It’s no secret that, beautiful as they may look, a tall, dense Christmas Tree can really eat into room space. That’s where the slim Christmas tree comes in – you don’t have to lose anything on the height (particularly great if you’ve got high ceilings) but the width at the bottom is narrower than a traditional tree. That makes for a slightly steeper angle from the bottom to the top – like a thinner slice of Christmas cake, if you will. Should you need something even slimmer or are struggling to fill a tight gap, you might want to go for a pencil tree. These have an even narrower base (looking more like a sliver of that Christmas cake), which means they can squeeze into most spaces.

Slim or pencil, the best part is that you can decorate these in the same way as any tree and, with no compromise on height, they can look just as fabulous as a full-size model.

If a slim tree is still too much tree for your home, you might want to look into a half Christmas tree. Bear with us here – we’re not talking about one with the top lopped off or a Christmas bush. Oh no, these amazing space-savers are just like full trees but completely flat at the back so they fit snugly against a wall. That means they encroach into the room far less than a traditional tree would but look exactly the same from the front.

If you typically position your tree up against the wall anyway, you’re really not losing anything. You could try making your own version with a real tree and a wood saw but we wouldn’t recommend it, especially when there are so many good finds on Gumtree!

This alternative Christmas tree takes the half-tree idea a step further by making it wall-mounted. Simply hook it on the wall and decorate. The added advantage, of course, is all the floor space it saves, which you can use to clear the way for an after-dinner game of charades or impromptu karaoke session. Failing that, you might want to use the space to put your presents underneath, stacking them a little bit higher (and saving more room) than you could with a floor-standing tree.

These trees are also ideal if you haven’t got a lot of floor space free to start with. You could, for example, hang your tree over a sideboard and put some presents on top of the furniture to create that festive, gifts-under-the-tree vibe. In fact, there are lots of ways to get creative with wall Christmas trees – if an off-the-shelf purchase isn’t up your street, why not make your own out of fairy lights, fabric or Xmas decorations?

Mini or tabletop Christmas trees don’t need much explanation – they bring the same kind of cheer as their bigger brethren but at a fraction of the size. Typically, these trees range from 30 to 90 cm in height (or 1 to 3 feet in old money) and that makes them perfect for even the smallest of homes. Pop them on a table or another item of furniture for simple, fuss-free festivity.

And if you’ve got the space, why stop at one room? These diminutive trees are small enough to add seasonal sparkle to other areas in the house without being overbearing. We particularly like them for children’s rooms, where the kids have free rein to add their own decorative touches.

We saved the wildcard until last – the upside-down Christmas tree. Actually, this twist on the traditional is more popular these days than you might think. It’s certainly not a new idea, though, and might even date back more than a thousand years. If you’re concerned there might be some devilish connotations to having your tree the wrong way up, don’t worry, they were actually once used to explain the Holy Trinity due to their triangular shape.

Your bigger worry might be more practical because, as you might have guessed, these trees need to be suspended from the ceiling. Screwing a hook into the ceiling is the safest bet but might be a little challenging unless you’ve got good DIY skills. If you do decide to go for a topsy-turvy tree, however, you stand to gain a lot of floor space, more safety for toddlers or pets and an impressive talking point at your family gathering.

Whichever option works best for you and your home, space-saving trees like these can not only free up room, but also add a dash of individuality and interest to your trimming up this year. If you’ve been inspired, explore Christmas trees for sale on Gumtree.