We all love this time of year when we pull out the Christmas tree from the garage, or go buy one from the corner lot and make room for the tree. Although, it seems like every year we either forget how big our space is, or we simple forget we have to live in the room with our tree! Instead of going through this exercise this year, here are tips for how to arrange your room around the tree. Before you get started, measure out your space, so this entire effort won’t be wasted!

• How much space do you have: While we all have ideas of grand Christmas trees in our living rooms, the reality of how much space we actually have can be a totally different. If you live in a smaller home or apartment, determine which furniture can be moved out of the space and which can’t. Even if you have a large space, consider walkway areas and obstruction of doorways before settling on a specific tree.

• Plan a focal point space: In your home determine which room will you enjoy your tree the most, and still be able to live around it. While the living room has the perfect window to sit in front of, the television and sitting area it will be blocking doesn’t make this an ideal place. Place trees away from fireplaces, heavy trafficked walkway areas, and obstructions. Stand back from the tree, once you’ve chosen a spot and examine from all vantage points.

• Removing furniture: While your furniture is important, determine how many pieces have to remain throughout the holiday. Could you do without the coffee table and lamp to make room for the tree? If the answer is no, then opt for a smaller tree. In recent years, potted Christmas trees and tabletop trees have become more popular and are ideal for homes that have limited space. In larger spaces, move furniture around the tree so that conversation areas can still be held without the tree becoming a visual distraction