One year I left it too late to get a real tree. So I figured if it had to be an artificial one, it was going to be totally stylized, not a pretend one. I found a piece of black material about 6' x 4', hung it on the wall, pinned on green tinsel outlining a tree, then added fairy lights and decorations. Turned out my best idea in years: it took up no space, guests didn't fall over it and the cats didn't try to climb it.

No tree nowadays, even the wall-mounted variety would overpower my small living room. Instead, I decorate the room with greenery and apply lights and decorations to that. Plus lotsa lights in the windows. And sprigs of rosemary ("for remembrance") on the family pictures.