brooklyn apartment for Christmas. The girls and I put up the Christmas tree and I created a cozy outdoor space to enjoy a drink with a blanket weather permitting.
Using things you already have around the house in terms of rugs, throw blankets and pillows, you can easily warm up your outdoor space.
Decorating Tips:
Here are my ideas for decorating inside and outside. Let us know if you have more tips you want to share and I will add them to the post.
- Less is more — aim for elegant and add a bit of cozy.
- Lights and fresh green garland looks awesome on it’s own. In fact pine garland with white lights looks just as nice in January and February as it did in December.
- You can use pre-lit artificial garland too and it lasts year after year if you take care of it.
- To Decorate, tie the garland to edge of the railing with bows or natural twine. Then wrap the garland with string lights to hold it firmly in place. Leave it natural for a simple look or add red bows if you want something more fancy.
- Add some sheepskin rugs on the ground or on the furniture to make it cozy. They really make the space feel warmer.
- Plaid, red, gray, green or traditional fleece blankets are awesome to have for you and your guests.
- If you live in a warmer climate – I think outdoor fire pits, and heaters are great. Plus they can provide warmth when it’s below 50°F. (gas heaters are a no go in NYC)
- Add candle light. Hurricanes and lanterns (the same ones from the summer) provide extra light and add style to the mix.
For Christmas Trees, most of us agree that fresh is best. If you want to cut your own tree, see Kimberlee’s post on where to go and what to look for. In my case I can’t stand the needles after 3 weeks plus trees in Brooklyn are outrageously over priced. The tree I have is from Balsam Hill, a 7ft skinny tree which is great for apartments and it has paid for itself 4x over already.
Once your space is decorated, pour yourself a glass of wine or prosecco. If you prefer you can mix yourself a beautiful cocktail like the Apple Cinnamon Highball or make our mulled wine and enjoy the space.
Interested in more holiday decorating ideas check out our special 2020 Holiday Guide and our posts on collecting vintage Christmas decorations.
