Every family has that super mega homemaker; you know that one person who personifies cooking, entertaining and decorating, who is so good at it that it could be considered art. Well, in my husband’s family, that person is Aunty Melanie, who year after year and after all these years, even with her kids grown and out of the house, still blows everyone away with her amazing Christmas cheer. Her home screams Happy Holidays with all the little Christmas accents, the lights and garlands, the towering and beautiful Christmas tree and the amazing Christmas Village.

I visited her home this weekend and all was in full swing: the house is already wishing visitors happy holidays and the Christmas tree hasn’t even gone up yet. It got me thinking of all the alternatives you have to decorate your home for Christmas, without the tree. After all, the challenge most people have is lack of space.

Here’s how Aunty Melanie does it:

o The biggest impact is the Christmas Village, a bigger impact than even a tree, with all the wonderful things to see. A fully thought out and constructed village that could probably accommodate a town of about two thousand citizens and visitors. She reclaims (without losing the use of) the entire top of her buffet and wine cooler with a sheet of four-foot by eight-foot ply and creates a spectacular winter wonderland (pictured) with all kinds of interesting sights and places, with every aspect of a small town considered (pictured) and no floor space obstructed. A collection like this takes some time to amass but that is true of all collections, and it takes a keen eye for interesting pieces and a hell of a good memory.

o A nativity scene. Whether inside or outside the home is also a great alternative. Aunty Mel’s scene was created on top of a small entrance table creating an incredible scene without taking up any additional floor space (pictured).

o Garlands dressing archways, doorways, stairwells and openings are an obvious option, but it’s how you decorate them that makes the real statement (pictured). A garland can be decorated in exactly the same you would a tree with lights, ornaments and hollies, ribbons, bows and candy canes.

These ideas are perfect alternatives to a tree, and I assure you they will have the same impact.