Eva Mendes and Ryan Gosling Prove That Tiny Christmas Trees Can Turn Overlooked Kitchen Corners Into Sparkling Holiday Highlights
The Hollywood power couple's miniature Christmas display shows that seasonal decor doesn't have to be large to be impactful – here's why it works
When it comes to Christmas decor, bigger is not always better. Small, subtle vignettes can infuse forgotten corners of your home with holiday spirit and help to extend the festivities. That's why, when we saw Eva Mendes and Ryan Gosling's tabletop Christmas trees, we did a double-take.
Eva took to Instagram to share a picture perched on her countertops, and it's a rich text. The post is filled with design-led easter eggs, from the rattan lampshades to the potted plant, to a set of her signature Skura sponges (available at Amazon). Three miniature Christmas trees sit unassumingly behind the faucet, inviting the viewer in with a hint of holiday cheer.
The couple's take on Christmas decor shows that no area is too small or busy to integrate a reminder of the holidays. Let's take a look.
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Recreate Eva and Ryan's Look at Home with the Tabletop Christmas Tree Edit
Eva Mendes and Ryan Gosling use bottle brush trees to bring style to their countertops, and these miniature versions are extra enchanting. They could be arranged with a variety of Christmas village pieces for a cohesive feel.
This delightfully festive tree is available in multiple different sizes, or as a set of three – so you really can bring a white Christmas to every corner of your home.
I was instantly drawn to the pinecones on this mini tree – together with the frosted branches, they create a woodland-inspired festive scheme.
The brainchild of Shea McGee, this charming tree is a failsafe choice – the woven pot will fit right in with all the rattan decorating ideas in my home. Available in three sizes, so you can build a display as chic as Eva's.
I've fallen head over heels for Skye McAlpine's Balsam Hill Christmas tree, but this tabletop version is definitely a better fit for my apartment. I love that I can still fit some gifts underneath, too.
Complete with twinkling lights, clusters of winter berries, and a rustic burlap base, this mini tree is the perfect time saver – put it up and it's good to go.
A huge aspect of what works about Ryan and Eva's miniature design is that it places Christmas decor in one of the most highly trafficked areas of their home. Hannah Prescott, Interior Designer at Diamond Interiors, explains: 'Festive décor works best when it appears in the everyday spaces people move through and use. Small, thoughtful touches can completely shift the atmosphere and boost morale.'
Though the choice of tabletop Christmas trees is an excellent way to achieve this effect, there are dozens of pathways to follow in Ryan and Eva's footsteps by infusing tiny doses of Christmas throughout your home.
Hannah advises: 'Adding a small festive arrangement, warm fairy lights, or seasonal mugs to the kitchen area creates little moments of joy during the day. It lifts the space without overwhelming it. A couple of frosted eucalyptus stems, or a few small ornaments, can add a festive feel without looking busy. The aim is to enhance what is already there, not overpower it.'
Christmas decor needn't be over-the-top to make a huge splash. Sometimes, it comes down to festive touches in the places where you would never expect them.
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Sophie is a writer and News Editor on the Celebrity Style team at Homes & Gardens. She is fascinated by the intersection of design and popular culture and is particularly passionate about researching trends and interior history. She is an avid pop culture fan and has interviewed Martha Stewart and Hillary Duff.
In her free time, Sophie freelances on design news for Westport Magazine and Livingetc. She also has a newsletter, My Friend's Art, in which she covers music, culture, and fine art through a personal lens. Her fiction has appeared in Love & Squalor and The Isis Magazine.
Before joining Future, Sophie worked in editorial at Fig Linens and Home, a boutique luxury linens brand. She has an MSc from Oxford University and a BA in Creative Writing and Sociology from Sarah Lawrence College.