23 Christmas Coffee Bar Ideas for Small Kitchen Counters

A single tray, about 16 to 20 inches long, is the most useful coffee bar piece in a small kitchen. The coffee maker, a jar and two mugs sit on it, and nothing else creeps onto the counter.

It also makes cleanup fast. Lift the tray, wipe the counter and put it back.

A mug tree holds six mugs on a base about the width of a single mug. Holiday mugs in red, cream and green turn it into decor without adding anything else.

Mug trees often cost about $10 to $20. They also free up a cabinet shelf for holiday baking supplies.

A small two-tier shelf, the kind sold for spices, tucks into a back corner. Jars go on top and mugs go underneath, so you get a second level without a single screw.

Drape a short garland along the top shelf. It's the Christmas coffee bar decor that costs the least.

The best spot is near an outlet, away from the sink splash zone, and out of the main cooking path. In many small kitchens, that's the short end of the counter by the fridge.

If you share the kitchen, pick a spot people walk past, not through. A coffee bar in the way gets knocked.

A small coffee bar looks styled with four mugs and cluttered with ten. Pick four holiday mugs in your colors and put the rest away until January.

If you're hosting, bring out more mugs on the day and put them back after.

A small pre-lit tree in the back corner adds the most Christmas for the least counter. Walmart lists pre-lit tabletop trees from about $13.51 to $41.99, depending on height and lights.

Battery-powered ones don't need the outlet the coffee maker is using. Corners waste space anyway, so the tree takes nothing from your workspace.

A slim garland along the bottom edge of the upper cabinets frames the coffee bar without touching the counter. Wind a strand of battery fairy lights through it.

Small clear removable hooks on the underside of the cabinet hold a light garland. Thin garland is the right choice here, because heavy ones sag.

Mugs hanging under the cabinet free the whole counter. Small removable hooks rated for the mug's weight work on smooth cabinet bottoms, and a mug is usually under a pound.

Hang them in a row of four, about 4 inches apart, so they don't clink.

A small wreath on the cabinet door right above the coffee maker tells everyone where the coffee bar is. Hang it from a ribbon looped over the top of the door, or tied around the knob.

Mini boxwood or eucalyptus wreaths are cheap and stay flat against the door.

A strand of battery fairy lights coiled inside a clear jar glows like a lantern. It takes up the space of a canister and needs no outlet.

Two-packs of battery fairy lights often cost about $6 to $12. Choose warm white with a timer, so it's glowing when you make your first cup.

Brown, cream and white make a gingerbread coffee bar warm and a little playful. Add a jar of gingerbread cookies, a small gingerbread garland along the backsplash and a white mini tree.

Gingerbread is one of the styles that keeps showing up in Pinterest searches for Christmas coffee bars, and it works with wood trays you may already own.

Pale pink, white and a touch of gold make a soft, modern coffee corner. A pink bottle-brush tree and a jar of peppermints are enough decor.

Pink pairs well with white rental cabinets and doesn't fight a beige countertop.

A folded plaid cloth under the coffee maker, enamel mugs, a vintage tin and a brass bell give a classic, cabin-like look. Thrift stores are good for tins and enamelware.

Want that look in the rest of the apartment? Our tartan and brass Christmas decor ideas carry it room to room.

Cream mugs, a wooden tray, a jar of cinnamon sticks and a sprig of real cedar make a calm coffee bar that suits any kitchen. Add one strand of wooden bead garland.

This look can stay up into January if you remove the Christmas-only pieces.

Dollar Tree is useful for the small stuff: glass jars, a tiny wreath, ribbon, mugs and a small sign. Most items run about $1.25 to $1.50, with some pricier pieces.

Pick plain glass and solid colors. They look more expensive than printed pieces.

No counter at all? A desk corner or a small bar cart in the living room works. A single-serve coffee maker, two mugs and a mini tree fit on a 2-foot cart top.

If you work from home, it's also the nicest way to take a break.

Bright boxes are what make a small coffee bar look busy. Pour pods, cocoa packets and sugar into clear glass canisters with wooden lids instead.

Sets of three often run about $15 to $30, and you'll use them all year.

A small jar of candy canes doubles as decor and stir sticks for peppermint coffee or cocoa. It's an easy little extra guests notice.

Stand them hooks-up in a short glass, so they're easy to grab.

When guests are coming, add a slow cooker of hot cocoa next to the coffee bar with jars of toppings. It turns the corner into a self-serve drinks station.

Hosting this year? Our hosting Christmas checklist for a small apartment covers where drinks, coats and extra chairs go.

Small kraft paper tags tied on syrup bottles and topping jars look cute and save guests from guessing. Write them by hand.

A pack of tags and some twine costs a few dollars and also works for gift wrapping.

Box up your everyday mugs for December and bring out the holiday ones. The coffee bar changes completely and your cabinet doesn't get fuller.

In January, swap back and store the holiday mugs in the same box.

Plan the coffee bar so the whole thing fits in one bin: tree, garland, lights, mugs and tray. If it doesn't fit, it's probably too much for the counter anyway.

Peel removable hooks off slowly, pulling the tab straight down along the surface, so the cabinet finish stays clean.